Albion Barn & Fields
Albion Barn & Fields
Skip to main content
  • Menu
  • Artists
  • Exhibitions
  • Albion Fields
  • Viewing room
Menu

James Capper : Rotary Paintings and Hydra Painter

Current viewing_room
  • Albion Barn is pleased to present an exhibition of recent works by James Capper.  The ROTARY PAINTINGS form a significant body of work created using the HYDRA PAINTER - a hydraulic painting machine. The first iteration of HYDRA PAINTER, built in 2015, is a basic machine consisting of a small square table with a hole in the middle to allow the spindle of a hydraulic motor through it, attached to which is a beam affixed with paint rollers. Despite initial successful tests, HYDRA PAINTER was packed away and sat in storage until Capper rediscovered the machine in March 2020.

    • James Capper, HE MADE OUR COUNTRY A BETTER PLACE, 2021
      James Capper, HE MADE OUR COUNTRY A BETTER PLACE, 2021
      Enquire
      %3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3E%3Cstrong%3EJames%20Capper%3C/strong%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cem%3EHE%20MADE%20OUR%20COUNTRY%20A%20BETTER%20PLACE%3C/em%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E2021%3C/span%3E
    • James Capper, DIRECTED ENERGY WEAPONS DESTROYING TARGETS WITH INEXHAUSTIBLE LASERS, 2020
      James Capper, DIRECTED ENERGY WEAPONS DESTROYING TARGETS WITH INEXHAUSTIBLE LASERS, 2020
      Enquire
      %3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3E%3Cstrong%3EJames%20Capper%3C/strong%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cem%3EDIRECTED%20ENERGY%20WEAPONS%20DESTROYING%20TARGETS%20WITH%20INEXHAUSTIBLE%20LASERS%3C/em%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E2020%3C/span%3E
    • James Capper, COVID STATUS, 2021
      James Capper, COVID STATUS, 2021
      Enquire
      %3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3E%3Cstrong%3EJames%20Capper%3C/strong%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cem%3ECOVID%20STATUS%3C/em%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E2021%3C/span%3E
    • James Capper, PUBLIC TRANSPORT, 2020
      James Capper, PUBLIC TRANSPORT, 2020
      Enquire
      %3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3E%3Cstrong%3EJames%20Capper%3C/strong%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cem%3EPUBLIC%20TRANSPORT%3C/em%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E2020%3C/span%3E
    • James Capper, NO!!! MR. SPEAKER, 2021
      James Capper, NO!!! MR. SPEAKER, 2021
      Enquire
      %3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3E%3Cstrong%3EJames%20Capper%3C/strong%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cem%3ENO%21%21%21%20MR.%20SPEAKER%3C/em%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E2021%3C/span%3E
    • James Capper, STAY AT HOME, 2020
      James Capper, STAY AT HOME, 2020
      Enquire
      %3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3E%3Cstrong%3EJames%20Capper%3C/strong%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cem%3ESTAY%20AT%20HOME%3C/em%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E2020%3C/span%3E
    Close
  • JAMES CAPPER: ROTARY PAINTINGS | THE SECOND SERIES

    James Capper creates these ROTARY PAINTINGS in a synthesis with his machine the HYDRAPAINTER. The combination of unique art object with mechanical production methods encapsulates Capper’s investigation into biomimicry, the artist’s hand is extended to the rotating arm of the hydraulic machine: this collaboration creates a performative method of production.

  •  

     

  • Capper works primarily in large-scale industrial sculpture, structuring his practice around ‘Divisions’. The divisions the ‘Earth Marking’ and ‘Carving’, while...

    Capper works primarily in large-scale industrial sculpture, structuring his practice around ‘Divisions’. The divisions the ‘Earth Marking’ and ‘Carving’, while the art object is the machine, demonstrate an obvious preoccupation with the trace left behind by his sculpture. In a divergence of form, the ROTARY PAINTINGS centre the trace left by Capper’s hydraulic sculpture. The same industrial maritime paint is used across the two- and three-dimensional aspects of his practice, drawing further relations between them, and giving the series a distinct, lacquered effect.

     

    The marine paint interacts with the movement of the roller arm in different ways depending upon its consistency; a heavy density forming a thick, gloss finish, while thinning it with solvents makes lively, wash-like marks. The HYDRAPAINTER can then adapt its speed to accentuate these differences, the variation of marks implying the temporality and motion that is pivotal to its production. The bold, circular paintings engage with seminal works such as Jasper John’s Target, 1961, the colour field paintings of Kenneth Noland, Ugo Rondinone’s target paintings, and Damien Hirst’s spin paintings.

  • Produced throughout the pandemic, each ROTARY PAINTING acts as a historical record of the day that it was produced. The titles alternate between caustic humour and poignancy in response to newspaper headlines, PM briefings, and press announcements. Capper forged a link between the repetitive method of production and the monotony of life during lockdown: the subtle blending and shifting hues giving form to the sense of temporal limbo. The initial series of ROTARY PAINTINGS were produced in collaboration with Covid Smart, with much of the proceeds being donated to the charity.

     

    Additional works and prices are available on request.

     

    • James Capper, A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL SAY, UM YOU KNOW, WHY DON'T YOU GO FASTER, 2021
      James Capper, A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL SAY, UM YOU KNOW, WHY DON'T YOU GO FASTER, 2021
    • James Capper, ALL THE EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT SCHOOLS ARE SAFE, 2021
      James Capper, ALL THE EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT SCHOOLS ARE SAFE, 2021
    • James Capper, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DECADES, 2021
      James Capper, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DECADES, 2021
    • James Capper, IMPORTUNATE NOSE RINGED, DREADLOCKED CLIMATE CHANGE PROTESTERS, 2021
      James Capper, IMPORTUNATE NOSE RINGED, DREADLOCKED CLIMATE CHANGE PROTESTERS, 2021
    • James Capper, DO YOU STILL THROW SPEARS AT EACH OTHER?, 2021
      James Capper, DO YOU STILL THROW SPEARS AT EACH OTHER?, 2021
    • James Capper, YOU DON'T HAVE TO URINATE IN THE BUSHES, 2021
      James Capper, YOU DON'T HAVE TO URINATE IN THE BUSHES, 2021
    • James Capper, THIS BRUTAL LOTTERY OF OLD AGE, 2021
      James Capper, THIS BRUTAL LOTTERY OF OLD AGE, 2021
    • James Capper, PERHAPS WE SHOULD THANK EACH OTHER, 2021
      James Capper, PERHAPS WE SHOULD THANK EACH OTHER, 2021
    • James Capper, KEEP THIS COUNTRY IN FURLOUGH, 2021
      James Capper, KEEP THIS COUNTRY IN FURLOUGH, 2021
    • James Capper, IF WE LISTEN TO CAPTAIN HINDSIGHT, 2021
      James Capper, IF WE LISTEN TO CAPTAIN HINDSIGHT, 2021
    • James Capper, IT'S FIXED, 2021
      James Capper, IT'S FIXED, 2021
    • James Capper, YOU CAN DO BOTH AT ONCE, CAKE, HAVE, EAT, 2021
      James Capper, YOU CAN DO BOTH AT ONCE, CAKE, HAVE, EAT, 2021
    • James Capper, HEAVING HEMP SMELLING BIVOUACS, 2021
      James Capper, HEAVING HEMP SMELLING BIVOUACS, 2021
    • James Capper, TURBOCHARGE THE ROLL OUT, 2021
      James Capper, TURBOCHARGE THE ROLL OUT, 2021
    • James Capper, GOT A BIT EMBARRASSING, 2021
      James Capper, GOT A BIT EMBARRASSING, 2021
    • James Capper, LET THE BODIES PILE HIGH, 2021
      James Capper, LET THE BODIES PILE HIGH, 2021
    • James Capper, I'M A TECHNOLOGICAL OPTIMIST, 2021
      James Capper, I'M A TECHNOLOGICAL OPTIMIST, 2021
    • James Capper, NOTHING WRONG WITH BUNNY HUGGING, 2021
      James Capper, NOTHING WRONG WITH BUNNY HUGGING, 2021
    • James Capper, HOPELESS, 2021
      James Capper, HOPELESS, 2021
    • James Capper, WE TOOK, ERRR, THE MOST DRASTIC STEPS POSSIBLE, 2021
      James Capper, WE TOOK, ERRR, THE MOST DRASTIC STEPS POSSIBLE, 2021
    • James Capper, I REALLY THINK HE SHOULD GET HIS FACTS STRAIGHT, 2021
      James Capper, I REALLY THINK HE SHOULD GET HIS FACTS STRAIGHT, 2021
    Close
  • Accompanying the exhibition of James's latest ROTARY PAINTINGS, Albion Barn is excited to announce the publication James Capper PATHWAYS IN...

    James Capper PATHWAYS IN MOBILE SCULPTURE, 2021

    Albion Publishing

    Accompanying the exhibition of James's latest ROTARY PAINTINGS, Albion Barn is excited to announce the publication James Capper PATHWAYS IN MOBILE SCULPTURE, published by Albion Publishing with texts by Richard Cork, James Capper, Edward Campbell, Alexa Jeanne Kusber, and Guy Robertson. The book will be available for orders from June.

Manage cookies
Copyright © 2023 Albion Barn & Fields
Online Viewing Rooms by Artlogic

ALBION BARN

Church Hill 

Little Milton

Oxford OX44 7QB

Instagram, opens in a new tab.
Facebook, opens in a new tab.
Twitter, opens in a new tab.
Join the mailing list
Send an email
View on Google Maps

This website uses cookies
This site uses cookies to help make it more useful to you. Please contact us to find out more about our Cookie Policy.

Manage cookies
Accept

Cookie preferences

Check the boxes for the cookie categories you allow our site to use

Cookie options
Required for the website to function and cannot be disabled.
Improve your experience on the website by storing choices you make about how it should function.
Allow us to collect anonymous usage data in order to improve the experience on our website.
Allow us to identify our visitors so that we can offer personalised, targeted marketing.
Save preferences
Close

Join our mailing list

Signup

* denotes required fields

We will process the personal data you have supplied in accordance with our privacy policy (available on request). You can unsubscribe or change your preferences at any time by clicking the link in our emails.