host: mark shields

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HOST14 February - 7 March 2014

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Grosvenor Gallery21 Ryder Street

London SW1Y 6PX

+44 (0)20 7484 7979art@grovenorgallery.com

grosvenorgallery.com

Browse & Darby19 Cork Street

London W1S 3LP

+44 (0)20 7734 7984art@browseanddarby.co.uk

browseanddarby.co.uk

HOST14 February - 7 March 2014

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MARK SHIELDS

99 figures painted in oil paint on muslin, each roughly 5ft by 2ft in size.

In early 2012 I had been combining collage and paint and ended up sticking patches of muslin over the paintings to allow quick changes to be made. The texture reminded me of the painted linen shrouds from Egypt, and I decided to work directly onto roughly cut muslin fragments with diluted oil paint. The ghosts and traces of disintegrating, overlaid images made me think of the image as a residue of an almost ritual act rather than as the result of mere picture-making (like the so-called ‘image not made with hands’). This and perhaps associations with the

Turin shroud and embroidered Byzantine altar-cloths led to the painting of full scale figures on narrow sections of cloth. It seemed natural that there should be a large number of these and that the number should be incomplete to evoke a perpetual search. I worked on the images in pairs, overlaying one on the other and alternating this as I worked, resulting in two versions of the same idea or experience, so to speak, sometimes contradictory, sometimes complimentary. For me they seemed to document moments of doubt, anxiety, revelation, gratitude and so on. A primitive and emblematic ‘Host’ of witnesses having their origins in real life, but interlaced with literary, cultural and historical references of personal resonance. I thought of them almost as icons acting as go-betweens or entry points to invisible realities.

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1. Man – Form Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

2. Man – Appearance Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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3. Primordial Woman – Fire Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

4. Primordial Woman – Water Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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6. Orpheus – Lullaby Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

5. Orpheus – Chant Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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7. Man of Sorrows Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

8. Ecce Homo Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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10. Man – Form Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

9. Job – I fear Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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12. Anguished Woman – Reda Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

11. Anguished Woman – Yellow Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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14. Holy Fool – The First are Last Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

13. Holy Fool – The Seeing are Blind Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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16. There are Sorrows Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

15. With the Eye of Faith Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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18. Even you, Father, Fear Death Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

17. Close to Your Heart Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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20. Do You Love Me? Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

19. Betrayal Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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22. Dance for Apollo Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

21. Dance for Dionysus Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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24. Chosen II Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

23. Chosen I Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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26. Blind Sage – Eyes Inward Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

25. Blind Sage – At The Threshold Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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28. Distressed Woman II Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

27. Distressed Woman I Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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30. Bride – I Bid All Farewell Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

29. Bride – I Store Up This Harvest Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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32. Kouros - Peace Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

31. Kouros - War Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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34. Sleeper – Awakened Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

33. Sleeper - Forgotten Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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36. Child – Secret Glory Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

35. Child – This is a Mystery Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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38. Prophet – They Would Not Listen Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

37. Prophet - Vision Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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40. Second Resurrection Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

39. First Resurrection Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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42. Primitive Worshipper II Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

41. Primitive Worshipper I Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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44. From the Well Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

43. To the Well Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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46. Mystic – A Burning and Shining Light Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

45. Mystic – Present in all Ages Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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48. Secret Things Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

47. Obscure Things Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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50. Wounded Ballerina - Comic Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

49. Wounded Ballerina - Tragic Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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52. Gravedigger Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

51. His Own Time Came Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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54. Stargazer - Return Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

53. Stargazer – Departure Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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56. Unchosen I I Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

55. Unchosen I Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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58. New Year Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

57. Old Year Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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60. Poet’s Head - You Are Singing Still Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

59. Poet’s Head - O Singing God Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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62. May Maiden – Vespers Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

61. May Maiden – Matins Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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64. Death - I am Come Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

63. Cavalry Man – Premonition Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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66. Master of Silence - Blue Distance Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

65. Master of Silence – Wildernessv Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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68. Man with a Burden IIv Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

67. Man with a Burden I Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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70. Birthday – Setting Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

69. Birthday – Rising Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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72. Saint with Bird Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

71. Saint with Stone Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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74. Hildegard - I, The Fiery Power Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

73. Hildegard – Viriditas Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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76. Victim - Some Day We Shall Outrun This Hour Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

75. Victim - I Felt the World Unhinge Itself Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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78. Stain - This Wound is Finally Healed Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

77. Stain - It is All I Have Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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80. The Bright Sadness Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

79. In His Heart, Heaven Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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82. Novalis - Unbound Spirit Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

81. Novalis - Flower, Moon, Melting Hope Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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84. Divine Sophia Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

83. Sophie K – Fragile Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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86. The Sickness unto Death - He Loses Himself Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

85. The Sickness unto Death - He Lacks a Self Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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88. Fear and Trembling - You Had to Draw the Knife Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

87. Fear and Trembling - It Must Be So Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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90. The Statue - Southern Sun Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

89. The Statue - Bright Sky Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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92. Head Turned Away Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

91. When Everything Has Passed Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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94. The Maid - Soon She is Invisible Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

93. The Maid - She Sees Her Master Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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96. Pestilence - The Outsider Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

95. Pestilence - The Unloved Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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98. Angel - Numbered, Weighed, Divided Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

97. Angel - Ink Formed Me Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

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99. I Will go to My Father Oil on muslin 152.4 x 60.9 cm. (60 x 24 in.)

Grosvenor Gallery21 Ryder Street

London SW1Y 6PX

+44 (0)20 7484 7979art@grovenorgallery.com

grosvenorgallery.com

Browse & Darby19 Cork Street

London W1S 3LP

+44 (0)20 7734 7984art@browseanddarby.co.uk

browseanddarby.co.uk

HOST14 February - 7 March 2014

21 Ryder StreetLondon SW1Y 6PX

+44 (0)20 7484 7979art@grovenorgallery.com

grosvenorgallery.com

19 Cork StreetLondon W1S 3LP

+44 (0)20 7734 7984art@browseanddarby.co.uk

browseanddarby.co.uk