PA I N T I N G S B Y J AC K V E T T R I A N O
Front Front Cover: Cover: Anniversary Anniversary Waltz Waltz (detail), (detail), Catalogue Catalogue No.8 No.8
The Ballroom Spy Paintings by Jack Vettriano
This Exhibition is dedicated to the memor y of my mother Catherine Hoggan 1928 --- 2010
H EART BR EAK 17 Bulstrode Street | London W1U 2JH +44 ( 0 ) 20 3219 5710 / info@heart-break.co.uk Open Monday to Saturday 10am --- 6pm, Sunday 11am --- 4pm www.heart-break.co.uk
Portrait of Jeanette Jones and Jack Vettriano by Fredi Marcarini
The Ballroom Spy An exhibition of paintings by Jack Vettriano and photographs by Jeanette Jones 14th May - 19th June 2011 Hear tbreak 17 Bulstrode Street London W1U 2JH Transferring 1st July - 31st August 2011
Royal West of England Academy Queen’s Road Clifton, Bristol BS8 1PX +44 (0)117 973 5129
info@rwa.org.uk
The photographs featured above by Jeanette Jones are amongst those directly referenced in a series of paintings by Jack Vettriano and which feature in The Ballroom Spy exhibition.
The Ballroom Spy An exhibition of paintings by Jack Vettriano and photographs by Jeanette Jones. Jack Vettriano and photographer, Jeanette Jones, have teamed up for The Ballroom Spy, an exhibition of their dance inspired works. Featuring over forty photographs by Jeanette Jones and twelve new paintings by Jack Vettriano, The Ballroom Spy showcases the glamorous and intoxicating world of professional ballroom dancing, taking the viewer on stage and behind the scenes; from covert glimpses of backstage nerves to the full flourish bravado of performance under the glare of the spotlight. Vettriano’s paintings are interpretations of classic images from Jones’ impressive archive of photographs shot at championship competitions around the country over the last ten years. He releases the characters from their black and white world and puts them into his own signature settings, steeped in colour. An accomplished dancer herself, Jones captures the split second moments that define the look and mood of the different routines, from a classic Waltz to the intense passion of a Tango. Known for her ability to win the confidence of her subjects, Jones has been given very rare access to the dance floor at championships and to the backstage preparations. Her extraordinary photographs offer us a glimpse behind the scenes and up close and personal with the key players of the ballroom dancing world. Jones came to photography relatively late in life but has achieved some considerable success, winning numerous awards for her advertising campaigns. Her images are known to a global audience through publication as cards and posters. Jack Vettriano met Jeanette Jones in the mid 1990’s and was bowled away by her talent. “She manages to capture the magic and realism of ballroom. She’s able to build an instant rapport with the dancers, and works brilliantly under pressure. She only has one chance to record that moment, that look, that heel flick. Whereas I have the luxury to contemplate, to take my time and choose the moment that I wish to paint.” For Jones, the opportunity to collaborate with Vettriano was too good to resist. Known for her stunning black and white photographs, she was intrigued to see how Vettriano would respond to her work. “I’m a huge fan of his work as well as counting him as a friend, so it has been great to work together on this exhibition.” We are delighted to be able to bring together the work of these two artists who share a passion for dance and an ability to capture a moment whether on film or on canvas.
Portrait of Jack Vettriano by Fredi Marcarini
Introduction Followers of Jack Vettriano’s work will know how important dance and music have been as a source of inspiration to the artist, helping to create the paintings for which he has become most famous worldwide. From the now iconic, Singing Butler, which helped to launch his career back in 1992 to last year’s Let’s Twist Again, Vettriano is at his most unashamedly romantic when dance features in his narratives. It is often said that dance provides a means of expression and communication that goes beyond language barriers and it is perhaps this that helps to explain why Vettriano’s dance-themed works are so loved globally. Images like Dance me to the end of Love (1998) and Waltzers (1992) have become known to a huge audience worldwide through publication and continue to be amongst the artist’s most popular works. A natural choreographer, Vettriano demonstrates huge expressive skills in how he places his characters in a composition, how he intertwines their poses for narrative effect. Paintings such as Beautiful Losers II (2001), Night Geometry (1996) and Couple X (2010), whilst not dance themed, they show a choreographer’s eye for movement and human interaction. The Ballroom Spy is the first exhibition dedicated to Vettriano’s love of dancing and more specifically, his love of ballroom dancing. Twelve new paintings are featured in this exhibition, alongside a stunning collection of classic and edgy black and white photographs by Jeanette Jones, whose work Vettriano collects personally. Seven of Vettriano’s paintings are inspired directly by Jones’ photographs, whilst other works in the exhibition offer escapist storylines featuring characters released from the confines of the ballroom. We are delighted to be premiering The Ballroom Spy at Heartbreak before it transfers to the Royal West of England Academy where we hope an even larger audience will discover and enjoy these magical images.
COUPLE NUMBER 33 Catalogue No.1
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COMETH THE HOUR Catalogue No.2
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TA K E T H I S WA LT Z Catalogue No.3
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M AG N E T I C I N M AG E N TA Catalogue No.4
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S TA R RY, S TA R RY N I G H T Catalogue No.5
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LUCKY NUMBER 7 Catalogue No.6
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R U M B A I N B L AC K Catalogue No.7
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A N N I V E R S A RY WA LT Z Catalogue No.8
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THE MORNING AFTER Catalogue No.9
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F O O L S F O R L OV E Catalogue No.10
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SUMMERS REMEMBERED Catalogue No.11
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JIVE Catalogue No.12
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Catalogue of Works 1.
Couple Number 33
Oil on canvas
24 x 20 ins
2.
Cometh the Hour
Oil on canvas
24 x 20 ins
3.
Take this Waltz
Oil on canvas
24 x 20 ins
4.
Magnetic in Magenta
Oil on canvas
15 x 12 ins
5.
Starry, Starry Night
Oil on canvas
24 x 20 ins
6.
Lucky Number 7
Oil on canvas
24 x 20 ins
7.
Rumba in Black
Oil on canvas
24 x 20 ins
8.
Anniversary Waltz
Oil on canvas
24 x 20 ins
9.
The Morning After
Oil on canvas
24 x 20 ins
10. Fools for Love
Oil on canvas
32 x 28 ins
11. Summers Remembered
Oil on canvas
24 x 20 ins
12. Jive
Oil on canvas
20 x 16 ins
Dimensions quoted above are in inches, height before width. Images of the studies of the paintings featured in this exhibition may be viewed on our website: www.heart-break.co.uk A limited edition print of ‘Anniversary Waltz’ has been published by Heartbreak Publishing. www.heartbreakpublishing.com Sold Reserved
Collections Private Collections include: Raymond Blanc Sir Alex Ferguson A.L. Kennedy Jack Nicholson Richard O’Brien Mr & Mrs Gary Rhodes Sir Tim Rice Sir Jackie and Lady Helen Stewart Sir David Tang Corporate and Public Collections include: Dickson Minto General Electric Capital Corporation ICAP Kirkcaldy Museum & Art Gallery Maclay Murray & Spens Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons The Flemings Collection Royal Bank of Scotland United Distillers
Exhibitions 1992 Tales of Love and Other Stories
Edinburgh Gallery
Edinburgh
1993 Fallen Angels
Catto Gallery
London
1993 Summers Remembered
Corrymella Scott Gallery
Newcastle
1994 Chimes at Midnight
Portland Gallery
London
1994 After Midnight
Everard Read Gallery
Johannesburgh
1995 A Date with Fate
Edinburgh Festival
Edinburgh
1996 The Passion and the Pain
Portland Gallery
London
1998 Between Darkness and Dawn
Portland Gallery
London
1999 International 20th Century Arts Fair Portland Gallery at The Armory
New York
2000 Lovers and Other Strangers
Portland Gallery
London
2004 Affairs of the Heart
Portland Gallery
London
2006 Love, Devotion and Surrender
Portland Gallery
London
2009 Homage Ă Tuiga
Yacht Club de Monaco
Monaco
2010 Days of Wine & Roses
Kirkcaldy Museum & Art Gallery
Kirkcaldy
2010 Days of Wine & Roses
Heartbreak
London
2011 The Ballroom Spy
Heartbreak
London
2011 The Ballroom Spy
Royal West of England Academy
Bristol
Jack Vettriano Jack Vettriano's style has been compared to Hopper and Sickert, the moral ambiguities of his sensual dalliance likened to the photography of Brassai, his skudded beaches, inspired by Boudin. Yet he is, incontrovertibly, his own man. Life indoors is a peep-show played out by characters caught up in some shadowy limbo. Or out in an infinity of open space, small dramas tease and unravel. Passion, desire, threat, seduction and betrayal stalk boundaries between virtue and vice. There is an adoration of women and an indulgence of men; an acknowledgement of weakness and corruption, but neither sensure nor approval. The ringmaster masters his cast, cracks the whip and ritual dances begin. Born in 1951, Vettriano is entirely self-taught. Yet with amazing confidence and some painful sacrifices, based upon nothing but a lonely belief in himself, he started to paint full-time and held his first exhibition in 1992. Close to twenty years on Vettriano has become one of the world's best known artists - loved and reviled in equal measures, he is nothing short of a phenomenon of our times. W. Gordon Smith
www.jackvettriano.com
Jack Jack Vettriano Vettrianowould wouldlike liketotogive givespecial specialthanks thankstotothe thefollowing followingpeople peopleforfor their theirsupport supportand andcontribution contributiontotothis thisexhibition: exhibition: Jeanette JeanetteJones Jones Clive CliveArzeian Arzeian Fredi FrediMarcarini Marcarini Julia Julia Tuck Tuck And Andthanks thankstotoallallthe thedancers, dancers,dressmakers, dressmakers,tailors tailorsand andmusicians musicianswho who make makethe theworld worldofofballroom ballroomdancing dancingwhat whatit itis.is.
Published Published andand Produced Produced by by Heartbreak, Heartbreak, 17 17 Bulstrode Bulstrode Street, Street, London London W1U W1U 2JH2JH (0)(20 +44 +44 0)20 3219 3219 5710 5710 / info / info @ heart-break.co.uk @ heart-break.co.uk / www.heart-break.co.uk / www.heart-break.co.uk ForFor thethe 2011 2011 exhibition exhibition ‘The‘The Ballroom Ballroom Spy’Spy’ Illustrations Illustrations andand Text Text ©© Heartbreak Heartbreak Photograph Photograph of of JackJack Vettriano Vettriano andand Jeanette Jeanette Jones Jones ©© Fredi Fredi Marcarini Marcarini
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HE HE ART ART BR BEAK R EAK 1717Bulstrode BulstrodeStreet Street| London | LondonW1U W1U2JH 2JH ) 203219 +44 +44( 0()020 32195710 5710/ info@heart-break.co.uk / info@heart-break.co.uk www.heart-break.co.uk www.heart-break.co.uk