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? The artist and The Paragon Press
Stage
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? The artist and The Paragon Press
Stage
Enlarge
? The artist and The Paragon Press

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Stage 1997
In 1997 Yass was commissioned by the Barbican Art Centre in London, to take photographs for display in the `Cell? exhibition series. The works, entitled `Stage: Left? and `Stage: Right? depict the stage set behind the centre?s main theatre. Through a negative-positive process, the pulleys and stage machinery are presented as a vivid entanglement of blue and green. This screenprint is taken from a section of the transparency `Stage: Right?. The left side and bottom edge have been cropped to create an almost abstract image. This work is from a portfolio of prints by eleven different London-based artists, called `Screen?. The title is taken from the screenprint technique but also refers to the fact that most of the artists had worked with film or photography.

Glossary Open

Abstract art

Art in which there is no attempt to represent anything existing in the world, particularly used of the 20th century onwards. `Abstraction? refers to the process of making images that may in part derive from the visible world but which are reduced to basic formal elements.

Commission

When an individual or organisation employs an artist to execute a particular project, the process and the resulting work are termed a `commission?.

Negative

Specifically a transparent material on which the tones and colours of a photograph are in reverse, from which a print is made. The term 'negative space' refers to the area around an object.

Portfolio

A group of art works, by one or more artists, issued or housed together in a portfolio case. This often applies to photographs or prints, and portfolios often include a title page or introductory text. The term is also used to describe a group of works which exemplify an artist's work overall.

Screenprint

A print made by forcing ink through a screen on which a stencil is placed. Traditionally used for commercial printing, it has been taken up by artists since the 1960s when it was used extensively in Pop art.

Abstract art, Commission, Negative, Portfolio, Screenprint

Details

  • Acc. No. GMA 4200 K
  • Medium Screenprint: 9 screens, plus varnish
  • Size 88.80 x 74.00 cm (sheet and image)
  • Credit Purchased 1998

See related artworks

Related works

Broken English August '91, Anya Gallaccio