A Safe Bet by Tim Garner

A Safe Bet by Tim Garner in Manctopia
A Safe Bet by Tim Garner in Manctopia

The River Irwell is a part Manchester that recurringly makes its way back into Tim Garner's works. A river that cuts through the city centre, it is a pivotal part of the city's dynamic, and has been portrayed by artists throughout history, most notably iconic French impressionist painter Adolphe Valette.

'A Safe Bet' portrays the iconic River Irwell, which is a part Manchester that recurringly makes its way back into Tim Garner's works. A river that cuts through the city centre, it is a pivotal part of the city's dynamic, and has been portrayed by artists throughout history, most notably iconic French impressionist painter Adolphe Valette. In Garner's signature hazy style, flecks of cement are scattered throughout this piece, juxtaposing to pops of vivid blues that dominate the skies above. Garner often portrays the hidden, anti-landmarks of a city - the area portrayed in this piece is tucked away between the city centre and the iconic Manchester Cathedral. The chosen location reflects Garner's extensive knowledge of the Manchester, and the days, weeks and months spent walking around the city trying to find something new to photograph and paint. This piece feels familiar, like an old photograph - it could be part of any typical Northern city. Although a dark piece, 'A Safe Bet' also has an air of celebration to it - it is an ode to the everyday settings and anti-landmarks within Manchester, which are equally as important to the city's dynamic as the more obvious monuments. Those familiar with Manchester will be aware of how rapidly the cityscape changes - old structures are constantly being displaced to make way for skyscrapers and new builds. Garner's works have a distinctive way of honouring the historical architecture, whilst also embracing the dynamic changes within the city. “The cement is to appropriate the physicality of the street” Garner has a distinctive way of appropriating the spirit and physicality of a city - his works are visceral and gritty, as though we would get a residue on our fingers if we were to touch the concrete pavement. Garner wants us to feel as though we're placed within the setting, as though we can feel the city around us, but simultaneously as external observers. Through a formula of industrial materials such as metals and cement, Garner is able to appropriate this physicality, paired with a colour palette of metallics and iridescent paints to imbue texture, light and depth. Through this process, Garner is able to capture still moments in time, snapshots of the mundane, anti-landmarks of a city, expanded to large scale compositions which demand our time and attention. With an oeuvre that is full of contradictions, Garner's works are distinctive, engaging, and have a way of interpreting a city in a way that's both physical and metaphysical. Tim Garner's works have their own agency, and would be an undoubtedly valuable asset to any contemporary art collection.

Based in his home studio in Stockport, Tim Garner is an artist who captures cityscapes through his own avant-garde lens. Inspired from his time living between Manchester and Paris, Garner works from photography and photo collage as his primary references, taking advantage of their visual immediacy and accuracy. Paint and cement are then used as a way of injecting emotive layers of meaning, forming Garner's distinctive style and flair. Through this process Garner has established his own visual language, which is imbued with character. His works are comfortingly familiar to a Northern audience, whilst enlightening and educating wider audiences. A piece of Mancunian history, this artwork would be a valuable asset for any contemporary art space, collection or home.