Neate at his best. The image is enchanting and haunting at the same time.

I know that most of you of dislike this probably went to the last show. But I would be interested to see a simple yes or no if you did or didn't go to the last show.
For me, until I saw the perspex pieces In the flesh I didn't get them at all. I too love his cardboard paintings(2d and 3d). But without seeing the perspex in person I would be very carefull about disliking the works.
I remember seeing the posters to 'A new understanding' at the book signing, decided I didn't want them. By the time I saw the originals I ran downstairs(well took my time, those stairs are f**king lethel ;-) ). Neate had stopped signing the posters. I got a book though. In fact heres a small collection of Neate doodled books and posters. The man can do little wrong for me.
In an age where artists getted slagged off for standing still, Neate should be saluted for marching on. All in my opinion ;-).

...this was going to be my next question, how many of those suggesting he 'go back to painting cardboard' actually went to the show?

I went to the last show. It's not about going back or going forward. Its just that personally I don't think these 3d works do it for me. And it's got nothing to do with prints or this scene. We all know neate has no intention of releasing any prints for the immediate future.

Agree with nuart would be great to see him painting a few walls. There were some great photos of the walls he painted in brazil.

Anyway nice to see a thread where art is being discussed, all about opinions at the end of the day.

Firstly I have got to say it's great to see an artist who continues to take on a challenge and risk to push his work forward. It would have been all to easy for him to carry on painting in the same vein, releasing a handful of prints each year and be living very comfortably.

But (thank goodness) that's not Neate.

It's often hard to appreciate a lot of artwork from low-res images seen on the internet.

Even the best photos miss the little intricacies that make a work; the brush strokes, the depth of the painting, the scale of the work before you etc.

And none more so than the recent dimensional paintings by Neate. It might be worth trying to see them in person before casting a definitive judgement over the new works.

Whilst I don't think the 'Revolving Door' piece is one of his best (far from it), I do like it.

For me it can be seen to be about the state of the current economy and the gloom surrounding it. The feeling of things being out of control and trapping people in their current circumstances. It's almost as though the character in the piece is trying to break free.

I understand why people say that the work 'lacks soul' in comparison to his older painted works. But I think this is deliberate.

The older pieces were made from reclaimed cardboard and bits and pieces. All the material in the new works is bought and paid for. Having spoken to Paul, this seems deliberate.

In my opinion it's a commentary on the commercialism apparent in today's society. The striving for 'perfection' in life - the need for plastic surgery to convey a certain image, the need to buy certain things to make your life 'complete' etc.

The works are almost clinical and 'clean'.

A reclining nude, a businessman sat in a bar looking at his watch not wanting to go home are just some of the topics (the trappings of modern day life?!) Neate touched upon in his last show.

If you're still not convinced, give him some more time and see what he comes up with in the future. I still think he is learning this new technique and can't wait to see how he develops it further.

I assumed you would have realised i meant the Blocky Abstract thing.

Discuss what you like and so will i, did you by any chance see the 'IMO' in my original post?, is this a public forum?, am i allowed to comment?.

If your after some kind of cat fight or b**chy argument then sorry i dont do that.

Jog on DD, you may be a respected member on here but to me your just another name on a forum.

edit** How rude am i here!, not like me at all DD, i apologise for that.

Calm down dear didn't understand your point and wanted clarification, I wasn't being bitchy just really didn't understand the connection you were making.

Totaly agree with pez, kimble et al, obviously he has some talent but I think his works are hideous and ugly.

Which is what a lot of our world is, and the people and world they inhabit are.

A trip round a Neate exhibition with Paul as your host puts it all into context. And only when viewed first hand is this work really appreciated.

As others have stated, fair play to adam and Elms for moving on and experimenting when the safe option is to stand still.

Also whoever owns 'The cyclist' do a giclee copy for me please :-).

OK, I could have punctuated it better, I find it hideous and ugly

but agree with you on " Gimmicky and, well, a bit naff "

I think that you have to view it in the flesh....



I can't recall which exhibition this was from but I do recall standing back and thinking it was superb. It amuses me when some of the members on here critique ability and then go and fork out £000's for stencil art.

Think it was from paintings pots and prints, its not in my books anyway.
The man is in a class of his own. The service at Elms from Paul and Fiona is second to none. Always willing to spend as long as you want talking about Adams work, knowing your probably only going to buy a book or poster. I wish they did a book for the last show.
I really would love a Neate original, maybe a street piece. Any reasonably priced out there?.