Julian Dashper

What makes a painting?

Julian Dashper made painting itself the subject of his art. These two works represent the struggle, as he perceived it, to make a painting that has any real meaning or value – a painting that is more important than an empty wall.

To create Untitled (2005), Dashper cut an unpainted stretched canvas from its frame and hung it at an angle on the wall. In Untitled (1991), he presented a commercially produced canvas as a ready-made abstract painting. By making works in this way, Dashper intended to provoke discussion about painting, and its function and relevance.

Dashper was one of the leading artists of his generation. These two works are key examples of his practice.

This text was prepared for the Collecting Contemporary exhibition, 2011–2012.