Dudley Edwards: 'I Got Rhythm’
14th September - 5th October 2019
RedHouse Originals Gallery, Harrogate, is delighted to present ‘I Got Rhythm’; a new exhibition by renowned artist Dudley Edwards. The collection includes painting, drawing, prints and photography, the majority of which will be going on public display for the first time.
Born in Halifax in 1944, Edwards first came to prominence in the 1960s as co-founder of ground-breaking pop collective BEV whose pop art and psychedelic murals appeared everywhere from the boutiques of Kings Road and Carnaby Street to Paul McCartney's 'Magic Piano'.
“Dudley Edwards invented a form that others would pick up and run with. He tapped into the colours and ideas of the time and created a highly influential form of playful, yet rigorous design”
Norman Hathaway and Dan Nadal, Electric Banana
‘I Got Rhythm’ is Edwards’ first solo exhibition at RedHouse since 2012’s ‘In Technicolour’. The prevailing years have proved a fertile period for the artist; creating many new works, including those for the upcoming exhibition, and building a new studio in the picturesque Yorkshire Dales. He also contributed to ‘My Generation’; the 2018 film documenting Michael Caine’s personal journey through 1960’s London, and his work is about to feature in the new Royal College of Music Museum in London.
Edwards often likes to appropriate popular song titles in his work and in this case ‘I Got Rhythm’ draws inspiration from George Gershwin and the ‘Tin Pan Alley’ era.
Artist’s Statement:
“For this exhibition I had to find a common link between my paintings, drawings, prints and photographs; Rhythm is there in all of them. Like many of my contemporaries I try to remain true to the two-dimensional surface of the work. I am not interested in trying to create an illusion of depth, therefore, if I refrain from moving in or out from the canvas, then I have to move laterally around the surface. Paul Klee said ‘Drawing is the art of taking a line for a walk’. I like to lead the eye on a dance. In order to keep the dancer on the ballroom floor my compositions make use of enclosed shapes like circles, figures of eight or labyrinthine spirals By use of contrasting elements e.g. angles and curves the Rhythms may vary in tempo and time signatures from a waltz to a quick step, fox trot or a tango.”
"Will you, won’t you, will you won’t you come and join the dance"?
‘Dudley Edwards: I Got Rhythm’ is at RedHouse Originals Gallery from 14 September - 5 October.
For further media information, please contact Victoria Sowerby on 0113 307 5900 or email victoria.sowerby@clearsilver.co.uk
NOTES TO EDITORS
‘Dudley Edwards: I Got Rhythm’
Launch Party: Saturday 14th September from 4 – 7pm.
Dates: 14th September - 5th October 2019
Venue: RedHouse Originals Gallery, 15 Cheltenham Mount, Harrogate HG1 1DW
Website: www.redhouseoriginals.com
Dudley Edwards is available for interview.
High resolution images are available on request.