Strange as it might sound I had forgotten that I saw this exhibition at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery back in September. It was only when going through one of the pocket notebooks that I am in the habit of carrying with me, which is now nearly full, to see if there is anything in it that I need to deal with, that I came across a reference to this show.

Although it has nothing to do with the present module I nevertheless try to get to any exhibition that looks interesting if I am in its vicinity. I happened to be in Birmingham for a concert, saw that this show was on, and popped along.

It was only quite small, and dominated by a sculpture installation by Anna Pacheco, but there were some really interesting pieces in it by some major artists, including Picasso, Frank Auerbach, Keith Vaughan, Craigie Aitchison, John Bellany, just to name those I am more familiar with.

The only example of photographic work was that of John Stezaker, consisting of a series of his Hollywood portrait collages. I have previously thought much about, or indeed of, his work but this particular set (unfortunately I have not been able so far to find an example from it on-line) impressed with its subversive wit, playing around with and blending male and female characters, different perspectives and points of view of the same scene, and chopping up the geometry. In an odd, but quite serious way, his perspectival games offer multiple views from a single standpoint as if it was possible to look round corners, is the best way that I can put it.

Nice little show and well worth seeing, were it not for the fact that it has just finished. Too late now, alas!

https://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/bmag/whats-on/thoughts-on-portraiture

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