Basil Blackshaw HRHA RUA (1932-2016)

Drumaness Mill

Oil on canvas, 29.5 x 23.5cm (11½ x 9¼'')

Basil Blackshaw studio label signed by the artists daughter verso

Provenance: The artist's...

Basil Blackshaw HRHA RUA (1932-2016)

Drumaness Mill

Oil on canvas, 29.5 x 23.5cm (11½ x 9¼'')

Basil Blackshaw studio label signed by the artists daughter verso

Provenance: The artist's studio and thence by descent

With the exception of the painting 'The Wall' (Lot 134) we have little or no body of work here toevaluate what Basil described to me as his 'existentialist' period particularly from the late '90s onwards when his output became increasingly psychological and preoccupied with the demons which he fought for decades namely drink.

 

During the late years Blackshaw revealed more what was somewhat eclipsed in his work up until then. 'The Windows" series hanging in IMMA and 'The Wall' one of which is part of this sale are mirrors into Basil's soul. In a conversation with the artist on a dark dank afternoon in the front room of his County Antrim home Basil expanded on paintings like 'Corner of a Room' 'The Window Series" and 'The Wall paintings."

 

He said: "where we sit here we are surrounded by walls. When we look out there through the window we realise we are surrounded by stone walls/ditches. We look further out and we see the hills and beyond these are the mountains

 

"These are physical walls over which it would be difficult to jump. There are other walls. They are walls in our heads, psychological walls, the craving for alcohol, money, wealth power and so on.

 

"So we live with physical walls all around us and walls in our heads all the time" the artist concluded. Basil Blackshaw like so many other creative spirits wrestled with his demons for so many years openly accepting he was a 'recovering alcoholic. Whoever buys 'The Wall' is purchasing a self portrait of the artist and potentially a self portrait of him or herself.

 

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