Julian Opie Winter travels to India marking the launch of 'The Gallery' at the British Council

Presenting the new acquisition of works from the series, Winter. the exhibition opens at the British Council gallery on May 14 and will be open for public viewing till July 27.

The exhibition and opening of the new gallery is in-line with the British Council’s Reimagine Arts initiative that was launched in 2013 to build new cultural avenues between the people, and cultural institutions, of the UK and India. The Gallery will be a new ‘hub’ for art enthusiasts around the country and will showcase the best forms of art from contemporary UK and India.

Winter. by Julian Opie centers around a sequence of seventy-five prints that represent a circular walk taken by the artist through the French countryside on a harsh but beautiful day. The prints absorb an eclectic range of influences, from 17th century Dutch landscape painting to street view on Google Maps, and are at the forefront of Opie’s continued investigation into the experience of landscape.

Speaking on the occasion Rob Lynes, Director British Council India said, "It brings us immense pleasure and delight to collaborate with Julian Opie for the opening of the Gallery at the British Council. The exhibition displays a form of art which is fresh and captivating to the eye and also a step forward in building cultural connections between the UK and India through artistic exchange. The UK has a new government which will look for ways to strengthen its relationship with India. The arts and culture are an important part of that relationship and the British Council will continue to work with partners to support this.'

An avid thinker, Julian Opie takes the physical world as the starting point for his artistic practice, be it nature or human beings, which he first captures through an innovative drawing process using a camera and computer technology as his tools.
The installation of these works creates a surrounding panorama that combines the rural landscape with slick architectural surfaces immersing the viewer in the essence of the artists vision.

Julian Opie said on his art work, "It was very exciting when the British Council decided to buy the Winter. series. They have always been very supportive and I’m particularly happy to keep such a large part of this series intact as a group and to have the chance to exhibit them together in the new galleries in Delhi. My first big project with the Council was the Indian Triennial in 1997 - an important exhibition for me - so it’s particularly pleasing to collaborate again in India and show this intimate project in Delhi and beyond. I am so happy that Winter will be travelling to various parts of the country over the coming months.  I have been lucky enough to exhibit widely in India and, over the years, my family and I have fallen in love with India - the landscape, the historic art and architecture, the people, the weather, the food. This project depicts a cold, quiet Northern European landscape, which I imagine, will contrast strongly with the coming venues. I hope the contrast will be refreshing."

This collection is an inspiration from a stroll through a bleak winter landscape in France. With 75 images in all, the viewer feels engrossed and cocooned in that French landscape.