18 November - 24 December 2005
MONUMENTAL WOMEN
paintings, works on paper and sculpture
Rosemary Beaton   Sam Crooks   Josef Herman (1911-2000)   Alison Harper Em Isaacson   Anita Klein   Ghisha Koenig (1921 -1993)  Bernard Meninsky (1891-1950) Nikki St. Phalle (1930-2002)   Vanessa Pooley   Paula Rego
The inspiration for the title of this exhibition came from William de Kooning's painting of 1952 of the same title. de Kooning's series of 'Woman' (of which Monumental Women is part) startles with its ferocity that brought him notice and notoriety (before returning to abstraction). The other and probably the main source of inspiration is Nikki St. Phalle. In her work she reclaimed the female body as a site of joyful pleasure rather than an object of voyeuristic, or threatening presence. Her gigantic bathing beauties, who shamelessly flaunt their voluminous bodies, are celebrations of women's freedom and power. It is in this spirit that we dedicate this exhibition to her memory. Some of the artists participating in this show are known internationally, and others are discoveries of the Boundary Gallery. Different artists portrayed women for different reasons. Josef Herman elevated the working class woman by making her look large and hence heroic, as did Ghisha Koenig in her sculptural compositions. Bernard Meninsky, of a slightly earlier generation, on the other hand, followed in Picasso's footsteps in the mid thirties and celebrated enlarged bodies of bathing beauties. Of the contemporary artists,some need no introduction,such as Paula Rego and Anita Klein. Alison Harper and Rosemary Beaton (who won First Prize at the BP Portrait Award at the NPG as a student and has been commissioned by them) have been known and shown at the Boundary Gallery since they left the Glasgow School of Art. Their power of expression and sense of humour have not diminished over the years. Vanessa Pooley's sculpture concentrates on the female figure and mother and child relationship. Sam Crooks is a first time exhibitor pleases the eyes with her large ladies - her favourite subject . Another newcomer is Em Isaacson who features tribal women she has befriended since her move to South Africa two years ago. The Boundary Gallery measures only 1200 square feet and there is room for only forty pictures. But there won't be a bigger exhibition than this one all year. How come? Because this is a celebration of size. This is "Monumental Women" - an exhibition dedicated to the comforting notion that big is beautiful.

 

Bernard Meninsky
Maternity gouache c1935 57 x 36 cm	Two Bathers oil on canvas c1935 30.6 x 41 cm	Mother and Child oil on paper 1935 27 x 21 cm
Josef Herman
Josef Herman (1911-2000) Four Fisherwomen colour lithograph 1975 edition of 100 41.5 x 60 cm
Rosemary Beaton
Somewhere only We Know acrylic on canvas 2005 40 x 50cm	Delight is her Soft Pink Gentle Heart pastel on paper 2000 58.5 x 75.5 cm
Anita Klein
Folding Angel (Painted Screen) oil on board 2005 60 x 139 x 3.5
Lady with Hedgehog oil on board 2004 152 x 116 cm	Megan’s Canary at the Vet oil on board 2004 183 x 91.5 cm
Vanessa Pooley
Morning bronze ed no 1/19 101 x 32 cm
Mother and Child bronze ed of 19 h 33cm	Tiny Mother and Child silver plated 6/19 h 9.5cm
Niki de St Phalle
Muticoloured and Pink Nana silkscreen 1972 edition 63/115 58.5 x 75.5 cm	Lovemaking silkscreen print ed 64/115, 1972 58.5 x 75.5 cm	“What Shall I do?… Next Year...?” silkscreen print ed 61/115, 1972 58.5 x 75.5 cm
Paula Rego
In the Comfort of the Bonnet From the Jane Eyre Portfolio lithograph 2002 ed /35 90 x 66 cm	Self Portrait with Grandchildren From the Jane Eyre Portfolio hand col. lithograph 2002 32/35 49.2 x 78.4 cm
The Keeper from the Jane Eyre Portfolio coloured lithograph 2002 edition of 35 69 x 78 cm
Sam Crookes
Woman and Tree acrylic on canvas 2005 24.5 x 36	Aquaerobics acrylic on canvas 2005 60 x 60 cm	Lady Walking Her Dog acrylic on canvas 2005 34 x 30 cm
Ghisha Koenig
Sewing Shop III Morphy Richards Factory bronze relief 1967 edition no 3/3 34 x 54cm	Tentmakers bronze relief 1981 edition of 5 56.5 x 64.5cm
Ghisha Koenig Papercounters bronze 1956 39 x 75 cm
Two Friends woodcarving 1949 30 x 44cm
Em Isaacson
After the Wedding pastel 2005 65 x 50 cm	Blue Maria pastel 2005 65 x 50 cm	Preparing for the Wedding pastel 2005 65 x 50 cm
Maria 2 pastel 2005 65 x 50 cm	Mother and Child pastel 2005 65 x 50cm
Alison Harper
Creation Goddess mixed media 2005 122 x 91.5 cm	The Three Favourite Women oil on canvas 1998 86 x 71 cm	Head of Buddha oil on canvas 2004 75.5 x 60.5 cm