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Study

© the artist/courtesy Flowers Gallery, London and New York. Photo credit: British Council Collection

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David Hepher is a lapidific painter: he brings the real stuff of architecture into his paintings, but beyond that, this study is layered, exploring how buildings dilapidate according to how they are lived in. It starts with a solid observation of a South London high rise on the right-hand side, where the layer of acrylic and plaster mix doesn't just describe but mimics the crust of the concrete blocks. A partial sketch of a section of balconies on the left side is allowed to disappear into blocks of mauve and beige paint. Midway, the canvas itself is made to embody the wall of the same tower block, with piece of graffiti daubed on it, viewed as if in sudden close up. In the bottom left-hand corner, in place of the artist's signature, the painting has been tagged 'WEST HAM'.

British Council Collection

London

Title

Study

Date

1993

Medium

acrylic, plaster & PVA on canvas

Measurements

H 35.9 x W 76.3 cm

Accession number

P6287

Acquisition method

purchased from Angela Flowers Gallery, 1994

Work type

Painting

Inscription description

blc: WEST HAM

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British Council Collection

British Council, 1 Redman Place, London, Greater London E20 1JQ England

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