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Alan Davie: Painting, Music, Film

,Pit Theatre
Alan Davie, Creation of Eve, 1956 © The Estate of Alan Davie.

We’re very sorry to announce that tonight’s Alan Davie: Painting, Music, Film event in the Pit has been cancelled due to illness. Ticketholders will receive a full refund.

An evening of spontaneous creativity with rare film of the Scottish painter at work in his early 60s heyday and a live soundtrack from some of Britain’s leading improvising musicians.

As painter and jazz musician, Alan Davie is a key figure in Postwar Modern, whose intensely physical paintings turned the art world on its head. Coinciding with the publication of a new book Alan Davie in Hertford, this event features an ensemble of leading musical improvisers Steve Beresford, Phil Durrant, David Toop and Mark Wastell responding to footage of Davie painting in his Hertford studio in 1960 and 61.

The live soundscape incorporates samples of Davie’s own experimental music. The newly digitalised film, unseen since the 60s, is being screened in public for the first time.

Part of our current exhibition Postwar Modern: New Art in Britain 1945-1965.

Tagged with: Postwar Modern Art & design

Produced by the Barbican

Credits

Performers

Steve Beresford piano
Phil Durrant electronics, amplified objects
David Toop bone conduction, resonators, tapes, flutes, paper, percussion
Mark Wastell gongs, floor percussion)
Mark Hudson curator/artistic director 


 

Film

Tom Hudson Camera 1960
Bili Davie Camera 1961
Justin Krish Film Editor 2022

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Pit Theatre

Location
The Pit is located on Level -2 within the main Barbican building and can be accessed via the stairs or lifts on Level G, next to the doors to the Lakeside Terrace. 

Address
Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London
EC2Y 8DS

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