CHRISTIAN HOOK THE DARWIN SERIES

Transcription

1 CHRISTIAN HOOK THE DARWIN SERIES

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3 But Natural Selection, as we shall hereafter see, is a power incessantly ready for action, and is immeasurably superior to man s feeble efforts, as the works of Nature are to those of Art. Charles Darwin, On The Origin of Species

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5 THE DARWIN SERIES A few months ago, I learnt that my name had been put forward as a possible candidate for the freedom of the city of Gibraltar - an honor bestowed on an individual by the people of the city. Simultaneously, Clarendon Fine Art had arranged an exhibition for me in their new refurbished gallery onboard the famous Cunard liner Queen Victoria. Both entities decided to work together to create a special event, I wanted to produce something new for this and it occurred to me that a random visit to a bookshop could serve as a starting point and a source of inspiration. The next morning I walked into a Waterstones, and on a little side table was a copy of Charles Darwin s On the Origin of Species. I discovered that Darwin had also been on a ship called the Beagle where he made numerous expeditions and discoveries. To find out more I visited the Darwin Centre at the Natural History Museum in London and bought a copy of his notebook. After reading about his theories on adaptation, modification, variants and so forth, I thought it would be an exciting endeavor to explore these concepts through my equestrian work; to look at the anatomy of a horse in a different way. I also decided to use some of the same materials Darwin used in his notebook sketches and annotations; writing ink and aged paper, quills and mixed media. I named the collection of work after the great explorer The Darwin Series.

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7 Transition Oil on Paper 38 x 49 inches (97 x 124 cm)

8 A Line in the Balance Oil on Paper 39 x 49 inches (100 x 124 cm)

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10 Variants Oil on Paper 24 x 12 inches (61 x 30 cm)

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13 Modifications Oil on Paper 48 x 37 inches (122 x 94 cm)

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15 Interpositions Oil on Canvas 39 x 39 inches (100 x 100 cm)

16 The Idea of a Horse s Head, B&W Oil on Paper 34 x 45 inches (86 x 114 cm)

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19 Instinct Oil on Canvas 39 x 39 inches (100 x 100 cm)

20 Eugenics Oil on Aluminium 12 x 12 inches (30 x 30 cm)

21 Origins Oil on Aluminium 12 x 12 inches (30 x 30 cm)

22 Unnatural Selection I (Work in Progress) Oil on Board 39 x 39 inches (100 x 100 cm)

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25 Unnatural Selection II Oil on Board 48 x 65 inches (122 x 165 cm)

26 The Struggle for Existence I Oil on Canvas 39 x 39 inches (100 x 100 cm)

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29 A Line in the Balance II Oil and Mixed Media on Paper 56 x 47 inches (142 x 120 cm)

30 The Struggle for Existence II Oil and Mixed Media on Paper 56 x 47 inches (142 x 120 cm)

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32 The Idea of a Horse s Head I Oil on Aluminium 8 x 8 inches (20.5 x 20.5 cm)

33 The Idea of a Horse s Head II Oil on Aluminium 8 x 8 inches (20.5 x 20.5 cm)

34 The Idea of a Horse s Head III Oil on Aluminium 8 x 8 inches (20.5 x 20.5 cm)

35 The Idea of a Horse s Head IV Oil on Aluminium 8 x 8 inches (20.5 x 20.5 cm)

36 The Idea of a Horse s Head V Oil on Aluminium 8 x 8 inches (20.5 x 20.5 cm)

37 This preservation of favourable variations and the rejection of injurious variations, I call Natural Selection. Charles Darwin, On The Origin of Species

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39 The Ambush (Work in Progress) Oil on Board 68.5 x 37.5 inches (174 x 95 cm)

40 BLACK ON BLACK A new way of working using gloss and matt paint against matt black. The subject appears and disappears depending on which angle you see them at. Struggle for Existence III Oil and Mixed Media on Board 48 x 71 inches (122 x 180 cm) Struggle for Existence IV Oil and Mixed Media on Board 59.5 x 48.5 inches (152 x 123 cm)

41 Struggle for Existence V Oil and Mixed Media on Board 39 x 39 inches (100 x 100 cm) Struggle for Existence VI Oil and Mixed Media on Board 39 x 39 inches (100 x 100 cm)

42 OTHER WORKS EXHIBITED Zaragosa Oil on Aluminium 12 x 12 inches (30 x 30 cm)

43 Toledo Oil on Aluminium 12 x 12 inches (30 x 30 cm)

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45 THE DARWIN SERIES INTRODUCES TWO EXCLUSIVE NEW EDITIONS Each image will be available as a hand signed paper edition of 50 and a hand signed canvas edition of 20. In addition there will be 10 highly desirable artist proofs on paper and 5 on canvas which will bear a personal and unique symbol of exclusivity. Please contact the gallery for further details.

46 A Line in the Balance 'A grain in the balance will determine which individual shall live and which shall die - which variety or species shall increase in number, and which shall decrease, or finally become extinct.' Charles Darwin I used the word line instead of grain because the sentence still carries the same message. My own interpretation of this concept is the balancing of line with the patchy areas of worked up tonal rendering. Although I have attempted to create a harmonious balance between the two, one always ends up taking a more prevalent role in the confines of the canvas.

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49 Transition It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change. Charles Darwin Although Darwin does not mention the word, this observation clearly defines the importance of transition in the survival of a species. My artistic interpretation of this theory is based on the moving image of a horse s head. Undefined and deconstructed areas suggest a fleeting moment - something in constant change, echoing the basic principle of this theory.

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51 COMMEMORATIVE ARTIST S PROOF FREEDOM OF THE CITY In recognition of the honour bestowed upon Christian by the Gibraltar Parliament, we are delighted to announce that a commemorative Artist s Proof of the paper edition will be exclusively available at this event. In addition to being hand signed in oil by Christian, this beautiful collector s piece features a wax seal which is hand embossed with Christian s Medallion of Honour. The engraving on the medallion reads as follows: Bestowed by Each of the 10 copies will be accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and a handmade card on which Christian has personally created a print of his right hand the hand with which he paints. the Gibraltar Parliament on behalf of the people of Gibraltar for exceptional service and contribution to the interests of Gibraltar and its people. Both the wax seal and the handprint will be in the distinctive red which Christian uses for his signature.

52 CHRISTIAN HOOK hour live painting of polo player Liu Shilai in China 2017 Awarded 'Freedom of the city Gibraltar" 2017 Exhibition on board the Queen Victoria hour Live painting of Kristin Scott Thomas for cover of Financial Times How to spend it magazine - Paris hour Live painting of the Maharaja of Jodhpur - India hour Live painting of Joan Bakewell for Sky Arts Awards hour Live painting of British Actor Simon Callow 2016 Chronos - solo show clarendon gallery London 2016 Children in Crisis exhibition at Clarendon Gallery 2015 'Honey Jar' - Portrait of Alan Cumming selected by Lord Leighton as one of the 100 masterpieces from the National Galleries of Scotland 2015 Sky Arts documentary -Painting Mick Hucknall, Fabrice Muamba and Sue Johnston 2014 Winner of Sky Arts Portrait Artist Of The Year - UK 2014 Exhibition at National Portrait Gallery 2014 Portrait of Alan Cumming (Actor) in Scottish National Portrait Gallery - Permanent Collection 2014 Portrait of Amir Khan (world champion boxer) in Bolton Museum Art Gallery's Permanent Collection 2014 Featured on 'Little book of Portraits' by Quadrille publishers

53 2014 Featured on the book 'portrait in a day' by Quadrille publishers 2014 Portrait of Sarah Ferguson (Duchess of York), Alan Cumming, Sir Ian McKellen, Daniella Nardini, Richard Dawkins, Sally Hitchiner 2014 Solo Exhibition - Clarendon Gallery 2013 LS Lowry Exhibition - Clarendon Gallery 2013 Gibraltar Spring Art Festival - 2nd prize 2012 Gibraltar International Art Exhibition - 1st prize 2012 Gibraltar Spring Art Festival - Jubilee Award 2012 Gibraltar Spring Art Festival - 3rd prize 2011 Gibraltar International Art Exhibition - 1st prize 2011 Singer songwriter competition - 3rd prize 2011 Gibraltar International Art Exhibition - 3rd prize 2010 Singer songwriter competition - 2nd prize 2010 Gibraltar Spring Art Festival - Highly commended 2010 Gibraltar International Art Exhibition - 2nd prize 2010 Arte A Diario - Diario de Jerez 2010 Estereographica Vol2- Galeria Municipal 'Manolo Ales' 2009 La Teteria - Grey collection 2009 Encuentro en la tierra del sol - Collecion Apane Estepona 2009 Gibraltar Spring Art Exhibition - 2nd Prize 2009 Gibraltar Heritage Trust Open Air Drawing Competition 2nd Prize 2008 Gibraltar Spring Art Exhibition - 2nd Prize 2008 The body - Gibraltar Fine Arts Gallery 1991 Kate Parker Life Drawing Award - London

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56 F I N E A R T MAYFAIR u MARLOW u COBHAM u STOW u CUNARD RICHMOND u WIMBLEDON VILLAGE 46 Dover Street, London W1S 4FF rsvp@clarendonfineart.com