Of Winter and Walks

A travelling exhibition showcases French winter painted by British artist Julian Opie.

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One of Julian Opie’s works from the series “Winter”.

The French countryside, not how we remember Claude Monet depicting it with his impressionist strokes but how contemporary British artist Julian Opie sees it, arrests the viewer. The series of 75 landscapes form the view from Opie’s French home. In the winter of 2012, the artist took a walk around it, finishing at the same spot he started from and taking a photograph every 40 paces. Digitally manipulated, the prints were laminated to glass and mounted to white chamfered acrylic backing designed by him.

The series is now visiting India. Starting with the British Council in Delhi, it is scheduled to travel to Mumbai, Kolkata and Goa. “This project depicts a cold, quiet Northern European landscape, which I imagine, will contrast strongly with the coming venues. I hope the contrast will be refreshing, says the artist more well-known for his gripping portraits and animated walking figures like those on a 24-foot high LED tower in Calgary; his reclining nude in glass is stationed at the Gateshead Millennium Bridge in the UK.

Much of “Winter” is 2D-paintings of landscapes in the grip of winter. The muted palette and minimal style seems appropriate for the French rural life; with influences evident from 17th century Dutch landscape paintings to street view on Google Maps. “When seen in series I think you can feel the way it moves through space, the way you occasionally take stock of the view and use landmarks to gauge your progress,” says Opie, who came into limelight in the ’80s with his painted metal sculptures. “Winter” is a sequel to “Summer” (2012).

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“I made the first film in summer, a time when the French colours are rich and the trees full, but I love the landscape in winter too and although winter trees are very hard to draw, I made this second set and used the 75 resulting images to make an edition run in itself,” adds Opie. There is an emotional attachment too. The film that accompanies the exhibition, and preceded the prints, has a melancholy soundtrack by his wife Aniela.

Another winter from the same spot will look vastly different though. “The actual valley depicted is now ruined by a high-speed train track that cuts right through it and this walk is no longer possible,” rues Opie.

The exhibition is on at British Council, KG Marg, till july 27. Contact: 2371 1401

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