“LOOKING FOR LOWRY” is an entertaining documentary film about the life and work of the much loved British artist L.S. LOWRY (1887 – 1976). This contemporary new film illuminates Lowry’s extraordinary vision for the first time in high definition, as we meet those who knew him and those who have been inspired in our post-industrial age by his unique observations of our country and his powerful artistic legacy.
Manchester-born rock star NOEL GALLAGHER describes how Lowry’s life chimes with his own: “…for me it’s like when did you first hear the Beatles? Lowry has always been there …I guess all the people Lowry ever met are there in his paintings …”
Internationally acclaimed Hollywood star, also Manchester-born, IAN McKELLEN brings Lowry’s character vividly to life – as a passionate devotee of Lowry he is committed to proving that Lowry is one of our greatest 20th Century painters. “if you want any proof that Lowry was a great painter you only have to look at his crowds…it’s hard to be in a crowd without saying ‘We are all in a Lowry painting!'”…McKellen travels across today’s Manchester and goes behind the scenes of the world’s biggest collection of Lowrys at The Lowry Salford in his insightful and witty journey to find the real Lowry. The film also contains previously unseen works from private collections.
Celebrated artist DAME PAULA REGO describes the day Lowry came to teach her at the Slade School of Fine Art. ”There was a great snobbery against Lowry by the students and the staff, they despised him…I was inspired by him, he was very tall; he had a white face and he was very impressive, like a magic figure…” Rego assesses some of Lowry’s surprising and previously unfilmed later works.
Lowry’s record price at auction was £3.7m, with current sales figures proving Lowry is a “recession busting” artist, his work is keenly sought by today’s new breed of collectors. We visit the penthouse apartment of popular author JEFFREY ARCHER, who reveals how he came to collect Lowry.
Top “Cats” choreographer GILLIAN LYNNE’s Lowry-inspired dance drama “A Simple Man” is performed by dancers from NORTHERN BALLET against the backdrop of contemporary Salford. We meet BEN TIMPERLEY – Lowry’s milkman for 30 years – who witnessed his rise from obscurity to celebrity.
We visit the TATE store to view their Lowry collection and ask why, despite his popular appeal, Tate does not have any of their 23 Lowrys on show to the public in the gallery today. Lowry’s heiress CAROL LOWRY (no relation) appears for the first time on film, vividly describing her unique 19 year friendship with Uncle Laurie “…he was like an uncle to me, more like a grandfather” and how she watched him at work “…he was the King of the People Watchers…” When Lowry died, he left everything to her in his will; this film uniquely features her own personal archive which was found in Lowry’s house.
The contemporary setting of regenerative Manchester plays a powerful and compelling role in the film, where today LOWRY has come of age. We visit the places Lowry knew and was inspired by: the football crowds and theatre-land; the seaside and the darker side. We meet the witnesses and enjoy the art in this fascinating search for our most popular and best loved artist of the 20th Century.
Director Producer MARGY KINMONTH
Executive Producer MAUREEN MURRAY
Press Quotes
…It must be a first for an art documentary to feature Noel Gallagher and Jeffrey Archer among the interviewees, but that surprising diversity testifies to the reach and popularity of L S Lowry’s work…
….wonderfully entertaining and mischievously inventive profile…
…Little known sexualised and sometimes violent sketches…
MAIL ON SUNDAY
5 STARS ***** • PICK OF THE DAY • TV Highlights YOUR MUST RECORD Guide
…Margy Kinmonth’s film looks for Lowry mostly through the eyes of his admirers, who include me…Ian McKellen
…what interested Kinmonth the most was some definition of Lowry’s achievement…THE TELEGRAPH – 23 April 2011
Quotes from Ian McKellen’s specially written essay
…deceptively simple paintings…
…invigorating documentary… redresses the balance…argues that Lowry was in fact a uniquely perceptive and gifted painter, who in McKellen’s words ‘makes us see things differently’…THE TELEGRAPH – 23 April 2011
What to Watch
…McKellen is among those reflecting tonight on the work of L S Lowry and the conflicting views of the establishment and the public when it comes to the merit of his paintings…
THE EXPRESS – 23 April 2011
CRITICS CHOICE 4 STARS ****
…engaging opener…
…subtlety in editing…
…edgy agenda…
….ballet and touch of light McKellen thesping brought to bear with some effect…
…very decent profile of a wildly popular and oft misunderstood artist…TIME OUT
PICK OF THE DAY • 4 STARS **** (By Gabrielle Tate)
…Engaging film about quintessially British artist L S Lowry…
…The King of people watching…THE OBSERVER
PICK OF THE DAY
…Lowry lovers, including Ian McKellem and Noel Gallagher suspect snobbish distain for Northern subject matter and matchstick style. They do a good job of rehabilitating him here….
THE GUARDIAN
PICK OF THE DAY Preview (23 – 29 April 2011)
…glimpse of Northern society which could be humorous, grim, primitive yet beautiful…
…keeping him in the basement benefits neither the public nor the study of art history. It’s a dereliction of duty…THE INDEPENDENT – 23 April 2011
Saturday Opinion • The Week in Arts by David Lister
…choice of first subject rather a canny one…
…recipient of what painter Paula Rego called’ great snobbery’…
..Plenty of ammunition here for art snobs…
…I was thoroughly engaged by McKellen’s quest, sadistically kinky, never before displayed Lowrys, I’ll never be able to look at those matchstick men and women again in quite the same way…THE INDEPENDENT – 25 April 2011
Weekend’s TV by Gerard Gilbert
…I can imagine art critics across the land gasping for oxygen throughout Perspectives…
…neat simple perspective on his life illustrated with a lot of his work, kinky and hitherto largely unseen drawings and sketches of constructed women…RADIO TIMES
Easter Day by AG
…discovers works by the artist that have never been exhibited and hears from Noel Gallagher who claims the artist does not receive the recognition he deserves…
THE INDEPENDENT Listings Magazine – 23 April 2011
PICK OF THE DAY
…Ian Mckellen leads the charge…
…this might make you reassess his (Lowry’s) work…THE SUNDAY TIMES – 24 April 2011
Culture Mag Choice
…Ian McKellen explores the vision and legacy of much loved artist L S Lowry…
THE WEEK Television Programmes
…Actor Ian McKellen explores the life and career of L S Lowry…
…a look at never before exhibited works by the artist…TV CHOICE – 24 April 2011
…artist famous for his scenes of the industrial North…
THE FINANCIAL TIMES – 23 April 2011
…astonishing new film……unique individual insight into the arts…
…he taught us how to look at a crowd says McKellen… ‘we are all in a Lowry painting’THE SUNDAY TIMES – 24 April 2011
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