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The Arts Intel Report

A Cultural Compass
For the World Traveler
A Cultural Compass
For the World Traveler

VIII Sao Paolo Biennial Great Britain 1965, Revisited: Victor Pasmore and Patrick Heron

Patrick Heron, Big Red Horizontal with Ultramarine, 1964.

Until Jan 31, 2025
37-38 Bury St, St. James's, London SW1Y 6BB, United Kingdom

In 1965, Victor Pasmore (1908–1998) and Patrick Heron (1920–1992) presented their work together at the seminal VIII São Paulo Biennial, a defining moment in their careers. Both were British abstractionists—Pasmore explored the complexities of space; Heron focused on color—and both had been chosen to represent British modern art on the international stage. Little remains of that landmark show; no photographs were taken, though records of the works on view exist. In this exhibition, 10 paintings by each artist, dating from 1952 to 1954, evoke that pivotal moment—both in scale and beauty. —Elena Clavarino

Photo: © Patrick Heron Trust. All rights reserved, DACS 2024