Redoubt by Matthew Barney at Hayward Gallery

Art galleries are back after a long period of lockdown you can now go and visit your local museum and art gallery. It will be one of the best times to visit with no tourists you will have plenty of space, so make the most of it. They need your support.

One of my favourites is the Hayward Gallery on the Southbank in London. With its brutalist architecture, it shows off any artists work well. One of the two new exhibitions that open on the 19th of May is Redoubt by Matthew Barney. A highly anticipated exhibition that certainly lives up to its billing. It looks stunning with its copper and brass encrusted trees.

Copper encrusted tree from the exhibition Redoubt | Source : Andrew Lalchan

It’s all about ecology and the clash of the American survivalist movement with the National Forest Service. The word Redoubt comes from an old military term for a defensive fortification. An epic 2-hour feature film accompanies the exhibition with stunning scenery and is a story of a wolf hunt. The whole film can be watched online on Mubi with a code on your ticket. Definitely worth watching. You can also watch it in the exhibition, it has a seating area to view. The viewing times are Wed – Sat: 11.05am, 1.20pm, 3.40pm Sun: 10.05am, 12.20pm, 2.40pm.

The story behind the film is of a wolf hunt. This takes places over six days and nights. Ambient music and the beautiful sounds of nature envelopes you. The film is set in the Idaho wilderness. With its stunning scenery, snow-covered Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains where the hunt begins. Loosely based on the myth of Diana, the goddess of the hunt. And Actaeon a hunter who encounters her while she is bathing in the woods. There is no dialogue but the dancer’s movements tell the story together with the wildlife.

Copper and brass sculpture from the exhibition Redoubt | Source : Andrew Lalchan

This exhibition comprises of his latest work. Representing themes like cosmology, ecology and the role of artistic creation. There are sculptures created from burned out trees. With 40 engraved electroplated copper plates. In the film, he shows how they are created. He even appears as the forest ranger in the film.

Metallurgy

This is the science of extracting metals from the ores and modifying the metals to use. Matthew Barney uses this extensively in his sculptures and engravings. Copper and brass which is an alloy of copper and zinc are combined. Using traditional and digital methods to produce his art. Tanks of copper sulphate and sulphuric acid, with an electroplater, are used to produce some of the pieces. Did you know the USA is the second highest producer of copper? The state of Idaho has some of these rocky deposits and was once mined as were lots of places in the Rocky mountains.

Sculptured piece made out of copper | Source : Andrew Lalchan

Who is Matthew Barney?

Matthew Barney is an American artist from Idaho who was born in 1967. He has had many solo exhibitions around the world. His last solo exhibition was called “River of Fundament”. It was at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles. He currently lives and works in New York. He is one of the most prominent American artists of his generation.

Outside the Hayward gallery | Source : Andrew Lalchan

The exhibition is on till the 25th July at the Hayward Gallery in London, tickets can be found here. There is a one-way system to go round the exhibits for social distancing purposes. The cafe is open but will most likely get very busy.

The quickest way to get there is from Embankment or Waterloo underground stations.

Here are a selection of photos that were taken on the preview, more can be found on the Flickr link below.

Sculptured piece made out of brass | Source : Andrew Lalchan
Sculptured piece of rope made out of brass | Source : Andrew Lalchan
Copper encrusted tree from the exhibition Redoubt | Source : Andrew Lalchan
Copper engravings from the exhibition Redoubt | Source : Andrew Lalchan
Copper engravings from the exhibition Redoubt | Source : Andrew Lalchan

Thanks for reading, leave a comment below if you have been to the exhibition and what you thought about it. Sign up for my newsletter for the latest events happening around London and the SE each month.

Links

Hayward Gallery – Matthew Barney : Redoubt
Flickr photos from the exhibition – https://www.flickr.com/photos/alalchan/albums/72157719215484748
Matthew Barney – http://www.drawingrestraint.net/
Instagram – http://www.instagram.com/alalchan

Recommended

London Fashion Week Portraits

October Events 2024

Welcome to my October newsletter! Autumn is in full swing, and the vibrant colors of the season are everywhere. The leaves are falling, and it’s the perfect time to grab your camera and capture the beauty all around you. Let’s dive into this colorful month together!

Notting Hill Carnival - Day 2,

September Events 2024

Welcome to my September newsletter. It’s the first month of autumn, and the nights are slowly drawing in. Hopefully, the summer warmth will continue. This will be a busy month of events; check out the list below.

August events 2024

August Events 2024

Welcome to my August edition, as the last month of summer unfolds, I’m writing this from the south Devon coast in the UK on a nice relaxing holiday. A heatwave is going on, which is a welcome relief from the cool summer so far.

Advertising

  • Sale! Andrew Lalchan Calendar 2025 - front

    Calendar 2025 – Photographer Andrew Lalchan

    Original price was: £19.99.Current price is: £15.99.

    Calendar 2025 – Photographer Andrew Lalchan

    Original price was: £19.99.Current price is: £15.99.

    A Year of Photography: Each month features a dynamic and visually striking photograph, from press photocalls to model shoots in 2024. Perfect for photography lovers and those with an eye for elegance, the 2025 Andrew Lalchan Calendar brings the excitement of the spotlight right to your wall.

    Eco-Friendly Production: Committed to sustainability, the calendar uses eco-friendly inks and materials, ensuring your purchase supports environmental responsibility.

    This 2025 calendar is out on the 10th of October, 2024. There will only be a short run, so grab them while you can.

    An A4 portrait calendar hangs on the wall, printed on  300gsm gloss Eco Premium paper with front cover gloss laminate.

    Size : 210mm x 297mm

    FREE POST UK

     

    50 in stock

    Quick View
  • Sale! Digital Downloads

    Digital Download

    Original price was: £15.00.Current price is: £5.50.

    Digital Download

    Original price was: £15.00.Current price is: £5.50.

    Digital download of one of my photographs.

    Quick View
  • Cassiobury Park Fireworks

    Cassiobury Park Fireworks 2017

    £14.99£95.99

    Cassiobury Park Fireworks 2017

    £14.99£95.99

    The stunning display of fireworks this year would make an ideal gift from Watford.

    This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
    Quick View
  • Lord Mayor Show Fireworks

    Lord Mayors Fireworks Show

    £14.99£95.99

    Lord Mayors Fireworks Show

    £14.99£95.99

    Looking towards St Paul’s Cathedral along the Thames when the Lord Mayors Show Fireworks took place.

    This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
    Quick View
  • London Eye with love

    London Eye with love

    £14.99£95.99

    London Eye with love

    £14.99£95.99

    An iconic feature of the London skyline it especially looks good when the colour changes as it does during valentines week.

    This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
    Quick View
  • Rose drop

    Rose drop

    £14.99£95.99

    Rose drop

    £14.99£95.99

    Rain drops on roses

    This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
    Quick View