Passed as Present
Venue: York City Art Gallery
Rating: * * *
This recently opened exhibition sees pieces from the gallery’s permanent collection paired alongside fresh contemporary works from The Lodeveans Collection. Each grouping, united by subject matter or inspiration, encourages people to find new ways of looking at old favourites.
This exhibition is a clear example of just how remarkably differently artists over time have responded to similar subjects. With ancient holy triptychs juxtaposed with enhanced photography and audio-visual presentations, one cannot deny the originality.
On the other hand, some of the connections in the pairings feel a little tenuous; a classic sea-food still life hangs alongside a highly sexual sketch, entitled ‘Smoking the Salmon’.?Visitors are challenged to draw similarities between works in a way that is unlike typical exhibitions, but perhaps the novelty is slightly transient.
Considering that York City Art Gallery is relatively small and can afford access to only a limited number of pieces, the father-and-son curating team have been adventurously creative in offering the people of York a varied and unusual grouping of works.
Entry is free to all, and the exhibition will be on in the central gallery until April 13.
