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Harlequin Gallery |
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(1910 - 1995) |
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Frank Fidler was a self-taught artist, who finally began painting
in 1947. From the very beginning he exhibited and sold his early figurative
work. However, when Frank began painting full time in 1954 the influence of
Abstract Expressionism and action painting was spreading to this country and
Frank became hooked. A chance meeting with Jackson Pollock around that time
also had a lasting effect. In 1957 he took part in his first major exhibition
alongside other British artists in Moscow and the following year was included
in the Paris exhibition "Towards the Future". From 1959 when he had
his first solo exhibition there, Frank began exhibiting regularly at the
Drian Gallery in London. Most of the work in the Harlequin Gallery exhibition
originates from this period and some was exhibited in subsequent Drian
exhibitions of his in 1961 and 1963. During the early 1960's Frank also exhibited in London with the
Free Painter's Group and at the Ben Uri Gallery. In the "FPG news"
(The Free Painters Group Newsletter) of Spring 1963 there was an appraisals of the salient stages of Frank's work, which
included a personal statement that went as follows: - "Fundamentally I
am fully aware of the incessant struggle for existence in all living things.
Not only in man and the other obviously predatory creatures but in vegetable
growth too. In fact the coexistent beauty and brutality, the stark
inevitability of the growth-decay cycle, in plant life seems somehow to be
more terrifying than nature red in tooth and claw. The wonder of this cruel and
ever-changing natural life is my fertile soil and the passionate will to
paint, like a seed. The work seems to sprout and unfold like a living plant -
never really complete. Even when a painting is physically finished the growth
seems to continue, providing humus for seeds to come." By the early 1960's Frank had also developed an interest in clay
and a few examples of his pottery are including in the exhibition, together
with tiles that he designed and had commercially produced to be sold via the
Design Centre. In fact his interest in ceramics led to a number of public
commissions, including two ceramic murals for St. Albans Civic Centre. At around the same time Frank became disillusioned with the
London art scene and cut his ties with the capital. However, he did become an
active member of the Harlow Playhouse Gallery where he became friendly with
the sculptor Henry Moore. This friendship continued until Moore's death in
1986 by which time Frank had abandoned abstraction and begun to record the
landscape around his home in pastels, watercolour and pencil. Frank continued
to draw up until his death in 1995 by which time he had become a forgotten
figure. Should he remain forgotten? Well, I certainly don't think so and
I hope that you take this opportunity to decide for yourself. |
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