Manchester artist James Roper showcases brand new and existing paintings and drawings in Metanoia at Waterside’s Lauriston Gallery
Launch Night: Thursday 22 November 18.00 – 20.30
Waterside and CIT are delighted to announce a solo exhibition by Manchester based artist, James Roper whose most recent painting, drawing and digital art works will be brought together in the newly refurbished Lauriston Gallery at Waterside.
Meaning ‘to change one’s mind’ Metanoia describes the state the artist intends to invoke in the viewer; a visual form of limbo where the perceptual shift between abstraction and figurative art is in constant flux.
The exhibition will feature a number of beautifully rendered large-scale canvases from the eponymous series, some of which will be exhibited for the first time at Waterside.
Alongside these most recent works, we will be showing a number of pieces from the past series, The Inscending Spiral, where the artist explores ideas around film narrative through his highly accomplished drawing and painting practice.
This rich overview of Roper’s recent output will give audiences an insight into the artist’s fertile imagination, allowing them to trace connections between the interdependent pieces that make up his oeuvre.
During the exhibition there will be 3 creative mindfulness workshops that will give audiences an opportunity to discover more about the artists’ process and personally delve into meditative practices that inform Roper’s artistic vision.
Overseeing the exhibition is Mario Popham, Visual Arts Coordinator and curator who said:
“With its vivid colour palette, unique style and fine execution, James’s work is a visual feast that engages the viewer immediately. Further viewing reveals a singular imagination that, through references to popular culture and esoteric mysticism, somehow succeeds in combining the frivolous with the spiritual and profound.
Rich, both visually and conceptually, James is an artist who has for me revitalised the painting medium for the 21st Century. I am very excited for this opportunity to present a survey of his work, past and present in our main gallery space at Waterside that will give audiences an insight into this inimitable home grown talent. “
Launch Night Thu 22 Nov 18.00 – 20.30
A Waterside Visual Arts Commission
James Roper
METANOIA
Thu 22 Nov – Sat 5 Jan
Free Entry
JAMES ROPER
Born in Knutsford, England, James Roper studied Fine Art painting at Manchester Metropolitan University graduating in 2005.
Roper has exhibited widely throughout the world including solo shows in London, New York, San Francisco, Barcelona and Milan. Alongside his painting, drawing, sculpture and film-making Roper has also worked as an illustrator for clients such as Nike, Facebook, MTV, Formula 1, Ford, NBA, Converse and Adobe.
His work explores a variety of subjects, from the heightened realities depicted in modern media to the perceptual effects of semi-abstraction. He draws inspiration from a varied array of sources, from Japanese animation, comic books and film, to psychedelia, Baroque sculpture and haute couture fashion; a clash of sometimes contradictory elements from which arises his unique multi-faceted visual style.
CREATIVE INDUSTRIES TRAFFORD
CIT (Creative Industries Trafford) provides talks, masterclasses, opportunities and mentoring for artists. The project was established in 2004 and is based at Waterside in Sale, Trafford. CIT’s objectives are to increase artistic quality and to help artists build sustainable creative careers.
CIT have run the Northern Lights Writers Conference, as well as the Meet the Puppet Masters animation conference. Their theatre commissions have supported a number of developing theatre-makers at Waterside, including Square Peg Theatre, Mighty Heart Theatre and Thick Richard. In 2017, CIT acted as creative producers for five new theatre commissions for the National Trust on the Live at Lyme Project and are currently producing the audio commission To Stop Her Mouth at Lyme to continue this partnership.
Together with Castlefield Gallery CIT delivers portfolio surgeries giving critical feedback to visual artists and throughout 2017/18, CIT is running a development project offering placements for emerging curators through practical opportunities on Waterside’s visual arts programme.
Since 2013, in partnership with Business Bolton, CIT has delivered a range of professional development activities for Bolton-based artists, including talks, workshops and short courses.
CIT is supported by Trafford Council and Arts Council England.
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