Screenprint on paper
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/ian-hamilton-finlay-1093" aria-label="More by Ian Hamilton Finlay" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Ian Hamilton Finlay</a>
Homage to Malevich
Purchased 1983
abstraction
aircraft, military
fire
from recognisable sources
geometric
man-made
natural phenomena
non-representational
objects
society
transport: air
weapon, firing / explosion
weapons
<p>The abstract shapes in this print are derived from the paintings of the early twentieth-century Russian artist Kasimir Malevich, one of the pioneers of abstract painting. By adding a plume-like tail to one of the crosses, Finlay transforms it into the image of a fighter plane, shot down in flames. Finlay has said that Malevich would have seen himself as ‘the best aeroplane’, and that the victim in the dog-fight might be Vladimir Tatlin, a rival Soviet artist.</p><p><em>Gallery label, April 2005</em></p>
paper print screenprint
Homage to Malevich
image: 251 × 251 mm
Purchased 1983
<p>The abstract shapes in this print are derived from the paintings of the early twentieth-century Russian artist Kasimir Malevich, one of the pioneers of abstract painting. By adding a plume-like tail to one of the crosses, Finlay transforms it into the image of a fighter plane, shot down in flames. Finlay has said that Malevich would have seen himself as ‘the best aeroplane’, and that the victim in the dog-fight might be Vladimir Tatlin, a rival Soviet artist.</p>

Display caption
2005-04-19T00:00:00
display-caption
DISPLAY_CAPTION
<p><a class="acno-pop" data-gtm-destination="page--artwork" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/finlay-homage-to-malevich-p07925" title="View the details of this artwork"><span>P07925</span></a> <b>Homage to Malevich</b> 1978
<br/>
<br/>Screenprint 9 7/8 × 9 7/8 (251 × 251) on paper 10 7/8 × 10 7/8 (277 × 277), printed at Girdwood and published by the Wild Hawthorn Press in an edition of 300
<br/>Inscribed ‘Ian Hamilton Finlay’ and ‘118’ on folder
<br/>Purchased from the artist (Grant-in-Aid) 1983
<br/>
<br/>This image refers to Malevich's own images of <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/a/abstract-art" title="Glossary definition for 'Abstract art'"><span>abstractions</span></a> such as wireless waves or flying shapes. The artist, in conversation with the compiler, said that Malevich obviously pictured himself as ‘the best aeroplane’ and that the victim in the dog-fight might be the artist's rival Tatlin. Malevich's own writings make it clear that his abstractions are representations and not pure abstractions, though his commentators overlook this.
<br/>
<br/>This and the following entries [<a class="acno-pop" data-gtm-destination="page--artwork" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/phillips-canto-ii-no-title-p07625" title="View the details of this artwork"><span>P07625</span></a>-<a class="acno-pop" data-gtm-destination="page--artwork" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/chia-about-the-unseizable-p07634" title="View the details of this artwork"><span>P07634</span></a> and <a class="acno-pop" data-gtm-destination="page--artwork" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/finlay-sailing-barge-redwing-p07645" title="View the details of this artwork"><span>P07645</span></a>-<a class="acno-pop" data-gtm-destination="page--artwork" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/finlay-homage-to-agam-p07647" title="View the details of this artwork"><span>P07647</span></a>] have all been approved by the artist.
<br/>
<br/><b>Published in:</b>
<br/><i>The Tate Gallery 1982-84: Illustrated Catalogue of Acquisitions</i>, London 1986
<br/></p>

Catalogue entry
2004-10-13T00:00:00
catalogue-entry
CATALOGUE_ENTRY
abstraction aircraft, military fire from recognisable sources geometric man-made natural phenomena non-representational objects society transport: air weapon, firing / explosion weapons