Bernat Klein - A Life in Colour - Dovecot Gallery, Edinburgh

Bernat Klein - Grey Harmonies (detail) - Hand-woven by Edinburgh Tapestry Co.

There is a retrospective of artist and textile designer, Bernat Klein's (1922-2014) paintings and tapestries at the Dovecot Gallery, Edinburgh.  (If you haven't been to the Dovecot you must go!)  His textile designs were most famous in the 1960s and notable for their colour and texture. The business was based in the Scottish Borders.

 

Bernat Klein - textiles

Bernat Klein - textiles

Through the use of impasto, his paintings also exhibit a great deal of texture and are vibrant in colour.  I particularly liked Fornax and Perseus, painted in 2013.

Bernat Klein - Provencal Scarlet

Bernat Klein - Celtic Summer

Bernat Klein - Fornax & Perseus

Bernat Klein - Norma

Perhaps it isn't surprising then that Klein commisioned Dovecot Studios (in the 70s) to produce ten tapestries that might reflect the textures created in his paintings.

Bernat Klein - Grey Harmonies - Hand-woven by Edinburgh Tapestry Co.

Bernat Klein - Scandia - Hand-woven by Edinburgh Tapestry Co.

This is  part of the Edinburgh Art Festival and is on until 26 September 2015.

Dovecot Studios, Edinburgh

If you've been to Edinburgh and not found Dovecot Studios then you need to go again.  It's only 10 minutes walk from Waverley Station and well worth a visit. 

When I visited 2 exhibitions were showing in the gallery: Kwang Young Chun - Aggregations and Bernat Klein - A Life in Colour - both on until 26 September 2015.  More of these in later posts ...

After the gallery you can explore Dovecot Tapestry Studio, where hand woven tapestries and gun tufted rugs are made.  You can see which works are underway and view finished pieces.  No photos are allowed in the studio but you might like to see the Stairwell Weave-In ...

Stairwell Weave-In - Designed and woven by Shane Waltener, assisted by Nick Duxbury

and the Glass Onion Tapestry which is a collaboration between Norwegian artist, Magne Furuhomen & the Dovecot Weavers and is inspired by the Beatles lyrics ...

Glass Onion - collaboration between Dovecot Weavers & Magne Furuholmen

You can also indulge in coffee & cake in the Dovecot Cafe

Delights from Dovecot Cafe

This is a gem of a place - don't miss it!