Roy Johnston

Dublin, David Hendriks Gallery, Roy Johnston - Permutations, 1975, no.13.

The canvas is unlined and is in good overall condition. The edges are slightly dirty. There are a few minor abrasions to the paint surface in all four quadrants. There is no sign of retouching under ultra-violet light. Held in a wooden rectilinear frame which has sustained minor abrasions. The colours in the catalogue illustration are true to the work.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Stemming from an ongoing interest in systems of organisation, the present work is a wholly systematic work in which four colours (red, yellow, blue and green), the primaries in Oswald's colour theory, and a neutral (brown) have been distributed within a grid on the basis of a rationally determined system.  The array is organized into columns, each one of which begins with a permutation of the basic elements.  Various systems were subsequently applied to the ordering of the vertical sequence within each column.

Born in Pomeroy, Co.Tyrone, Johnston studied at Stranmillis College, Belfast then the Belfast College of Art. He has had numerous solo exhibitions including a retrospective of his work from 1965-1985 held at the Arts Council Gallery, Belfast in 1985 which toured to The Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane. His work was recently included in the Irish Art of the Seventies exhibition at the Irish Museum of Modern Art and is held in all major Irish public collections such as The Ulster Museum, Belfast; Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane; The Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin and the Collections of the British, Irish and Northern Irish Arts Councils.