We are delighted to present Gold, an exhibition of new work by artists Vera Klimentyeva and Issy Tennant. Gilding is intrinsic to the practice of both artists, who explore the enduring allure of gold through distinct yet complementary approaches. Employing this ancient technique, their work reflects on the material’s rich history while considering its place within a contemporary context. Across the exhibition, gold becomes both material and subject, connecting histories of craft while considering its capacity to embellish, illuminate and alter the perception of an object or image.
Using egg tempera and gold leaf on panel Vera Klimentyeva’s paintings transform historical iconography into contemporary abstraction. Drawing from medieval manuscripts, sacred symbols and traditional techniques Klimentyeva explores a well-established aesthetic with exquisite precision. Crucially, Klimentyeva’s engagement with the tradition of Russian Orthodox icon painting is central to her practice. While her works largely dispense with figuration, they retain and reinterpret the visual language of orthodox icons including haloes, circles, horizons and geometric divisions, transforming these sacred references into ambiguous yet celestial compositions.
Throughout her work Klimentyeva uses a restrained palette of red, blue, green and white, colours that carry distinct symbolic and spiritual meanings within Orthodox iconography. Far from being purely decorative, these hues contribute to the works’ layered visual and devotional language. It is the gold leaf, however, that draws the eye inward with its seductive shimmer providing an immediate sense of allure. In certain works, individual forms are delicately gilded, while in others, the panel is almost entirely enveloped in a luminous gold. Beyond colour, gold acts as a active element within the paintings, reflecting light, commanding attention and inviting contemplation.