GEORGE CLAESSEN
TIMELESS MIRROR
09 MARCH 2018 - 12 APRIL 2018
2 ALFRED HOUSE ROAD COLOMBO 3 T 2582162, 2556563 E art@paradiseroad.lk
George Claessen (1909-1999) It is 18 years since the death of George Claessen, aged 89, in London and 69 years since he left the shores of this island for the last time, in 1949. Yet the fascination of Sri Lankan with this artist, sculptor and poet is undiminished. The interest, enthusiasm and demand for Claessen’s work seem to grow with the passing of time. This 4th exhibition of his work in Colombo since 1993 has been greatly anticipated. Today there are no survivors of the ’43 Group. Keeping the memory of the collective of nine artists who heralded modern art in Sri Lanka is more important than ever, now that Neville Weereratne, who has done so much to record its history, is no more. Although one would argue that the impact of the Group was such, that it has left an indelible mark in the history of art in this island and beyond. This enigmatic, quiet and unassuming artist produced work that ranged from naturalistic, impressionistic to abstract, and apart from his animal paintings and few figurative works, they are largely Western in style and content, considering he started his life as an artist, sketching ancient ruins of Anuradhapura. His passion was for abstract paintings and abstract expressionism in particular. To quote him “in my life as an artist I accepted the fact that the way that I was developing would inevitably lead me into pure abstract painting”. He believed that this was his contribution to art. I was fortunate and privileged to get to know him during the last five years of his life, working the monograph on him. It was to be a tribute to him on his 90th birthday. It was the cause of much sadness that he did not live to see the record of his work. Claessen’s work have been shown in many collective and individual exhibitions during his lifetime and after, in Colombo, Melbourne, Paris, Venice, São Paulo, Ibiza and London. It is a rare privilege to see such a large collection of his work in one place. Shanth Fernando and his team, Esmeralda Claessen and Wolf Sulhan are to be congratulated for putting this great show together. Shamil Wanigaratne Author of ‘George Claessen Artist, Sculptor and Poet, 1909-99 Paradise Isle Publications, London (2000)
Dark Equation, 1998, Ink & wash on paper, 21cm x 28.5cm
Abstract I, 1997, Watercolor on paper, 18cm x 24cm
Abstract II, 1996, Oil Crayon, 16cm x 23cm
Abstract III, 1997, Watercolor on paper, 16.5cm x 23.5cm
Equation, 1997, Pastel on paper, 13cm x 18. 5 cm
Woman’s Head I, Pen and watercolor on paper, 46cm x 30cm
Power of the Infinite, 1997, Watercolor on paper, 18cm x 26cm
Revelatory Moment, 1997, Watercolour, 15cm x 21cm
Portuguese Pearshaped Pitcher, 1996, watercolour, 13.5cm x 20.5cm
Flower Piece, 1996, Watercolor crayon on paper, 27cm x 36cm
Woman’s Head, 1982, Oil crayon on paper, 34cm x 43cm
Timeless Mirror, 1996, Egg tempera on paper, 24cm x 32cm
Man’s Head, 1991, Watercolor on paper, 23.5cm x 33.5cm
Equation Search, 1998, Watercolor on paper, 16 cm x 20.5 cms
Theorem, 1995, Oil pastel, 18.5cm x 22.5cm
Abstract IV, 1997, Watercolor on paper, 18cm x 20cm
Male Figure, 1982, Ppen, ink & oil crayon on paper, 43cm x 57cm
Abstract Panel, 1997, Oil pastel on paper, 15cm x 26cm
Vertical Window, 1997, Watercolor on paper, 15cm x 25cm
Head, 1986, Oil crayon on paper, 18cm x 26cm
An Essence, 1996, oils on paper, 23cm x 24cm
Untitled III, 1983, Oil crayon on paper, 18cm x 26cm
Male Upright, 1982, Oil crayon on paper, 19cm x 36xm
Recumbent Man, 1984, Chalk pastel on paper, 43cm x 29cm
Standing Nude, 1980, Dry point etching on paper, 25cm x 38cm
Untitled II, 1982, Pencil on paper, 18cm x 24cm
Standing Figure, 1986, Pastel on paper, 18cm x 25.5cm
The Boatman Charon, 1988, Crayon & Watercolour, 20cm x 28cm
Virgin & Child, 1981, Pen & Watercolor on paper, 21cm x 28cm
Mosiac, 1994, Gouache on paper, 28cm x 35cm
Colt, 1998, Watercolour on paper, 18.5cm x 21cm
Untitled I, 1977, Dry point etching on paper, 29.5cm x 24cm
Elephant, 1996, ContĂŠ on paper, 19m x 29cm
Reliquary, 1978, Lino cut on paper, 23m x 34cm
Mystical Equilibrium, 1975, Lithograph on paper, 40m x 52cm
Mystical Equilibrium I, 1975, Lithograph on paper, 40m x 52cm
Logic of Another Dimension, 1996, Egg tempera on paper, 27cm x 36cm
GEORGE CLAESSEN 1909 - 1999, FOUNDER MEMBER ‘43 GROUP Exhibitions 1909 Painter and graphic artist born in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) on 5th May. Educated at St Joseph’s College, Colombo. Starts development as an artist in earnest in 1938 aged 29 1941 Enters the Competitive Exhibition held by the Ceylon Society of Arts in several categories and wins 1st Prize for a still life painting in oils
In August of the same year exhibits an oil titled ‘a study of an old man’ in the Ceylon Society of Arts 46th Annual Exhibition
1943 Founds the ‘43 Group along with eight other artists. Exhibits in the first opening exhibition of the Group in Colombo on 20th November 1943, and in 10 of the subsequent 16 shows between 1943 - 1967 1944 Picture enters in the Ceylon’s War Effort Pictures Exhibition, 7th July, which is purchased by the Ministry of Information, London for three guineas 1946 Appears in exhibition in memory of Lionel Wendt in October, Guildford Crescent, Colombo
Book of drawings titled George Claessen’s Drawings published by Jataka in December, Sri Lanka
1947 Designs part of a stage set for Jean Cocteau’s Infernal Machine
Leaves Sri Lanka to live in Melbourne, Australia. Joins the Victorian Artists Society and exhibits the following year
1948 Works on show in March at the Velaquez Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
Shows in the 60 Drawings Exhibition in July put on the Victorian Society; Melbourne, Australia
And later in November, in My Best Picture of the Year Exhibition
1949 Returns to Sri Lanka. Finds himself destitute in Bombay en route to England and at a very low ebb. Sells some works to Martin Russel, a kind friend, which pays his passage to England when a cancellation on board a ship suddenly comes up 1950 Has a joint exhibition in November titled An Exhibition of Sculpture Paintings and Drawings with Sculptor Mary Gorrara at the Archer Gallery in Notting Hill Gate, London 1951 Exhibits with the Royal Society of British Artists in February, in Pall Mall, London
Shows in May at Kensington Art Gallery in ‘Salon of Watercolors: Drawings & Sculpture’ in Kensington, London
1952 Shows with the United Society of Artists at the R.B.A Galleries, Pall Mall, London
Takes part in Contemporary Ceylonese Painting at the Imperial Institute Gallery in November, in Whitechapel, London
1953 Appears in L’Art de Ceylan; Le 43 Group in November at Petit Palais, Paris 1954 Features in 6 Contemporary Ceylonese Painters at the Artists International Association (AIA) Gallery, in January Leicester Square, London
Work appears at the Heffer Gallery, Cambridge, in February in Contemporary Painters from Ceylon
1956 Shows several works at the Venice Biennale 1957 Exhibits at the New Vision Gallery, in January, in Paddington, London 1958 Features in New Vision’s Abstract and non figurative Painting &Sculpture show in January
Works on display at The Free Painters’ Group Open Exhibition in February
Appears in May in An Exhibition of Paintings by the Free Painters’ Group put on by the Hampstead Artists Council, Hampstead London
1959 Exhibits at Biennale, Museum de Arte Moderna, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Plaque awarded for abstract painting 1962 One man exhibition is held in June at the New Vision Centre Gallery, Paddington, London 1963 Features in the Commonwealth Biennale of Abstract Art at the Commonwealth Institute in June, in Kensington, London 1967 Poems published in ‘Poems of Painter’ Mitre Press, London
70’s - 90’s During this period exhibits less frequently, with much of the work being acquired privately and more increasingly by various collectors directly from the studio. Produces several volumes of poetry
1971 Poems included in Poetry Today, an anthology of contemporary verse Regency Press, London, New York
1972 Exhibits in Members of the 43 Group at the Royal Festival Hall, Lyre Room, South Bank, London 1975 One man exhibition of paintings & graphics in October at the Stanhope Gallery, Longford St. London 1981 Small volume of poems published by A. H. Stockwell Ltd, Devon titled, Poems About Nothing 1984 Work in the Centre International d’Art Contemporian, (C. i. a. c) Paris 1985 ‘43 Group Colombo exhibition shows in October at the Purcel Room Foyer, Royal Festival Hall, South Bank Centre, London 1986 Features in collective retrospective exhibition held at the New Vision Gallery highlighting works from 1956 - 1966 1987 ‘43 Group Colombo shows at the Lyre Room, Royal Festival Hall, in June at the South Bank Centre, London 1991 Shows work at the Lionel Wendt Gallery in January, Colombo in honour of George Keyt at 90 years old 1992 Poems included on The Sound of Poetry audio cassette by National Library of Poetry, U.S.A 1993 Features in a one man show; George Claessen A Retrospective, held at Gallery 706, in November, Galle Rd, Colombo, Sri Lanka 1994 Poems included in Dance On The Horizon, published by The National Library of Poetry, USA 1996 A book titled Collected Poems is published by Avon Books, London 1998 Ten works in various mediums are acquired in August by the Sri Lankan government as part of the Presidential Collection 1999 The artist dies at his partner Betsa’s home on the 1st May four days before his 90th birthday 2000 Is the subject of a book by Shamil Wanigaratne titled George Claessen, Artist, Sculptor and Poet published by Paradise Isle Publications, Hertfordshire
Illustrated Seminar on the Drawings and Paintings of George Claessen 43 Group, by the Ceylon Bloomsbury Group in association with the 43 Group Colombo London held at the School of Oriental and African studies
Retrospective exhibition in November at Frank T Sabin gallery, Albemarle St, Mayfair, London
Retrospective exhibition in September held in Sri Lanka at 706 Gallery, Galle Rd, Colombo, Sri Lanka
2005 Memorial Party held auspiciously, 6 years after his death at his home on 5/5/05, 5 having been his ‘lucky’ number
An abstract work is auctioned at Sotheby’s in July in the 20th Century Asian Art Sale, New Bond St, London
2005 Features in Asian Art in London, in November in Paintings from the Studio of Sri Lankan Artist George Claessen, at the viewing space of Oliver Forge and Brendan Lynch Ltd. St James’, Piccadilly, London
2006 The last two remaining abstracts out of the 14 from ‘The Studio ...’ exhibition are entered in the Christies, Modern and Contemporary Indian Art sale on March 30th at the Rockefeller Plaza New York and sell considerably higher than the reserve price
One work from the exhibition re-sold at Bonhams, London, which had previously refused to auction any Claessens. It sold for more than double its original price
Claessen’s work continues to appear at the various international auction houses
2009 Centennial Memorial party held at former home of artist on 5th May by his daughter Esmeralda. His granddaughter Naomi was also present
Centennial exhibition held at The Gallery Cafe, Colombo 3 on 21st July curated by Shanth Fernando
2010 Talk given by Shamil Wanigaratne at the High Commision of Sri Lanka, Kensington London, by The Friends of Ceylon, On George Claessen. Picture; abstract watercolour, (abstract vertical 1998) donated to hang on walls with other ‘43G luminaries. (Pic taken with High Commissioner — his Excellency .... holding picture for Hi mag) 2012 Discussions held with the Courtaulds Institute, London about an exhibition featuring the ‘43 Group 2013 Two works sell at Christies New York, Prismatic Testament and Le Sourie, (The Smile) for well above the reserve estimate 2017 On going talks with major institutions and galleries concerning George Claessen and the ‘43 Group
2 ALFRED HOUSE ROAD COLOMBO 3 T 2582162, 2556563 E art@paradiseroad.lk