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Gawain Staunches the Wound to His Neck

Gawain Staunches the Wound to His Neck

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'The Green Knight raises his axe to strike Gawain, but the knight shrinks from the blow. The second strike misses. The third nicks the flesh of his neck, and perceiving his salvation Gawain leaps away and demands that the Green Knight honour their bargain: a blow for a blow. The monstrous figure leans on his axe and, in a good-humoured tone, explains that Gawain has been secretly tested and that he has passed with flying colours. His only fault – which earned him the wound to his neck – lay in accepting the girdle from Bertilak’s wife and not revealing the gift to his host.'

James Russell

Edition of 75.

Medium                     
Screenprint

Dimensions
55.5cm x 55.5cm (image size)
70.5cm x 69cm (paper size)

Artist

Over the past twenty-five years, Clive Hicks-Jenkins has achieved renown in his native Wales and beyond as a painter of rare and powerful vision. It helps that he came to painting by an unusual route, having enjoyed a successful theatrical career - as actor, director, choreographer and stage designer – before the urge to paint became irresistible. Today his paintings of figures and animals are so striking, at least in part, because of the continual dialogue between design and dance, structure and movement.  

Clive’s complex creative process enhances this effect. If, for example, he is due to paint a horse, he will first draw the animal, then create a cardboard maquette from the drawing, articulating this model in such a way that its head, torso and limbs can be placed in positions impossible for even the most agile horse. Painting from such a maquette gives Clive control over the composition (and the vital balance between positive and negative space), while at the same time adding emotional expression and that feeling of suppressed movement. The resulting tension is less that of a coiled spring as of a spring caught in the moment of uncoiling.

This dynamism suits Clive’s penchant for narrative painting. In series after series he has explored the interactions of characters famous and obscure, from St George and the dragon to Hervé (a blind Breton monk) and his wolf companion. He takes inspiration from religious stories, Welsh legends, modern drama and medieval verse. The characters of Sir Gawain, his horse Gringolet, the Green Knight and the rest have haunted his imagination for years, but something about the multi-layered intricacy and artifice of the poem suggested printmaking rather than painting. And then, as if on cue, Dan came along with his experience and expertise, and a new creative adventure began.



Shipping
Unless you choose click and collect at the checkout this print will be shipped as Large Tube AFor shipping information and prices click here.

Own Art
If you would like to pay for this print in ten manageable monthly instalments of £29.50 then why not make your purchase through the national Own Art scheme? Own Art interest free loans are awarded subject to status and you can find out more about the initiative HERE. Own Art applications can be made by telephone as well as in person so call us on 0191 261 7000 and soon Clive's print could be all yours to enjoy.

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