Does anyone have that too, that they don't really like paintings too much (abstract ones especially), but then you go to the exhibition (or friend's studio) and see the works filled with colours, and it seems that they are so different from the surrounding world that you fall in love with them? No? Well, that's what happens to me constantly.
@thaddaeusropac London's site is like an upgraded version of a white cube aesthetics. I love going there. The architecture is just unique. Marble floors and white walls with beautifully carved ornaments give this place a very serious tone. However, each time I visit this space, works exhibited there seem to contrast exceptionally clearly with the museum-like vibe. As if the curator was openly opposing displaying boring objects that will only collect dust. They must delight. This was also the case with the works of Rachel Jones.
However, I must admit that the first room was rather ... oddly organised. Immediately upon entering through a large wooden door, there was a scrap of a painting on the ground. Or maybe it was this special 'wallpaper' for the floor with a pattern from one of the paintings. It didn't have any specific shape, and it was relatively small. Maybe like 30 cm x 15cm? Very weird. And it was the only thing that was on the floor. Then there were two beautiful large paintings on canvas, a painting on unstretched fabric (also irregular shape) and then another very small piece of painted fabric on a wall facing the entrance. It all seemed odd but oddly good.
The paintings upstairs were also quite peculiarly arranged. Like downstairs, scraps of the painted fabrics (or very small finished artworks) were found on the great white surfaces. Oh, and let's not forget about a massive free-standing wall with a text SON on one side and SHINE on the other.
Another nice element of the exhibition was the yellow SMIILLLLEEEE booklet, which could be found at the entrance to the gallery. The booklet, however, was not only filled with details about the paintings but also with beautiful poems. So as I moved from one painting to the next, I knew there was more to them than just oil paint strokes.
Overall, I really loved it. I could admire the works of Rachel Jones for hours. The strange way of arranging these works turned the exhibition into a series of surprises. Perhaps, I do like paintings subconsciously...
Read here about how words and music influenced Jones' works:
https://ropac.net/news/706-rachel-jones-brings-not-just-paintings-but-words/