Pleasure-go-round: Simon Gaiger and Bernard Irwin | Floor 2

Overview

Openly decorative and anxiety free: In these paintings and coloured sculptures we are reminded of the guiltless museum art of 60’s America and the post Matissean paintings of Morris Louis and Kenneth Noland whose shapes were a prop for colour. Nolan said in 1969 “I want to have colour be the origin of painting” - like Noland, Irwin and Gaigers works tease us with gorgeous colour -  formal hedonism.

It is worth noting that Simon and Bernard are the same generation and both men were born under a colourful sun - Malaya, Africa and the Pacific - time and place must have seeped deep into their psyche. Simon now lives in West Wales and Bernard in Cornwall yet still their childhood skin impacts their art. 

 

The two men compliment each other but Simon’s sculptures, although abstract have a physical presence and are imbued with the narrative of the maker - here colour unifies form. Irwin’s paintings, on the other hand are impersonal, bubblegum loops or pods act as containers  for his astute colour sense and knowledge of simultaneous contrast. 

 

Works
  • Bernard Irwin She imagined she could hear the stars Acrylic on canvas 234 x 168 cm
    Bernard Irwin
    She imagined she could hear the stars
    Acrylic on canvas
    234 x 168 cm
    Bernard Irwin, She imagined she could hear the stars
    £ 12,000.00
  • Bernard Irwin I call your name Acrylic on canvas 150 x 120 cm
    Bernard Irwin
    I call your name
    Acrylic on canvas
    150 x 120 cm
    Bernard Irwin, I call your name
    £ 6,400.00
  • Bernard Irwin Ah me, if this be love Acrylic on canvas 168 x 201 cm
    Bernard Irwin
    Ah me, if this be love
    Acrylic on canvas
    168 x 201 cm
    Bernard Irwin, Ah me, if this be love
    £ 10,000.00
  • Bernard Irwin Nocturne Acrylic on canvas 170 x 120 cm
    Bernard Irwin
    Nocturne
    Acrylic on canvas
    170 x 120 cm
    Bernard Irwin, Nocturne
    £ 7,500.00
  • Bernard Irwin Yellow bird Acrylic on canvas 64 x 80 cm
    Bernard Irwin
    Yellow bird
    Acrylic on canvas
    64 x 80 cm
    Bernard Irwin, Yellow bird
    £ 2,500.00
  • Bernard Irwin, Wind up bird
    Bernard Irwin, Wind up bird
  • Bernard Irwin Moving slowly between, touching nothing Acrylic on canvas 36 x 45 cm
    Bernard Irwin
    Moving slowly between, touching nothing
    Acrylic on canvas
    36 x 45 cm
    Bernard Irwin, Moving slowly between, touching nothing
    £ 1,200.00
  • Bernard Irwin Touch Acrylic on canvas 40 x 30 cm
    Bernard Irwin
    Touch
    Acrylic on canvas
    40 x 30 cm
    Bernard Irwin, Touch
    £ 950.00
  • Bernard Irwin And then, in the air Acrylic on canvas 36 x 28 cm
    Bernard Irwin
    And then, in the air
    Acrylic on canvas
    36 x 28 cm
    Bernard Irwin, And then, in the air
    £ 850.00
  • Bernard Irwin The nearness of you Acrylic on canvas 36 x 28 cm
    Bernard Irwin
    The nearness of you
    Acrylic on canvas
    36 x 28 cm
    Bernard Irwin, The nearness of you
    £ 850.00
  • Simon Gaiger Sisyphus, 2021 Welded and painted steel interchangeable elements, rolling brick 100 x 66 x 50 cm
    Simon Gaiger
    Sisyphus, 2021
    Welded and painted steel interchangeable elements, rolling brick
    100 x 66 x 50 cm
  • Simon Gaiger, Drift Seed, 2021
    Simon Gaiger, Drift Seed, 2021
  • Simon Gaiger Pleacher Bowl, 2018 Branded Sycamore 90 x 80 x 27 cm
    Simon Gaiger
    Pleacher Bowl, 2018
    Branded Sycamore
    90 x 80 x 27 cm
  • Simon Gaiger, TIDE CLOCK
    Simon Gaiger, TIDE CLOCK
  • Simon Gaiger, OCCAM’S RAZOR, 2021
    Simon Gaiger, OCCAM’S RAZOR, 2021
  • Simon Gaiger Jhelum, 2021 Charred Oak with metal 180 x 34 x 52 cm
    Simon Gaiger
    Jhelum, 2021
    Charred Oak with metal
    180 x 34 x 52 cm
  • Simon Gaiger Dugong Seat, 2021 Charred Oak with metal 160 x 34 x 52 cm
    Simon Gaiger
    Dugong Seat, 2021
    Charred Oak with metal
    160 x 34 x 52 cm
Installation Views