Bruce McLean: Sculpture, Painting, Photography, Film at Firstsite, Colchester

The Fine Art group had a day at Firstsite where we were given information about Firstsite promoting and helping young artists which will be relevant to us when we finish our degree. The current exhibition was that of Bruce McLean, it was a collection of his work throughout the years. We were shown around the space by a member of the Firstsite staff, Bethany explained some of his more famous pieces and the influences he had, as well as reactions he often gets to the work. 

I was completely blown away. He is well known for his variations between what mediums he uses, I often wouldn’t appreciate someone who paints in the style that he does. Very abstract, bold and bright. I much prefer photography, however I do appreciate paintings but it has to be something that really strikes. When I saw his koi carp piece Oriental Garden, Kyoto (1982) I realised that his work did just that for me. In relation to this, Bethany spoke of how he paints so quickly, she said he believes that in order to paint something you need to do it in that moment, as fast as possible, in order to capture what you are seeing without it being tainted by surroundings, people or thoughts. 

My dissertation focuses on Roland Barthes’ The Death of the Author (1967); exploring the ideas of interpretation and the role of the artist, the audience and the art critic. Going for God II (1982) is a painting by Bruce McLean that depicts his recognisable figure battling out of a surrounding sea of figures, as well as a stair like constriction of the restrictions of the frame. The painting goes against the idea of the critic, and the way that a single person can say whether something is good or bad, what gives them the power to decide this? His piece connected well with my dissertation, the role of the art critic has always had negative connotations, his work emphasises this desire to break out of the power of the critic. 

We have a Pop-Up exhibition at the Firstsite space in some of the meeting rooms which are connected together. I plan on reacting to the Bruce McLean exhibition in my work, exploring the viewer and how works are interpreted by different people.