Callum Innes / Perry Roberts
Callum Innes and Perry Roberts are both recognised for their essential, apparently minimalist approach to painting.
Combining formal precision and abstract purity, their paintings also explore process and illusion. In this exhibition Frith Street Gallery presents a selection of their recent works on paper which have developed alongside their painting.
In his watercolours Innes begins by juxtaposing two colours. Whilst wet, he encourages the colours to fuse together to the point that neither is dominant. A residue of the original pigment can be seen at the edges; a neutral hue remains within, which at times can betray the original colours. With their naturally-based colours, these works reflect Innes’ continuing interest in natural phenomena as well as his desire to test the bounds of painting.
Perry Roberts uses the generic term ‘Samples’ to describe a series of works made by mixing a limited number of colours according to self-imposed rules. He has restricted his choice of colours to earth tones in the same way as he restricts the materials in his paintings. By limiting his colours in this way, he is able to make an objective exploration of the permutations possible within a controlled system and, at the same time, explore the ideas behind choice, relationships and similarity.
