Lorem Ipsum – No. 20 Arts, London

At an intriguing space in Islington, this exhibition of work by artist and filmmaker Jim Threapleton is abstraction flirting with figurative representation.

Lorem Ipsum

It’s one of those exhibition titles that makes sense the second you see the works. Lorem Ipsum. You know, like the placeholder text? It looks like Latin but is actually nonsense, just filler words to give you a sense of how text will look on a page. The connection here is the appearance yet absence of sense. This latest series of works by Threapleton is filled with canvases that look like something: a seascape, mountains, a Turneresque scene. Yet when you get close and really look, the image dissolves into abstraction. The thing you thought was there simply isn’t. It’s deceptive, and leaves you questioning your senses.

I haven’t seen Threapleton’s work previously. As well as working as an artist he is known as a film director, producer and screenwriter. He lives between London and Vancouver, and has a good few years of solo and group shows under his belt. Previous shows have also tested out the boundary of abstraction and representation, a recurrent theme in his work. The guide produced alongside Lorem Ipsum links these latest paintings to the events of the pandemic. “I forget art history, but paintings haunt me.” he writes. “They are a coping strategy.”

No. 20 Arts

And what a coping strategy. I was impressed with the art historical references in the series. The influence of Turner’s soft seascapes and snowstorm vortices was immediately apparent. I also picked up hints of John Martin‘s blustering landscapes. The gallery guide further draws connections with Tiepolo, and even Roger Dean’s album covers. It’s a rich art historical tapestry, inviting you to linger and consider what you’re seeing. Or imagining. The titles provide further obfuscation: I looked a few of them up hoping for further clues, but I think they come from the standard Lorem Ipsum text.

Weaving all of these strands together, it’s a tantalising whole. Something just out of reach. The works also appear very technically proficient: control and chaos evenly balanced, the muted tones carefully selected. A handful of overpainted 19th Century studio photographs point at a bigger oeuvre in a way that left me wanting more.

No. 20 Arts is worth a visit in its own right. On relatively peaceful Cross Street between Upper Street and the Essex Road, it is in the sort of former industrial space that is perfect for an art gallery. It’s big enough to put on shows that make it worth the trip, and the welcome is warm: I dropped by on a Saturday and discussed Threapleton’s work with Gallery Coordinator Harjoyt. So whether it’s part of a day out in Islington or because my description has piqued your interest, I recommend a trip.

Salterton Arts Review’s rating: 4/5

Lorem Ipsum on until 23 December 2022