Tulipmania

Location

Country: Turkey
City: Ankara
Place: British Embassy

In 2017 Gavin Turk chose one of the most iconic symbols of the Netherlands to focus on for an exhibition at the Museum van Loon, following a visit to his friend the artist Philippa van Loon. Originating in central Asia, tulips were admired in Islamic gardens in Persia (Iran), blooming across the ancient Silk Route and in Anatolia. They are viewed as a symbol of exploration, trade and migration. In the 16th century the Netherlands had a great trade history with the Ottoman Empire (now Turkey) and it was the Van Loon family who were heavily involved in this trade route. Taking this story as a source of inspiration for his exhibition, Turk chose  24 contemporary artists to contribute to the exhibition — each focusing on depictions of tulips. Nineteen of the artists created prints showing tulips in different iterations, from hyperrealistic portraits to ‘exploded flowers’, from frozen blocks of flowers to tulip emojis.

Mat Collishaw (b. 1966) is a key figure in the generation of British artists who emerged from Goldsmiths’ College in the late 1980s known as the YBAs (Young British Artists). He participated in the seminal group exhibition Freeze (1988) and since his first solo exhibition in 1990, has exhibited widely internationally. His practice encompasses photography, film, sculpture and installation. Collishaw lives and works in London.

Places

Subjects

Materials & Techniques

varnish, digital print, inkjet print

Artist

Mat Collishaw (1966 - )

Title

Tulipmania

Portfolio Title

Turkish Tulips

Edition

7/25

Date

2017

Medium

Inkjet print with screenprint varnish

Dimensions

height: 40.1 cm, width: 29.4 cm

Acquisition

Purchased from The House of Fairy Tales, January 2018

Inscription

below image, bl: 7/25; br: signed

Provenance

The House of Fairy Tales; purchased by the GAC 2018

GAC number

18749/5