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A free exhibition exploring Whishaw's studies of nature, the forces of nature and climate over the past six decades.

“...Creation is not a reproduction of observed fact…the aim of art is the fusion of ideas and experiences with the qualities of the art medium so the artist creates a new reality. The medium becomes the work of art. The work of art is a world in itself at the same time as of the world.”

Anthony Whishaw RA RWA has long been fascinated with the forces of nature; from the movement of storms, water, wind and the murmuration of birds to falling trees, leaves and flooding. This exhibition goes back through nearly sixty years of creative practice from the 1960s to today.

The natural world and the environment are amongst the most important themes in Whishaw’s varied practice. His works relate to his own experiences and memories of his environment, sometimes painted many years later. They recreate the mood, sensations and feeling of a place or happening, rather than any pretence of accurate representation. From large-scale immersive canvases to smaller whimsical pieces, his paintings are a surge of ideas, texture and energy.

Image: Anthony Whishaw at 92: A Force of Nature, installation view, RWA, 2022. Photo Martin Edwards