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2022: Catlin’s Solo Exhibition at The Thompson’s Gallery - Marylebone, London.
GAIL CATLIN – A Journey into painting with liquid crystal
We are delighted to be representing the captivating work of internationally acclaimed artist Gail Catlin who currently resides in Cape Town, South Africa. Using a dynamic harmony of mixed media, alchemy and expressionistic form, Gail is the only artist in the world who has perfected the technique of using liquid crystal in an art form. Liquid crystals are infinitely flexible and fluid, enabling transformational art technology with mesmerising qualities. This highly sensitive and scientific substance responds immediately to changing intensities of temperature and light with dramatic shifts in colour, reflectivity and sheen. Thereby it has enabled Gail to create a constantly changing live pictorial surface.
The question which begs an answer is: why would she choose to use such a difficult and elusive medium? While Catlin lived in Arniston, she became fascinated by the nacreous quality of sea shells and mother-of-pearl and was convinced that a new colour spectrum needed to be developed to capture the subtle and ever-changing shades of nature. She experimented with clays, resins and fibreglass, which played nicely with light but only when used in sculptural form. She wanted to paint with materials that played with light and her aim was no less than to capture the most elusive of nuances, the most intangible subtleties in nature but she was frustrated by the inadequacies of the traditional media of oil paint, acrylics and water-colour.
Through painstaking experimentation over many enormously frustrating years, both in England and South Africa, Catlin gradually began to master the fugitive alchemy of liquid crystals. She learned how to capture iridescence and lustre, as well as the changing diel and seasonal moods of landscapes and objects. She began to paint with liquid crystals in such a way that she could anticipate their responses to light, to temperature and to each other. A magical relationship developed between the artist and her medium, lying midway between predictable science and fickle art but the process of discovery and understanding was still ongoing.
Gail Catlin has possibly come closer than anyone to capturing the infinitely varied iridescence and colour spectrum, not only of the pearl but also of the African landscape. She has short- circuited millions of years of evolution and solved one of the secrets of Nature.
John and Susan Thompson have spent the last few years curating a selection of South African artists whilst annually spending six months of the year there, including Thembalethu Manqunyana, Gail Catlin, Ruan Huisamen, Rene Snyman and Jaco Roux which we are excited to introduce in our Annual Exhibition. (Excerpt from Thompsons Gallery, 2022)
Being an artist has always been something that Gail has preferred to do offline. With 2021 having arrived in full force, she is very excited to introduce her new online store to you. She wanted to make a range of affordable prints and artworks for everyone to enjoy world wide. You can check out more here
Gail Catlin at 71, Everard Read (2019).
Gail’s most recent exhibition was held at the Everard Read, Cape Town in July 2019.
“In ‘Catlin at 71’, the artist has refined the language of her work over the last decades into a series of images printed on archival pearlised paper and mounted on Diasec, capturing her life-long fascination with the nacreous and translucent. The bronzes included in the body of work materialise her mark-making, and deepen the sense of connection to the wild.
Catlin’s works remind us that all of nature is elusive, unable to be captured imprisoned. Seasons change. Life begins and ends, and starts again. Nothing ever stays the same.” - excerpt taken from the Everard Read Press Release (2019)
Gail Catlin’s Life Work
Published (2019)
This book showcases the artist’s life work. Printed on high quality Hanemeuler watercolour paper. Available to order, limited edition series.
Liquid Crystal Painting by Gail Catlin.
Published: Stonehaven Publications (circa 1999)
“Gail Catlin is the first artist in the world to exploit Liquid Crystal as the basis for her artistic creation. This highly sensitive, scientific, substance responds immediately to changing intensities of temperature and light with dramatic shifts in colour, reflectivity and sheen. Thereby it has enabled Gail to create a constantly changing live pictorial surface. Its dynamic chromatic and luminary mutations inject added visual drama and excitement to the artist’s chosen themes – the life of the isolated African desert, the burning sun, the landscape, the huge variety of wildlife and the endless cycles of hunting, killing and devouring.’ Editor’s note.”
Gail Catlin, Kalk Bay Modern
“The inescapable power and vibrancy of Gail Catlin's work has earned her a reputation as one of South Africa's most spirited and compelling artistic innovators. Her work is represented in all the major public art museums and corporate collections
in South Africa and she has been invited to exhibit in France, Russia, England, Germany and America..” - excerpt from Kalk Bay Modern.
Sculptures - Recent work
Although Gail is primarily known for her work in Liquid Crystal - she has also spent the last 5 years mastering her work in bronze…
Gail Catlin at Walker Bay Modern Art Gallery
The inescapable power and vibrancy of Gail Catlin's work has earned her a reputation as one of South Africa's most spirited and compelling artistic innovators. Her work is represented in all the major public art museums and corporate collections in South Africa and she has been invited to exhibit in France, Russia, England, Germany and America. “ Excerpt taken from Walker Bay Modern Art Press Release.
Gail Catlin at The Manzart Gallery, South Africa.
“the inescapable power and vibrancy of gail catlin's work has earned her a reputation as one of south africa's most spirited and compelling artistic innovators…” Excerpt from Manzart Gallery, South Africa.
The Great African Artists Series: Gail Catlin, “Making Magic with Liquid Crystal”
“A biography of Gail Catlin. describing her rebellious childhood, her art tuition in London, her years experimenting with liquid crystal, and her busy life as an artist and mother. The book ends with with a project showing children how to make a “magical” picture.” (Excerpt from Awareness Publishing Group (Pty) Ltd, Published in 2006.)
Gail Catlin, FORGED - Smac Gallery (2015)
“FORGED is an exhibition of new sculptures by the artists Gail Catlin, Ruann Coleman and Barend de Wet.
Forged, the past participle of the verb forge, describes a process whereby metals – iron, bronze and variety of alloys – are heated and hammered into shape in the heat of a furnace. Forge is also possessed of wholly positive associations. We speak of forging ahead in the sense of initiating progress, innovating and pushing the boundaries. “ - excerpt from Smac Gallery Press Release (2015)
Gail Catlin’s Solo Exhibition, The Mojo Gallery - Dubai (2000)
“The ‘canvas’ is glass. The ‘paint’ is liquid crystal. The effect is a living, breathing spirit – part fine art, part performance. A choreography of form and colour that changes according to the light and where you happen to be standing.” - excerpt taken from The Mojo Gallery Press Release (2000).