Rupert Record
Toni Heath Gallery is delighted to present "Freedom: Spartacus & other Portraits", an exhibition of new paintings by Rupert Record.
Record’s starting points for his new series of paintings include Aram Khachaturian's ballet "Spartacus" and the 1960 Stanley Kubrick epic of the same name.
Bending the greed, hate and violence, he uses auras of luminous colour - reminiscent of stained glass - to reflect the deeper emotion and uniqueness within each figure. The layers within are able to stir the soul: transfiguring the individual's internal pain to investigate "the triumph of the spirit over oppression".
The work was based on the memory of watching a vhs video of Spartacus on a flickering TV at school when the artist was twelve.
Since graduating from the Royal Academy Schools in 1996, Rupert Record has exhibited extensively throughout the UK. He has work in many private and corporate collections in Europe and the US. "Freedom: Spartacus & other Portraits" is his tenth solo show and his third with the Toni Heath Gallery.
Rupert Record was born in Kent in 1969. He currently lives and works in London.
Spartacus – a review by Damian Cannon.
"As one of the most famous film epics Spartacus takes us, battle by battle, through a slave uprising in Roman Italy and the intrigues of the Senate. The central figure, Spartacus (Kirk Douglas), is a gladiator-trained slave with more brains and balls than most. He has dreamed of freedom ever since being made a slave which tends to make him more insolent than his equals. Opposing this dream is the full weight of the Roman Empire (at the height of its powers), represented by Marcus Crassus (Laurence Olivier) and other members of the ruling class. However, a chance is given to Spartacus when he is rescued from the Libyan mines by Lentulus Batiatus (Peter Ustinov); to train him as a gladiator.
"The regime in Batiatus's school is tough but fair, considering that he aims to sell his trained slaves. Every day the men work at sword-play, agility, tactics and strength. For the very best students there's even the chance of being given a woman - probably their first. Spartacus proves to be a quick learner and earns the reward of Varinia (Jean Simmons). Despite expectations though he doesn't immediately ravish her ("I'm not an animal!"), which leads to the genesis of a deeper relationship between them. The easy rhythm of the school is disrupted unexpectedly when Senator Crassus visits, with lady friends who desire entertainment. When they demand two matches to the death (Batiatus has his qualms soothed with money) he trys to palm them off with his worst fighters - unfortunately they choose Spartacus and his friend Draba (Woody Strode). During the fight Draba gains the upper hand but refuses to kill his friend; instead he sacrifices himself in an attempt to kill Crassus.
"The burning resentment from the fights builds in Spartacus, climaxing when he finds that Crassus has bought Varinia. Turning on his trainer he drowns him in a pot of boiling soup and causes a revolt among his fellow slaves. The school guards are no match for these trained killers, within whom Spartacus has emerged as the natural leader. Taking to the countryside the group quickly grows in size as they liberate slaves from nearby estates, looting them thoroughly at the same time. As the Roman leaders debate how to deal with this threat, the slaves reach Mt. Vesuvius and set up camp. Underestimating the slave army Rome sends a force of six cohorts and gasp in surprise as they are soundly defeated. The consequences of this are used for much political infighting in the Senate, mostly between Crassus and Gracchus (Charles Laughton).
"To save his army (which is remarkably harmonious) Spartacus makes a deal with pirates to provide ships for their escape from Italy. Unfortunately after the long trek to the coast they find that the pirates have been bought off by Crassus, who wants to make a name for himself by defeating them. Facing the prospect of being trapped between two advancing armies Spartacus heads his slave troops back towards Rome and a meeting with the legions commanded by Crassus. An immense battle ensues with the odds turned in favour of the Romans by the arrival of the other two forces, leading to a total defeat for Spartacus. He is captured with the remaining slaves and marched to Rome - their numbers depleted along the way by roadside crucifixions. Crassus has triumphed, both in battle and in Rome, over his opponents; his final desire is to seduce Varinia (who has a son by Spartacus). Fortunately, while Spartacus only dreamed of freedom his son will live to have it. The sheer scale of this film lends it an overwhelming presence -- the battles are astounding, the landscapes extensive and the theme everlasting. This is almost able to overcome all of the other weaknesses, such as over-length and dramatic flaws. Still, the acting is generally of a high standard and the scenes of fighting (both in the Senate and in the training school) are excellent. The feel of the period is induced remarkably well - it really seems that the Romans hardly regard slaves as being human at all. Add all of these components to a rousing score and you're left with a story which lifts the spirits and causes revolutions. Try and watch the restored version, particularly for the bathtime scene."
Other comments....
The Film
"From what little I've read of this film it was lucky to have been made at all. Some very big talents had some very big egos and those egos clashed repeatedly."
Crassus
".....and Laurence Olivier's Crassus, whose dignified aristocratic exterior hides a ruthless and cynical nature."
"The most memorable line is that of Crassus (Olivier) as he impresses upon Antoninus, the slave (Tony Curtis), the strength of the Roman Republic. He gazes at a cohort of soldiers with their massive pilae (spears or spikes)and their bronze shields marching pass his villa at night. 'There Antoninus, goes the might and power of Rome. Nothing can withstand it...........how much more a mere boy?'"
Antoninus
"An animal can fight, but to sing beautiful things…"
Spartacus
"There are lots of impassioned speeches about dying free, much of which borders on cliché."
"Douglas consumes his role with relish, but Spartacus is a one-note character: all dour anger and downbeat proselytizing."
"The film isn't just a hollow bunch of visuals and talkiness: it has an enlightening and engaging story about themes that still matter today. In Spartacus' case, it is all about freedom, against the sickness of slavery in the Empire."
Caesar
"In this film, Ceasar is at the very start of his reign. Despite some moderate convincing portrayal, a nineteen-year-old looking Julius does not do much for me. He looked as though he had just rolled out of some American football team. Good looking though he was, he was in no way near the character which we know Ceasar to be; nor did he act like any sort of ruler."
Biography
Solo Exhibitions
2006 Freedom: Spartacus & other Portraits, Toni Heath Gallery, London
2006 Dream Warriors, Toni Heath Gallery, London
2005 The Dancer’s Aerial Radiant Dream, Toni Heath Gallery, London
2002 20 Porchester Terrace, solo show
2001 A Slight Touch of Primitive Instinct, solo show, SE1 Gallery, London
1998 Deborah Bates Gallery, London Solo Show
1998 The Lycee, Solo show at Sapcote Lofts, Kennington, London
1997 Proud Galleries, Solo Show
1996 Spencer Landor Show, Solo show
Selected Group Exhibitions
2006 Now We Are Two, Toni Heath Gallery, London
2005 Rupert Record & Niki Holmes, Light Gallery, London
2004 Contemporary Painting, Light Gallery, London
2004 Into, Mernier Chocolate Factory, London
2004 Wear the Fox Hat, The Fox Club, London
2003 Rupert Record & James Verner, The Courtyard Gallery, London
2003 New Work, Leisure Pass Group, Oxford Street, London
2002 Abstract, group show, Collyer Bristow Gallery, London
2002 Home Metropole Galleries, Folkestone
2000 Rupert Record & Anne Marie Coxon, Alchemy Gallery, London
2000 Seven Paintings on Seven Floors, commission & exhibition, The Hatton, London
1999 Proud Galleries, London, joint show
1999 Royal Academy Past Graduates, Rowe & Maw, London
1999 Metalwork, Zella Gallery, London
1999 Marine House at Bere, Devon
1999 Laing Art Competition & Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London
1999 Coombs Contemporary, London
1998 ITN Headquarters show, Grays Inn Road
1998 Proud Galleries, London, Summer Show
1998 Bass Taverns Competition winner with exhibition.
1998 Proud Galleries at the Edinburgh Festival
1998 Proud Galleries Christmas Auction
1997 Elton John Aids Foundation Show, Sotheby’s
1997 Proud Galleries, Physica, with Mike Turner
1997 Collyer Bristow, Group show with Stephen Buckley and Simon Lewty
1997 Modern and Contemporary Painting, Clink Wharf Gallery
Collections
Clive Anderson, Broadcaster & Journalist
St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London
The Institute of Human Rights, Lund, Sweden
The Hatton, Hatton Garden, London
Numerous private collections in the UK, USA & Europe
Education
Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Art, Royal Academy Schools, London
BA Fine Art (Painting), Chelsea College of Art, London
Foundation Course in Art & Design, Blackheath College of Art