Acrylic on canvas.

Signed, titled and dated in verso.

Image and canvas size: 2348 x 2348 mm

The Ark 16.2.85 showcases Hoyland’s investigation into style, color, and form within his artistic practice. The 1980s for Hoyland represented a critical period of evolution in his artistic career, his use of colour, geometric abstraction and the motif of the circle all became brighter bolder and more widely used. The 80s for Hoyland welcomed a further engagement with themes of abstract expressionism. The circle, in both works became a way in which Hoyland was able to explore wholeness, continuity and unity within his canvases. Continuity and change are expressed on the surfaces of the canvas, as there is a sense of harmony with his circles but disruption in shapes and colours.

Hoyland’s The Ark 16.2.85 is a significant example of his abstract expressionist work. In The Ark 16.2.85, you can see Hoyland’s characteristic use of intense colour fields, with large expanses of saturated hues that shift in tone and intensity. This work, like many others from this period, might also feature the application of thick paint, sometimes applied with palette knives or brushes to create a sense of physicality and texture. The title “The Ark” could refer to the painting’s symbolic or abstract suggestion of protection, journey, or transcendence, but Hoyland’s work generally resisted specific narrative interpretation, focusing instead on the emotive and visual impact of colour and form.

Please make an online enquiry or contact the Studio on 0207 407 6561 to purchase this work.