Explore My Story & Book
Melvyn's Story
Melvyn Robinson, a multi-talented artist, musician, and educator, was born in the market town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. He trained at Barnsley College of Art, Manchester College of Art, and Keele University, where his interest in combined and integrated arts first took shape. This approach became central to both his creative practice and his work in education.
He lectured at the College of Education in Cheshire, Hackney College, and the London Institute, while also teaching art and music in schools across London, inspiring generations of young creatives.
Robinson’s first solo exhibition took place at the Acme Gallery in Covent Garden, London, and was followed by shows at venues including the Cooper Art Gallery in Barnsley, the Air Gallery and Mile End Art Pavilion in London, and The Gallery in Cadaqués, Spain. He also participated in numerous group exhibitions, notably with Whitechapel Community Arts across East London. He was deeply involved in gallery education, supporting creative learning within the community. Regular open studios at Acme Studios in London offered opportunities to engage directly with audiences and led to a number of private commissions.
His work has been featured in prominent galleries such as Mall Galleries, Bankside Gallery, Hackney Museum, Brick Lane Gallery, and Candid Arts, often alongside his poetry and music.
Alongside his visual work, Robinson’s practice extends into music and performance. A skilled musician, he played with jazz groups, including the renowned Temperance Seven, and contributed to a variety of theatre productions. He also composed music for the production Dreamer, which later inspired one of his paintings and reflects his enduring interest in combining art forms.
Whether through paint, music, or performance, Melvyn Robinson’s work crosses the boundaries of art and education, creating a rich and enduring creative legacy.
Melvyn's Work
Melvyn Robinson’s artistic journey explores diverse themes, all connected by a sense of underlying unity. His investigations of home, displacement, identity, contrasts, and direction revealed patterns that extend beyond individual works, leading to five interrelated categories that form the core of his creative universe:
I. Representation: Mimesis
These works capture reality, often through art-school sketches inspired by the artist's hometown of Barnsley, South Yorkshire.
II. Analysis: Structure
In this category, earlier representational works are revisited and transformed through structural and geometric simplification.
III. Forms: Geometry
These works explore the two-dimensional possibilities of regular geometric patterns and tessellations.
IV. Phenomena: Ambiguities
In this category, a new dimension is created within the geometric patterns. The artist introduces ambiguity and hints of three-dimensional perspective.
V. Transformations: Transcendence
These works build on the previous categories, turning geometric abstraction into a sense of transcendence, so the categories come full circle.
Melvyn's Book 'Painting & Philosophy'
A beautiful collection of Robinson's artwork, featuring over 400 vibrant images.
Foreword
Catherine Lampert
Art curator, art historian and author
"It is with great pleasure that I introduce this collection of work, celebrating the extraordinary artistic journey of Melvyn Robinson. Having had the privilege of knowing Mel as a local artist in the vibrant community of Hackney in East London, and as the director of the Whitechapel Art Gallery during his participation in our Community Arts Projects, I have witnessed the evolution of his artistic practice.
Much of Mel's work, marked by abstract geometric tessellations, hints at a profound exploration of form and space. The dynamic energy and meticulous precision of these creations capture the essence of his unique artistic voice. Over the years, we have seen Mel's art transform into a fusion of abstract geometry and vivid representation.
One particular piece that resonates deeply with me as a member of the Hackney community is 'Hackney Flats'. This painting, a testament to Mel's keen observation and connection to his surroundings, beautifully encapsulates the soul and spirit of our neighbourhood. The marriage of abstract tessellations and representational elements in 'Hackney Flats' reflects Mel's ability to inject into his vision an immediacy that is wry, generous, and specific to the local subject. Often, his pictures reference favourite images of 20th-century art, like guitars and harlequin patterns, while they are guided by a conceptual process that many viewers will admire. Through Mel's keen artistic lens, the vibrancy, diversity, and stories of Hackney come to life in a mesmerizing dance of colours and forms.
This publication serves as a celebration of Melvyn Robinson's journey, from his proud Yorkshire roots to the heart of the East End of London’s creative spirit. Explore the intersections of abstraction and representation, and discover the stories woven into each brushstroke. Mel's artistic contributions have etched an enduring impression, and this catalogue stands as a homage to his lasting influence on the world of art. My own guess is that others will identify particular works and ask whether they might apply the motifs to fresh applications."
April 2024
