Labécède-Lauragais is a new paper work by Michael Porter, showing for seven days at Matt’s Gallery.

"Michael Porter's paintings are thoroughly traditional and are informed in numerous ways by the art of the past. His sources have been the works of Giotto, Duccio, El Greco and Cezanne to name only those of which he is most conscious; his materials are all well tried; and his interest in illusion and perspective is time-honoured."(1)

Porter has exhibited extensively both here and abroad. Labécède-Lauragais differs from his previous working process, in that he was specifically asked by the gallery to make a paper piece for the space, instead of exhibiting previously made work.

The piece will be based on Labécède-Lauragais, a small village in France, where Porter has been working, directly onto photocopies of the gallery interior. Porter says, 'that although many of the sketches at first glance will show no resemblance to any naturalistic features, the motive behind all the studies is to represent a particular place within the village,'-and this will serve as a guide for him to create and construct the paper piece in situ.

"Paper is a very flexible medium for it allows the artist to tear off what he dislikes and to stick on a replacement. It is malleable but it can also be made rigid. Above all it is light allowing Porter to work on a large scale."(2)

In assembling his work, "Porter is very conscious of the overall form, adding pieces or removing them until he is satisfied that the shape and paint compliment each other. The shape plays a vital role and the edge assumes a considerable importance."(3)

Michael Porter stands firmly in the mainstream of art but his works have a freshness and an originality which is both personal and contemporary. Because the piece is being made in the gallery, Matt’s Gallery cannot announce what its result will be, - but can only guarantee that it will last for the duration of the exhibition, after which it will be destroyed.

(1) (2) (3) are extracts from Michael Porter's catalogue at Kettle's Yard by Jeremy Lewison May 1980.