Catalogue Raisonné. Portrait of Air Vice Marshall J.E. Johnson, CR492
The Major Periods
1962 – 1965: Early Pop Paintings
As one of the original wave of Pop artists Gerald Laing produced some of the most significant works of the British Pop movement. His paintings reproduced images of popular heroes such as starlets, film stars, drag racers, astronauts and skydivers. His 1962 portrait of Brigitte Bardot is an iconic work of the period and regularly features in major Pop retrospectives alongside Lincoln Convertible from 1964, a commemoration of the assassination of JFK.
1965 – 1970: Utopian Abstract Sculpture
From 1965 Gerald Laing's painting evolved into abstract sculptures using the techniques and materials of car customisation - lacquering, spray-painting and chrome-plating on metal.
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1970 – 1973: Sculpture In The Landscape
A move from New York to the Highlands of Scotland in 1970 saw Gerald Laing's sculpture respond to the beauty, roughness and power of the surrounding landscape.
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1972 – 2010: Public Sculpture
Public sculptures include the the Bank Station Dragons; the Rugby Sculptures at Twickenham Stadium; the Cricketer at Lords; the Highland Clearances Memorial in Helmsdale, Sutherland and Axis Mundi in Edinburgh.
1973 – 1980: Galina Series
Inspired by the figurative sculpture of the First World War Artillery Memorial at Hyde Park Corner, in 1973 Gerald Laing began to model in clay and cast in bronze. The Galina Series and associated sculptures were his first works from this period.
1982 – 2007: Portrait Heads
Gerald Laing's portrait work includes heads and reliefs of Luciano Pavarotti, Andy Warhol, Paul Getty and Sam Wanamaker.
2002 – 2005: War Paintings
The Iraq war and the publication of images of torture at Abu Ghraib prison drew Gerald Laing back to painting for the first time in over three decades. The War Paintings series sees the starlets and all-American heroes of his early paintings take on new, more sinister roles.
2004 – 2011: New Paintings
Returning to the style and subject matter of his early pop art paintings, Gerald Laing's latest paintings feature media images of contemporary celebrities including Amy Winehouse and Kate Moss.
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Portrait of Air Vice Marshall J.E. Johnson
CR 492
Kinkell, Scotland
August, 1989
Bronze
10.5 x 10 x 10 inches
Edition of 10
Citations and Comments
Johnny Johnson comes to the Highlands every year to fish and it was during one of these visits that I persuaded him to sit for me. I have long admired the pilots of his generation and as our highest scoring fighter ace of WWII, with 30 confirmed kills to his credit, he is a leading member of the group. In addition he is a distinguished author, having written several books on air combat, the first being published in 1951 He is a highly competitive man still, and I see him as an old gladiator, still clear eyed. He is a true archetype, and may fairly be compared with the famous sculpture of the Roman boxer/pugilist.
The base of the sculpture is decorated in a reference to the classic tradition[,] which helps to reaffirm the relationship between Johnny Johnson and the Boxer, with reliefs of a Heinkel flying over the Thames, a Spitfire coming out of the sun, and an RAF roundel. Both images are taken from his 1954 book, ‘Wing Leader’.
Catalogue Raisonné Information
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- Gerald Laing, The Scottish Gallery, London, 1990
- Gerald Laing: Portraits, Thomas Gibson Fine Art Ltd, London, 1993