Halcyon Prolongs its “Summer Exhibition” at New Bond Street, London

Asri Jasman
Sep 4
2 min read

Halcyon’s Summer Exhibition examines color through sculpture, digital media, and painting, featuring works by Hockney. Warhol, Cummins, Chihuly, and others.

Halcyon has prolonged its Summer Exhibition at its 148 and 29 New Bond Street galleries until 28 September, highlighting the gallery’s function as a venue specializing in both Impressionism and modern contemporary art. The exhibition celebrates color in its various manifestations by presenting the works of David Hockney, Andy Warhol, Paul Cummins MBE, Dominic Harris, Dale Chihuly, Pedro Paricio, Santiago Montoya, and James McQueen. The exhibition's fundamental idea is that color represents individual experiences transcending physical space and tactile sensation. For instance, each artist regards color as a fundamental component, whether via digital experimentation, sculptural installations, or reinterpretations of historical and cultural histories.

A notable feature of the exhibition is Paul Cummins' waterfall of ceramic poppies, reminiscent of his huge piece at the Tower of London. This year, revived to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day, the piece embodies the profound significance of remembrance and the honoring of sacrifice, while also symbolizing renewal. Additionally, Dominic Harris' interactive digital artworks are observable as they transform and progress in real time. His piece, “The Promise of Babylon,” is included into an immersive installation that encourages visitors to engage with a dynamic environment in which flowers transform according to the rhythms of nature.

Santiago Montoya and Pedro Paricio tackle the topic of color using divergent methodologies. Montoya use global currency as his medium, crafting works that evoke sunsets or abstract color fields, yet upon closer examination, disclose intricate comments on politics and economics. Paricio, a native of Tenerife, references art history and mythology, depicting tulips, Greek legends, and American landscapes via striking, colossal color studies that reinterpret familiar topics with modern perspectives on color and form.

Additional highlights encompass Dale Chihuly’s glass creations, featuring blown vessels that radiate vibrant hues and backlit acrylic pieces that convert color into radiant, reflective light. David Hockney's iPad drawings engage in discourse by capturing ephemeral brilliance with immediacy, highlighting clarity and directness. Warhol's oeuvre and James McQueen's contributions further emphasize the exhibition's principal concept that color can function prior to form and narrative to elicit emotion and stimulate the senses.

Halcyon has received critical acclaim for showcasing both established artists and emerging talent, and the "Summer Exhibition" is no exception. The exhibition advocates for color as both substance and symbol, serving as a medium that can memorialize, disrupt, seduce, or provoke. By juxtaposing historic, digital, and material methods, Halcyon illustrates how color remains a potent force that broadens the lexicon of modern art.