Edinburgh Art Festival

Richard Hamilton: Protest Pictures

Richard Hamilton is one of the great artists of our time, one whose originality continues to influence younger generations through a career which spans over fifty years. The paintings, collages and installation in Protest Pictures have been selected by the artist for Inverleith House, and this is the first exhibition to examine Hamilton’s exacting portrayal of political actions, movements and figures which have shaped our lives.

In the 1960s Hamilton parodied the then leader of the Labour Government (Hugh Gaitskell) for rejecting a policy of unilateral nuclear disarmament and in the 1980s he began a trilogy of paintings based upon the conflicts in Northern Ireland; The citizen (19823), The subject (19889) and The state (1993) will be shown alongside works from the collection of the artist and his wife, the painter Rita Donagh, for the first time.

Hamilton’s earliest artistic influences were the Victorian natural scientist D’Arcy Wentworth Thompson (who was born very close to the Royal Botanic Garden) and the artist Marcel Duchamp. A member of the Independent Group, Hamilton (b. 1922) became a founder of the British Pop Art movement and an influential teacher - most notably in NewcastleuponTyne. In 1993 he represented Britain at the Venice Biennale where he was awarded the Golden Lion.
Protest Pictures is supported by Gagosian Gallery and Blackwall Green.

www.rbge.org.uk/inverleithhouse

Also showing:

What is Life
Christine Borland, Graham Fagen and Simon Starling
12 Jul - 31 Aug

New and recent sculpture by three of Scotland’s leading artists which explores their common interest in the uses and symbolism of plants by cultures past and present.

The Plant Exhibition Hall Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Open daily 10am - 5pm
Admission Free

Secret Affair
Jim Lambie
31 Jul - 31 Aug

Made up of 7 colourful, giant keyholes worked in stainless steel, Secret Affair is Lambie’s first ever outdoor art work, and this new edition of the piece is being premiered at the 2008 EAF. It is located in the stunning setting of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Open daily 10am - 6pm
Admission Free
Click here for more information

31 Jul - 12 Oct

Tues - Sun 10am - 5.30pm
Open daily during Aug
Admission Free
Gallery events

TOUR available

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