WILLIAM FOYLE
WILLIAM FOYLE NEW WORK 1st - 5th December 2015 10 am - 6 pm Royal College of Art Kensington Gore London SW7 2EU Exhibition curated by Diane Shiach Works are available for sale upon receipt of this catalogue these and additional works can be viewed online at www.williamfoyle.com Collectors Enquiries to: the curator, diane shiach t: +44 (0)7905 929210 e: dianeshiach@gmail.com General Enquires to: irina zaraisky t: +44 (0)7717 453131 e: info@williamfoyle.com
Head of Christ
Painting is Dead ! New Technologies Rule ! This was the attitude of so many curators in the 20th century who were trying to be so contemporary. As we all know painting is very much alive and relevant in the 21st century. The wealth of experience, thought and feeling generated by painting still manages to amaze and enthral. An emerging generation of young painters have embraced the medium of painting, drawing and printmaking. Many of these young talents have revisited the use and power of figuration so out of fashion in the last half of the 20th century. William Foyle is one of those painters. Using figuration, he explores feelings of what art meant and could mean. His passion for painting, drawing and monotypes were not nurtured at Art School. He wanted to learn more. Looking at and studying contemporary and historical painting, he travelled around Europe visiting great Museums and Art Galleries. He drew and worked from the visual world around him. This is what spoke to him. William honed his technical skills by objective study and observation. Music and literature have also had a huge influence on him and are in part the foundation blocks of his talent. Surrounding himself with the music of Bartok, Liszt, Janacek, Messiaen, Reich, Stravinsky, Shostakovich and Terry Riley together with his appreciation of the writings of Dostoevsky, Kafka, Jung, Tolstoy, van Gogh’s letters and Turgenev have further enhanced this rich, complex and intriguing dialogue. His facility for drawing and painting gives him the ability to use it or not, depending on the work and experiences he is articulating. This means he works from a position of strength, always being able to put into action his skills if the work demands it. The present body of work, paintings and monotypes uses a subtle and refined means of execution to explore their themes and motifs. In the paintings; tonality, with a hint of colour. In the monotypes, black and white is scraped through to expose the image. Ghostly figures emerge with an economy of line. A gesture here a gesture there, reveal the figure like some distant memory. Ghostly, almost skeletal figures haunt ones imagination yet fascinate ones sensibilities. In the paintings, the figures emerge and recede into the surface of the canvas, their presence almost felt than seen. They materialise from the canvas as though through the mists of time, revealed by layers and washes of paint. The luminescent forms hover and float within the boundaries of the canvas both, materialising and dematerialising their sense of being. The known and unknown in a dialogue and a struggle to come to existence. The themes and motifs are sometimes upsetting and disturbing yet, compelling and beautiful at the same time. This is the work of a young talent whose vision and understanding are expanding rapidly and exhibits a maturity beyond his age. I have experienced a great deal by contemplating and engaging with the work. I encourage you to spend time with the paintings and monotypes which, on initial viewing seem to be grasped quickly but contain a slow release which require repeat viewing and contemplation.
Terry New, P.P.R.B.S, MA(RCA), Dip A.D.
1
Portrait Study of Early Man I, 2014 oil on canvas 92 x 74 cm
2
Study of Early Woman I, 2014 oil on canvas 150 x 100 cm
of Early Woman II, 2014 3 Study oil on canvas 163 x 90 cm
4
Study of Early Woman III, 2014 oil on canvas 178 x 120 cm
5
Study of Early Man I, 2014 oil on canvas 170 x 111 cm
6
Study of Neanderthal I, 2014 oil on canvas 152 x 101 cm
7
Study of Neanderthal II, 2014 oil on canvas 190 x 119 cm
8
Study of Neanderthal III, 2014 oil on board 209 x 50 cm
9
Study of Early Woman IV, 2014 oil on canvas 137 X 86 cm
10
Portrait Study of Early Woman II, 2014 oil on canvas 95 x 70 cm
11
Portrait Study of Early Woman III, 2014 oil on canvas 79 x 59 cm
12
Showers in Lodz Ghetto I, 2015 oil on canvas 181 x 115 cm
13
Head I, 2015 oil on canvas 55 x 54 cm
14
Head II, 2015 oil on canvas 50 x 50 cm
15
Holocaust Figure, 2015 monoprint 34 x 27 cm
16
Holocaust Figure I, 2015 oil on canvas 131 x 112 cm
17
Holocaust Figure II, 2015 oil on canvas 132 x 111 cm
18
Holocaust Figure III, 2015 oil on canvas 104 x 107 cm
19
Holocaust Figure IV, 2015 oil on canvas 220 x 122 cm
20
Holocaust Figure V, 2015 oil on canvas 152 x 138 cm
21
Showers in Lodz Ghetto II, 2015 oil on canvas 185 x 115 cm
22
Head Study III oil on canvas 70 x 85 cm
23
Holocaust Figure VI oil on canvas 144 x 144 cm
24
Holocaust Figure VII oil on canvas 133 x 99 cm
25
Holocaust Figure VIII oil on canvas 132 x 111 cm
26
Holocaust Figure II monotype 34 x 27 cm
27
Head Study of Neanderthal oil on canvas 50 x 40 cm
28
Study of Neanderthal IV oil on canvas 190 x 119 cm
29
Head of Early Woman I oil on canvas 40 x 30 cm
30
Study of Early Woman IV oil on canvas 76 x 51 cm
31
Head of Early Woman II oil on board 50 x 30 cm
32
Head of Early Man oil on board 60 x 50 cm
33
Head of Early Woman III oil on board 50 x 30 cm
34
Head of Christ I oil on canvas 51 x 40 cm
35
Head of Christ II oil on canvas 51 x 40 cm
36
Head of Eve I monotype 23 x 19 cm
39
Louis I oil on canvas 137 x 137 cm
40
Louis II oil on canvas 66 x 124 cm
41
Head of Louis oil on canvas 40 x 30 cm
51
Louis III oil on canvas 130 x 130 cm
42
Mr Sim I oil on canvas 57 x 45 cm
43
Mr Sim II oil on canvas 50 x 40 cm
44
Mr Sim III oil on canvas 50 x 40 cm
45
Mr Tuft I oil on board 20 x 15 cm
46
Mr Tuft II oil on canvas 40 x 50 cm
47
Serena oil on paper 42 x 42 cm
48
Jan d’Ansenbourg oil on canvas 46 x 54 cm
49
Self-portrait acrylic on paper 42 x 31 cm
50
Scottish Landscape oil on canvas 213 x 91 cm
“Through this body of work i try to convey what it is to be human; the mystery of life, it’s fragility and uniqueness. These are the things that for a brief moment can create a sense of why we are here.” William Foyle, October 2015
Exhibition Notes Diane Shiach, Curator With an academic background in History of Art, (MA Hons), Diane Shiach has a breadth of experience curating private collections in the UK and Middle East. She has also worked in the commercial gallery world having managed galleries in London and was a Director of The Scottish Gallery. With experience gained over many years in the art world, she has advised clients both private and commercial on their collections and the art market. Terry New P.P.R.B.S, M.A (RCA), Dip AD Terry New is a practising Sculptor. He was appointed The President of The Royal British Society of Sculptors (2012 to July 2015). He was previously Head of Sculpture at The Royal Academy Schools (1986-2001) and Head of Fine Art at The Royal Academy Schools from 2001 to 2010. His work is held in public and private collections in Europe, USA, the United Kingdom, UAE and Australia.
PRICE LIST 1 Portrait Study of Early Man I 92 x 74 cm £5,500 2 Study of Early Woman I 150 x 100 cm £6,500 3 Study of Early Woman II 163 x 90 cm £6,500 4 Study of Early Woman III 178 x 120 cm £5,900 5 Study of Early Man I 170 x 111 cm £5,900 6 Study of Neanderthal I 152 x 101 cm £5,900 7 Study of Neanderthal II 190 x 119 cm £5,900 8 Study of Neanderthal III 209 x 50 cm £5,900 9 Study of Early Woman IV 137 x 86 cm £4,000 10 Portrait Study of Early Woman II 95 x 70 cm £2,800 11 Portrait Study of Early Woman III 79 x 59 cm £3,200 12 Showers in Lodz Ghetto I 185 x 115 cm £6,800 13 Head I 55 x 54 cm £3,200 14 Head II 50 x 50 cm £3,200 15 Holocaust Figure I 34 x 27 cm £650 16 Holocaust Figure I 131 x 112 cm £5,900 17 Holocaust Figure II 146 x 97 cm £5,900 18 Holocaust Figure III 104 x 107 cm £6,500 19 Holocaust Figure IV 220 x 122 cm £6,800 20 Holocaust Figure V 152 x 138 cm £6,400 21 Showers in Lodz Ghetto II 185 x 115 cm £6,800 22 Head Study III 70 x 85 cm £3,200 23 Holocaust Figure VI 144 x 144 cm £6,400 24 Holocaust Figure VII 133 x 99 cm £6,000 25 Holocaust Figure VIII 132 x 111 cm £5,900 26 Holocaust Figure II 34 x 27 cm £650 27 Head Study of Neanderthal 50 x 40 cm £1,500 28 Study of Neanderthal IV 190 x 119 cm £5,900 29 Head of Early Woman I 40 x 30 cm £1,800 30 Study of Early Woman IV 76 x 51 cm £2,500 31 Head of Early Woman II 50 x 30 cm £2,800 32 Head of Early Man 60 x 50 cm £2,400 33 Head of Early Woman III 50 x 30 cm £3,200 34 Head of Christ I 51 x 40 cm £3,500 35 Head of Christ II 51 x 40 cm £3,500 36 Head of Eve I 23 x 19 cm NFS 39 Louis I 137 x 137 cm £6,500 40 Louis II 66 x 124 cm £5,500 41 Head of Louis 40 x 30 cm £1,800 42 Mr Sim I 57 x 45 cm £2,900 43 Mr Sim II 50 x 40 cm £2,500 44 Mr Sim III 50 x 40 cm £2,500 45 Mr Tuft I 20 x 15 cm £1,200 46 Mr Tuft II 40 x 50 cm £2,800 47 Serena 42 x 42 cm £1,900 48 Jan d’Ansenbourg 46 x 54 cm £3,200 49 Self-portrait 42 x 31 cm £1,900 50 Scottish Landscape 213 x 91 cm £8,800 51 Louis III 130 x 130 cm £6,500
WILLIAM FOYLE NEW WORK 1st - 5th December 2015 Royal College of Art