George Shaw
Art // Emma // 7th September 2003
It would be difficult for anyone to argue that George Shaw is not an incredibly talented artist. However, there are lots of techincally talented artists - what sets Shaw apart from others are two things. Firstly his impressive use of a very unique medium - using Humbrol enamel paint (more commonly associated with young boys and model airplanes). Secondly is his choice of subject matter. Shaw comes from Tile Hill, Coventry, and all his pictures are from the area - not the most glamorous you might think!
The Humbrol paints enable Shaw to create very haunting pictures that really capture different moods. Some pictures you get the impression it is minutes away from raining, others that the sun has just come out or that it is the start of a fresh crisp morning. From afar the pictures almost look like glossy photos - close up you can almost see every blade of grass!
The subject matter is fantastic. However, coming from Coventry myself I had an overwhelming urge to try and pin-point where the scenes Shaw painted were. Hadn't I driven past those flats recently, surely I knew that church, pub etc. But that is not the point. The real joy of the pictures is that they could be anywhere, and because they are devoid of people, signs, cars etc. they could have been painted a pretty much any time over the last 50 years.
I love to see work by artists that isn't all about grand subject matter - sweeping landscapes, sunsets, posed portraits or dramatic abstract work - but about the everyday. Everyday scenes - like George Shaw's bustops or deserted swings I think encourage people to see beauty or at least view things in a different way - scenes they wouldn't normally give a second thought! Although a very different style - I always loved Degas impressionist work for similar reasons - Pictures of people just going about their lives - brushing hair or stepping out of the bath.
George Shaw's 'What I Did Last Summer' is exhibiting at Ikon Gallery, Birmingham until the 14th September.
Links.
Comments
After attending my first George Shaw exhibition some four years ago at The Anthony Wilkinson gallery I’ve been entranced by his style and subject matter.
The stillness and abstract beauty of his work is powerful and constantly provides a warm feeling of deja vu.
Nearly all of us have been to the places which Shaw so beautifully produces with meticulous detail and as such the relevance of these forgotten moments is more poignant, more now than it ever was or ever will be.
Its a pity there is no single site on the web (not that I could find) which would open up his work to a wider audience.
Darren : 30/10/2003 10:57:06
i am studying my a-levels at a 6th form in birmingham at the moment and at the begging of my art a-level attended George Shaw’s exhibition what i did last summer. I loved the way George concentrated on a large amount of detail and concentrated on everyday scenes that i had never thought could have been drawn before! i am now a big fan of georges work and am now researching his work for an a-level project
Dawn : 30/10/2003 21:31:12
I saw the exhibtiionat the IKON gallery as well, and loved it, especially the ones with the broken abandoned swings. The pain tings are a little bit like some of Martin Parr’s Boring Postcards, but there’s also something slightly menacing about them, but with some warm childhood nostalgia thrown in as well.
Darren’s very lucky to have seen him four years ago, but I’m definitely going to keep my eye out for his name again. I wonder how much they cost? Probably too much.
Btw I’m glad I’ve found this website. Is it a collaborative sort of review-blog? It’s very interesting anyway. I found you after googling for George Shaw.
Cliff : 08/11/2003 15:37:16
Thanks for the comments.
Agree with the Martin Parr comparison. Shaw said in that Guardian interview that he admired the 40s/50s/60s let’s-make-things-better attitude of politicians, rebuilding places like Coventry after the war. “Boring Postcards” seemed to reflect the shiny optimism of those times - “look at our brand new empty motorway!/service station!/caravan park!”
I added all the links I could find about him on to the end of Emma’s review - if anyone finds any more, do let us know. And if your listening Mr Shaw, if you want a site bunging together, I’m sure we could come to some sort of arrangement… :-)
Steve : 11/11/2003 18:53:44
Dammit… “..you’re listening...”. Back to school for me.
Steve : 11/11/2003 19:58:43
I found a review about George shaw in the ‘contemporary visual arts’ journal - issue 26. some of you may find it is a useful source, good luck on finding more about him!
hayley : 24/11/2003 17:16:52
georges work is excellent i havent actually seen an exhibition but i seen his portfolio book, ive met george a few times and knw his partner , there both lovely people . i think he will be a big name soon.
amie : 01/12/2003 13:56:34
I like George’s work and I’m looking forward to an opportunity to see it “in the flesh”! Cheers, A
Adrian Bailey : 04/01/2004 22:49:20
Just had a quick gander round, and it appears that “What I did last summer” is on in Dundee from 24th January to 21st March… well recommended if you’re in the area, and here’s a link for more info…
Dundee Contemporary Arts
Steve : 05/01/2004 09:30:04
…And there’s a bit more on the DCA website…
http://www.dca.org.uk/exhibitions/coming_soon.asp
Steve : 05/01/2004 09:33:22
Does anyone know how i can get in touch with the artist? I’d love to use some George Shaw images for our record sleeves: www.theplaywrights.co.uk
thanks…
Benjamin Shillabeer : 27/01/2004 20:58:40
That link above to the DCA site is now dead - the exhibition is on at the moment, and here’s a link to the details…
http://www.dca.org.uk/exhibitions/details.asp?id=1170
(Benjamin, I’ll email you)
steve : 27/01/2004 22:02:14
recently arrived from australia to paint in england. inspired by shaw’s subtle use of colour and meditative imagery it was the only work in the bookshop at Whitechapel Gallery i truly loved.
jackie : 15/04/2004 20:33:45
george shaw is shit
hjytuy : 18/05/2004 13:09:50
I love shaws work. I am an art student studying at an fine art school. I have done similar work in the past such as the Canterbury exhibition I had on. I descovered shaw for the first time last year and love his subject matter and use of a sartirical use of techneque
James Farley : 08/08/2004 20:24:13
Shaw’s work is brilliant! I think it’s great that he paints the real world and not just the dull senes which so many artists choose to draw. I’m studying art GCSE and I am truly inspired!
Charlotte : 25/09/2004 19:00:41
George I have just watched a programme about you and your work and I am completely beguiled. Please make it easier to see your work on the net so that perhaps prints can be bought as originals will be too expensive, I love your paintings and totally get them. Best regards Frank.
frank barrett : 25/09/2004 19:16:37
I’m interested because just about the only encouragement I got at Goldsmith’s(art-college) for my figurative work was from Mark Wallinger who was my art tutor (for too short a while really).
Anyway, that’s past, but George Shaw’s work, and especially the interest in it, is very encouraging I find.What do others think?
amanda : 25/09/2004 20:51:30
I am from coventry, and my dad was born in Tile Hill and recognises some of the wonderful pictures George Shaw has created. I think his work is inspiring as a girl aged 15 from coventry, who adores art. I find him a inspiring artist and i find his technique even more inspiring than his peices.
Jenny : 25/09/2004 22:37:53
I’m not really an art fan, but was well impressed by the Channel 4 show ‘The Late George Shaw’ seeing all those familar scenes that George knows and has depicted so well in his work whilst listening to the: Specials,Joy Division and other fave acts of the artist confirmed to me that at last art is not the the sole property of toffs with public school backgrounds, posh accents and trust funds from mater and pater to keep them off the breadline while they suffer for their art and develop their mockney accents!!! Nice one George you’ve really opened my eyes and for that I’ll be eternally gratefull! Anybody know of a way of getting in touch with the artist to drop him a line? Be Lucky Kevin.
Accessible nostalgia! What a great expression, Up the working class hero’s of which George is surely one!!!
Kevin Raymond : 26/09/2004 15:39:30
Saw the docu on 4. Amazed to see a painting of the flat I spent my teens growing up in. They even used The Fall and Joy Division on the soundtrack....2 bands I used to listen to a lot back then.
Those paintings are like looking into a dream of my youth...I know every bit of them - the knackered garages by the nature reserve, bus stop into town ( glorious escape ), the club, the shops. Left Tile Hill North 20 years ago....ended up playing in a band that were slightly famous for a bit ( primitives....who? ). I’m now an artist myself ( pop art type of thing ) and almost make half a living from it.
Anyhow....love the paintings. Even more affecting if you grew up/ live there. Think I can remember seeing George around...might have gone to the same school or something. Must check out his work in the flesh soon as pos.
paul : 26/09/2004 17:01:13
Loved the obituary on Channel4.
Difficult to believe I`ve not heard of George before, very inspirational.I`ve lived in Tile Hill for 10 years , grew up in Whoberly.Recognised every painting I saw , the little shop in Brazil Street , and Delius too.I was at the Tate the other day , I reckon George`s work would look flippin great there!
Jacki : 26/09/2004 22:05:35
Ah, we completely missed this - would have liked to have seen this. Although it sounds a bit odd (was it really a mock obituary?)
The Late George Shaw
steve : 27/09/2004 13:37:38
I’ve written a bit about George Shaw here ( http://blog.urbanomic.com/undercurrent/archives/000440.html ). I live in Cornwall and saw ‘What I Did Last Summer’ at Newlyn Gallery. Although it seems modest, I think what Shaw is doing is more sophisticated and powerful than most of the uk’s popular conceptual artists. I agree it’d be nice to have more of his work available to see online.
undercurrent : 04/10/2004 13:33:16
Anyone know where to get prints of scenes from the passion?
lucia : 08/10/2004 21:32:22
I’m doing A-level Art and am studying Shaw, does anyone know how I can contact him? or if he has any exhibitions coming up?
Leila : 16/10/2004 22:13:54
George Shaw. A Fellow Hero of The Mundane. He Truly finds beauty in everything, if only the whole damned country could huh? His work is simply amazing and i’m gonna agree, his work needs to be more accessable but i don’t think that’s what he’s about you know?
Raxxlanoid : 18/11/2004 00:20:19
absolutley love georges work just wish i could e-mail him as im doing a contemporary art critique on his work for art degree.anyone know how i can do this. thanks maria
maria : 03/04/2005 16:25:53
Someone called Sarah has written in to let us know that:
George has a new exhibition starting may 13th-june 26th 2005
at
the wilkinson gallery
242 cambridge heath road
London
www.wilkinsongallery.com
Jim : 01/05/2005 13:02:01
Yes I visited this exhibition and it was certainly great. I am interested in aquiring a picture. Does anyone know of examples of his work that might be for sale?
Guy : 02/11/2005 20:49:18
As a photographer I am always looking for a way of conveying a sense of place to my clients. I stumbled accross georges work whilst flicking channels on the tv one evening and have been a fan ever since. To me, george manages to totally captivate the viewer in his world, and although he uses paints and not a camera, his style is more captivating than many of us could ever dream of achieving on film.
steve : 16/03/2006 20:11:08
You’ve got the light right George! Get a funny feeling looking at these images - half reminiscent, half melancholic. Good luck George - will you paint my house opposite Our Lady of the Assumption Church?
Mick
Mick Ruddy : 31/12/2007 07:26:17
It’s 2008 and still nowhere to go to see George Shaw’s work! I too would love to see a collection either on a website or in a gallery. I’m desperate to have a reproduction I can frame for my home. I grew up on the Tile Hill North estate during the 50s and 60s and still go back to visit from time to time. I came across George’s work on the Channel 4 documentary about a month after I’d spent some time taking a series of photos of the estate and the adjacent woods. I was completely incredulous that such an unbelievably talented artist had chosen this particular environment to paint from photos. It’s fascinating that his work has such universal appeal. Imagine what it means to those whose whole childhood is captured in his work.
Gary : 06/02/2008 12:24:16
hey bud - I don’t care how George made these art works...from photo’s or not - what does it matter? these are masterpieces - this is modern art - this is social documentary - you listening to me George...?
mick ruddy : 31/03/2008 19:09:12