Billy Childish This Is The Universe... Big Isn't It?

Carl Freedman Gallery is proud to present This Is The Universe… Big Isn’t It?, a solo exhibition by British artist Billy Childish. Billy Childish (b. 1959, Kent, UK) is an extraordinary and prolific artist. His paintings, woodcuts, poetry, writing and music share a common honesty that, rather than being nombrilistic, is deeply compelling and idiosyncratic. Childish’s practice is informed by a tireless curiosity for themes as varied as war, the history and topography of his local and personal environment, social protest, hill walking and religious philosophy. Without the need for validation or approval from the art world, Childish has developed an authentic, independent and defiant position within culture that is admired by many worldwide. This major new exhibition in Margate includes paintings of California’s Joshua Tree national park, alongside an ongoing series of Childish’s hand-painted wooden storage chests, historically used in shipping. The Californian and Joshua tree paintings were inspired by a family road trip last year, and continue Childish’s longterm investigation into the theme of universal vs local. Free of irony or superficial novelty, Billy Childish’s paintings espouse values of authenticity, spirituality, and beauty. Present throughout is a quality of quiet melancholy combined with a vibrational, swirling energy. Waterfalls, the sea, trees, nudes, boatmen, swimmers, woods and the artist himself are all recurring motifs.