I recently had the pleasure of visiting John Newling's 50-Year Line exhibition at the Angear Visitor Centre in Nottingham Lakeside Arts, which runs from May 25th to July 21st, 2024.
This exhibition is a true celebration of Newling's 50-year career in socially engaged art, showcasing a vast array of his work, including sculpture, drawing, painting, and performance. Additionally, the centre's setting is perfect for such a reflective and comprehensive exhibition, providing a serene backdrop that allows visitors to fully immerse themselves in the art.
The exhibition is free, and the opening times are convenient, especially for those who prefer weekend visits. The centre is open from 10am to 4pm on Tuesdays through Saturdays, and from 12 noon to 4pm on Sundays.
John Newling, a pioneering figure in socially engaged art since the late 1970s, presents a thought-provoking collection that spans his entire career. The exhibition’s focal point is a meticulously curated timeline, offering an immersive journey through Newling's artistic evolution. It features small sculptures, maquettes, archive materials, and a selection of drawings and paintings that highlight key moments and shifts in his practice.
One of the most striking aspects of the exhibition is Newling's recent 'ecology works.' Over the past 15 years, he has delved into themes of nature and sustainability, creating works from plants and soil. These pieces not only showcase his artistic versatility but also emphasize the importance of environmental consciousness, a theme that resonates deeply in today's world.
The inclusion of archive material from the Henry Moore Institute adds a rich historical context to the exhibition, offering visitors a deeper insight into Newling's process and the development of his ideas. Additionally, the collaboration with Beam, a contemporary art gallery and publisher based at Primary in Nottingham, has also resulted in a well-rounded and engaging presentation of Newling's work.
I particularly liked the last artwork, displayed on a huge white wall, called Frank's Field (2019). In this piece, the artist germinated flax seedlings collected from Northern France. Newling was interested in how the seeds form a complex network under the soil and how plants communicate through networks that we cannot see or fully understand.
At the end of the exhibition, visitors can also collect a free newspaper based on "The Noah Laboratory Construction Soil: Being Human in the Anthropocene Era" by John Newling, published in September 2008.
Rating: 4/5
Overall, John Newling's retrospective at the Angear Visitor Centre is a must-visit. It not only celebrates the impressive span of his career but also invites reflection on the social and ecological themes central to his work.
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