Built Up Coast

Peter Lanyon 1918 - 1964

Summary

An abstracted view of the seashore, constructed from bits of glass, wire, ceramic tiles and paint. There is a wire grill across the bottom of picture, surmounted by an irregular shaped piece of glass with a sloped upper edge and a narrow black arrow shaped piece of glass on the right. The whole is filled in with broad strokes of colour. Born in St Ives, Peter Lanyon spent most of his working life in Cornwall when it was a centre for many modern artists. There he met, and was encouraged by, amongst others, Nuam Gabo, Ben Nicholson and Barbara Hepworth. Lanyon was particularly devoted to the twelve mile strip of granite hills, farms and old mines and ruins which runs west from St Ives to St Just, and this construction is an expression of his total experience of his native countryside. Built Up Coast is one of Lanyon's first works connected with gliding which he took up in 1959. It recreates the sense of looking at an aerial view of fields, sea and sky. The red shape represents a glider: either part of it, or the route it is following. There are also purely abstract features. Some refer to colours, others are blurred, like the view from a moving glider. In 1962, Lanyon said "A painter's business is to understand space - I don't mean the old approach to landscape - sitting in one place and taking in the view - as you get in traditional painting. What I'm concerned with is moving round in this space and trying to describe it". Sadly, Peter Lanyon was killed in a gliding accident four years after he made this picture.

Display Label

Built Up Coast 1960 Peter Lanyon 1918-1964 Ceramic tile, stained glass, wire, mirror and oil on masonite This constructed work is based on a 12 mile strip of the Cornish coast between St Ives and St Just. Lanyon took up gliding in 1959 and parts of this picture recreate the sense of looking at an aerial view of fields, sea and sky. The red shape represents a glider – either part of it, or the route it is following. There are also purely abstract features. Some refer to colours, others are blurred like the view from a moving vehicle. Lanyon was killed in a gliding accident four years after he made this work. Purchased from Mrs Sheila Lanyon 1978.89