Figure with Yellow Foreground by  Myles Murphy

Figure with Yellow Foreground 1974

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Dimensions: support: 1520 x 2453 mm

Copyright: © Myles Murphy | CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Photo: Tate

Curator: Myles Murphy's "Figure with Yellow Foreground" presents a compelling study in form and color, its dimensions clocking in at 1520 by 2453 millimeters. Editor: The figure seems almost spectral, a fragmented presence emerging from the stark geometric planes. Is she an oracle or a dream? Curator: Considering Murphy’s process, it's fascinating how he constructs the figure using flat planes, almost like architectural drafting. The yellow foreground isn't merely decorative; it's a deliberate disruption of the picture plane. Editor: But that yellow, doesn’t it evoke a sense of caution, a warning about the figure’s ambiguous identity? The obscured face hints at hidden depths or perhaps a denial of self. Curator: The artist's material choices and application are paramount here. Notice how the brushstrokes are visible, revealing the artist's hand in the making. It's not just about representation, it's about the very act of creation. Editor: Precisely! And that act speaks volumes. It's a potent mix of vulnerability and strength. Ultimately, it's a visual riddle, inviting us to project our own stories onto her. Curator: A brilliant observation. It prompts us to consider the constructed nature of identity, as the work becomes a mirror reflecting back our own interpretations.

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tate 1 day ago

http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/murphy-figure-with-yellow-foreground-t06875

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tate 1 day ago

Murphy attended the Slade School of Art in London. Teaching at the Slade laid great emphasis on a deep engagement with observed reality. It also stressed the importance of measurement as a foundation for drawing from the model. At first glance this painting looks relatively simple, with its depiction of a nude seated between two windows with an artificial palm tree. However, this apparent simplicity conceals a complex approach to the representation of the human form and its location in space. Murphy organises a sophisticated balance of observed detail and abstract, flat planes of colour. This painting won first prize in the John Moores Liverpool exhibition in 1974. Gallery label, September 2004