Francis Bacon Studio @ Hugh Lane Gallery

After much anticipation Francis Bacon’s London studio, has opened to the public at the Hugh Lane Gallery Dublin. This is a most unusual and amazing exhibition and deserves to be visited by anyone with even a passing interest in art. 

Francis Bacon worked as an artist at 7 Reece Mews for more than 30 years. After his death, his entire estate was left to his companion John Edwards, who in turn donated the studio and all its contents to the Hugh Lane Gallery. It is fitting that there is now a major focal point for Bacon devotees in the country where he was born. 

The Studio was photographed in it’s chaotic state in London, and all of the 7,000 items were catalogued and archived. Then the studio itself, walls, ceiling, doors, windows and stairs were taken down, brought to Dublin and reconstructed exactly as they were in London. Following this, all 7,000 items contained in the room were brought to Dublin and replaced in exactly the same position as they were in the studio. 

The effort it must have taken to carry this out is mind boggling. The interactive displays at the exhibition provide an excellent insight to the artist, and help to make sense of the studio’s contents. Items found such as letters, pictures, books and records are described and discussed in a way that links them to Bacon’s life and work. For example, the correspondence found in the studio is described and this gives an insight into his many friendships. The exhibitions provides Dublin with a comprehensive and fascinating analysis of the definitive archive of one of the most celebrated artists of the 20th century. 

Of course there is a lot of interest for the gay visitor at this exhibition. Bacon lived a very gay life long before it was acceptable to do so. He had many lovers, and a number of major relationships. Many of his relationships with men were very turbulent. As a figurative artist, Bacon was naturally interested in the human form, and many books in the studio reflect his interest in the human body in motion. For example, there are books on tennis, and swimming, and the interactive database, shows how some of the images in these books may have inspired the artist, who rarely worked using live models. 

The exhibition also contains a film of an interview with the artist, where the artist is obviously slightly drunk. He talks freely about his art and how and why he painted in certain way. Interestingly, Bacon explained that he liked to create order out of chaos, and this explained why his studio was so cluttered. In fact when I saw the studio, I was amazed how any work (least of all some of the best figurative painting of recent times) was produced there at all. 

All in all, the exhibition will provide the uninitiated with a fascinating introduction to Bacon, the artist and the man. For those already familiar, it is will provide much of interest and potentially hours can be spent here learning about the artist. In addition there are many of the artist’s paintings on display in the main Gallery at the moment. There can be few better ways to spend some hours in Dublin this summer, but make sure to plan an extra hour for checking out the database – you’ll enjoy it!

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