The Unforgettables by Christopher Noulton
Exhibition at James Freeman Gallery Islington Feb 6 to March 2
354 Upper Street, N1 OPD http://www.JamesFreemanGallery.Com
It takes the artist who is a dapper and very well groomed creative in
his sixties around 3 months to paint each of his canvasses, though he
claims he does not work every day for that time on them.
Christopher Noulton was raised on a council estate in Gypsy Hill and
says his experience of a “village style community” paved the way for
him to create artworks which have an atmosphere of the same,
though if one views his work this would not necessarily come to
mind as they are highly stylised, sophisticated and the characters and
buildings highly “top drawer”. I, personally, as a lady who frequents
many an art show and private gallery viewing have to say this is one
of the best collection of works by a living artist I have ever seen in
the London fold or anywhere else for that matter.
The attention to detail in each work is infinitessimally careful and
detailed. The artist has in his arena of influences, Stanley Spencer
and The Mexican Day of the Dead. He has a theme of surrealism
which is depicted by some of his characters being created by cutting
paper, and scissors figure in many of his works. We are charmed and
beguiled into seeing the personification of his human characters as
perhaps partly a part of a dream where we are not sure if they are
real or created by a super talent enchanted with mischief and
surrealism but always obsessed with beauty, handsomeness,
extreme style, perfection, and the longstanding issue we all embrace
of deceit or duality in relationships and “firmness” of perceived
reality. If you can go, I urge you to visit this groundbreaking
exhibition. This is art at its very best and a visit to see it will most
definitely not be time spent on something less vital and gripping.

ENJOY

Penny Nair Price