An unusual, if not unique, exhibition of more than fifty paintings by Bath-based artist Philip Bouchard will be on display at the Victoria Art Gallery from Saturday 8th September to Sunday 18th November.
Having painted surrealist subjects earlier in his career, Philip Bouchard returned to the physical world around him following a health scare two years ago. As part of his post-surgery recuperation, he decided to paint a different sky painting every day, and thus his ‘Sky Diary’ was born. When completed, he found to his amazement there were over 100 pictures.
The collection at the Victoria Art Gallery, titled ‘Bath Sky Diary’, features two large paintings of the city – one a detailed panorama of rooftops and sky above Bath Abbey, the other an evening sky with arches below reflected in the River Avon. Despite looking quite normal at first, the latter work contains a surrealist twist that links it to Bouchard’s cityscapes of the mind.
Jon Benington, Manager of the Victoria Art Gallery, which is run by Bath & North East Somerset Council, said: “This exhibition allows Bath art lovers to see the city quite literally in a new light, from the top floors and rooftops of the Georgian buildings upwards to the scudding clouds, the glowing sunsets and the azure infinities that grace our skies. Visitors will enjoy seeing the seasons change and at the same time be able to rediscover Bath from an entirely new perspective.”
Philip Bouchard is self-taught, having taken up painting while studying French at university, and has worked as an artist ever since. He was a pupil at Downside Abbey in Somerset, and was invited to return there as Artist in Residence in 1996. The beauty of the area, and in particular the classical architecture of Bath, seduced him into staying and he now lives and works in the city.
Councillor Cherry Beath (Lib-Dem, Combe Down), Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development, said: “It’s always a pleasure for Bath & North East Somerset Council to showcase local talent at the Victoria Art Gallery.
“Philip Bouchard’s Bath Sky Diary attempts to capture a fleeting moment of each day; a moment that is of interest to him in the surroundings with which he is most familiar. Despite being painted quickly, the individual works are brilliantly observed and depict enough detail to capture the essence of Bath. They are definitely well worth a look.”
Philip Bouchard was a runner up in the 2003 ‘NOT The Turner Prize’ sponsored by the Daily Mail, with his surreal painting ‘The Open Debate’. Growing up in the Middle East, Bouchard developed his passion for skies – at all times of the day and night.
A tour of the exhibition with the artist takes place at the Victoria Art Gallery on Wednesday 26 September from 1pm to 1.45pm. Admission is free and no booking is needed.
The Victoria Art Gallery, near Pulteney Bridge in Bath, is open Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sundays 1.30pm to 5pm and closed on Mondays. Attendance is free. For more details call 01225 477233 or visit the Gallery’s website www.victoriagal.org.uk.
