“’Hardcore Pop’ with colours, stripes, that was my invention!”
Sir Peter in conversation with Alastair Sooke18th Oct’14
Image © CRE Ltd 2014
In mid 1967, fresh from having finished an album cover for the World’s most famous band, Peter Blake the John Moores prize winner, entered the premises of his favourite west London antiques and ephemera dealer; Dodo at 185 Westbourne Grove. It was the place where, a few years earlier the young artist had managed to acquire a very rare Edwardian ‘Cherry Blossom Boot Polish’ tin sign that he had seen on a Notting Hill Gate wall in the 1950’s and coveted since. On this particular summer’s day, the 35 year old Royal College of Art tutor was to receive an offer he could not refuse. Up and until then Blake had eschewed all opportunities; offered to his fellow swinging London contemporaries to reproduce his work on silk screens or as etchings. However Dodo suggested they commission Blake to produce a limited edition lithograph on tin plate. How could he resist? The resulting work; ”Babe Rainbow’, released the following year in an edition of 10,000 copies, would be Blake’s first ever multiple and it was on tin!
Some forty three plus years later the now Sir Peter Blake (knighted in 2002 for his services to art) has returned to this beloved metal medium. Using latest technology to create a heart-stopping portfolio of exceptionally limited original works the godfather of pop art presents us with ’Hardcore Pop’! Featuring the family of motifs for which he is world-renowned the viewer is blasted with bright emblems and emphatic statements of certainty and hope. In the super-size iconic Motif Suite we find a quadtych of portrait like representations. Each one transferred; on Dutch presses, to a 56% recycled metal substrate, over-glazed and oven-fired, creating a wonderfully rich and warm enamel-like finish.