Thirty-Second Exhibition

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Thames is a series of photographic prints created by artist and photographer, Noel McLaughlin. The core theme of this body of work seeks to experience the wider river in its city surrounds and periphery, pulling focus on the power and utilities that drive its required mechanics. Using Whistler, Turner and Constable as key reference points, the artist worked to create a modern interpretation of the Thames landscape while paying tribute to the great masters and their sense of movement and tone.

Spatially the prints provoke questions as to how a city functions from periphery to core. “I was interested in the border line and how the city consumes the landscape – there is this non space that exists between both rural and urban spaces, servicing each other but at the same time creating a void or transient space” McLaughlin explains.

Throughout the work, the Thames River is a binding integer tying the aesthetic together and acting as the consistent element within a landscape we call London.
Accompanying the images are words by T.S Elliot, an excerpt from The Wasteland chosen by the artist; lyrical prose depicting the Thames at night.

T.S Eliot, The Wasteland
‘The river’s tent is broken: the last fingers of leaf clutch and sink into the wet bank. The wind crosses the brown land, unheard. The nymphs are departed. Sweet Thames, run softly, till I end my song. The River bears no empty bottles, sandwich papers, silk handkerchiefs, cardboard boxes, cigarette ends or other testimony of summer nights. The nymphs are departed. And their friends, the loitering heirs of city directors; 180 Departed, have left no addresses.’

Alongside the exhibition the artist creates editioned images in an accordion style booklet for sale.

5 October – 3 November 2012