Striking paintings on display at Cambridge University Library

A series of nine works will be featured in the University Library’s entrance hall area, and will run concurrently with an exhibition by the same artist at St John’s College.

The St John's exhibition accompanies the publication of the book 'Cold Eye'. Cold Eye is Hodgson’s response to ten poems by Dan Burt. The images deal with Burt’s themes of mortality and moral failure. The book has been published as a limited edition of 100 copies, including an original lithograph, as well as a standard edition.

Paul Hodgson said: “On visiting Cambridge University Library I was halted in my tracks by the external architecture. The library building is breathtaking, and it will be an honour to exhibit there.”

Hodgson uses a process that starts with photographing a model in the studio and using the images to begin a full sized painting and a series of studies. These paintings are then photographed and digitally collaged onto an image of the model and then printed onto a separate canvas. Areas of the initial full sized painting are cut and removed in order to incorporate sections of this print. Hodgson then continues to paint on the new, hybrid surface - sometimes scraping back to reveal, sometimes cutting away further sections in order to introduce more of the photographic source.

University Librarian, Anne Jarvis, said: “This is a new initiative for the Library and we are delighted to be working with Paul and Marlborough Fine Art to showcase Paul’s works. The striking paintings have added a new dimension to our entrance hall and we hope that both our regular users and visitors will enjoy the exhibition.”

The temporary exhibition at Cambridge University Library will be on display until January 2011. The exhibition at St John’s College library will end on December 3, 2010.