An immediately recognisable interpretation, 'Old Monkey' places us, ground level, at a well-known crossroads in Manchester's city centre. In reference to the iconic Old Monkey pub on the right hand side, this piece portrays the crossover of Portland and Princess Street. An area of the city which is renowned for its chaos - Tim Garner has portrayed it through a romantic, rose-tinted lens, with pops of red and orange that imbue instant warmth within the cityscape.
- Dimensions: 102 x 87cm
- Price: SOLD
An immediately recognisable interpretation, 'Old Monkey' places us, ground level, at a well-known crossroads in Manchester's city centre. In reference to the iconic Old Monkey pub on the right hand side, this piece portrays the crossover of Portland and Princess Street. An area of the city which is renowned for its chaos - Tim Garner has portrayed it through a romantic, rose-tinted lens. Beams of light cut through the side streets, and the use of iridescent pigment creates an ethereal shimmer, which is embedded throughout the composition. Embracing both the brutal and the beautiful, Garner's works are renowned for portraying the contradictions within a city. This piece mainly portrays grand, 19th century buildings which are integral to the city's structure, but we can also see new builds peering out through the distance - immediately showing the contrast of the new and old Manchester side by side. Those familiar with Manchester will be aware of how rapidly the city progresses - Garner's works have a way of embracing this change, whilst also honouring the historic architecture which makes Manchester what it is today. This piece has an ambiguity to it that allows the viewer to apply their own narrative and meaning - yet it is, undoubtedly, a portrait of Manchester. “Through time, I’ve come to appreciate it’s much better to create something that’s optimistic and hopeful” Garner has a distinctive way of appropriating the spirit and physicality of a city - his works are visceral and gritty, as though we would get a residue on our fingers if we were to touch the concrete pavement. In contrast to this tactility, the use of iridescent pigments gives this piece its own sense of life, as the pigments shimmer and respond to the light as it changes throughout the day. Garner's works are endlessly engaging, and full of mystique; there's something new to uncover with every glance. Through this combination of materials, Garner wants us to feel as though we're placed within the setting, as though we can feel the city around us. Through a formula of industrial materials such as metals and cement, Garner is able to appropriate the city's physicality, whilst a colour palette of metallics and iridescents imbue texture, light and depth. Through this process, Garner is able to capture still moments in time, the anti-landmarks of a city, expanded to large scale compositions which demand our time and attention. With an oeuvre that is full of contradictions, Garner's works are distinctive, engaging, and have a way of interpreting a city in a way that's both physical and metaphysical. Tim Garner's works live and breathe beyond their production - they have their own agency, and would be an undoubtedly valuable asset to any contemporary art collection.
Based in his home studio in Stockport, Tim Garner is an artist who captures cityscapes through his own avant-garde lens. Inspired from his time living between Manchester and Paris, Garner works from photography and photo collage as his primary references, taking advantage of their visual immediacy and accuracy. Paint and cement are then used as a way of injecting emotive layers of meaning, forming Garner's distinctive style and flair. Through this process Garner has established his own visual language, which is imbued with character. His works are comfortingly familiar to a Northern audience, whilst enlightening and educating wider audiences. A piece of Mancunian history, this artwork would be a valuable asset for any contemporary art space, collection or home.