Pier and Ocean: Construction in the Art of the Seventies

Hayward Gallery, 8 May – 22 June 1980

Panamarenko, A' Flying Cigar' called 'Flying Tiger' (1979). Installation view: Pier + Ocean: Construction in the Art of the Seventies, Hayward Gallery, 1980. Photo: Christine Cadin (1980) by PanamarenkoHayward Gallery

Pier + Ocean: Construction in the Art of the Seventies was selected by the artist Gerhard von Graevnitz, with assistance from the young sculptor Norman Dilworth.

Foreground: Will Insley, Channel Space Reverse (1968-71) and Channel Space Auto-Run (1969). Background: Lawrence Weiner, 5 Works (1972). Installation View: Pier + Ocean: Construction in the Art of the Seventies, Hayward Gallery, 1980. Photo: Christine Cadin © WESTWOOD GALLERY NYC (1980) by Various artistsHayward Gallery

The exhibition brought together 55 artists from Europe and America – including Donald Judd, Richard Tuttle, Walter De Maria and Carl Andre – and was the first large-scale mixed exhibition of recent international art in London.

Press Release for Pier + Ocean: Construction in the Art of the Seventies, Hayward Gallery Press Release for Pier + Ocean: Construction in the Art of the Seventies, Hayward Gallery (1980)Hayward Gallery

Initially intended as a historical survey exhibition, the exhibition evolved during the planning stages into something more idiosyncratic. The Arts Council's Andrew Dempsey, who worked on the exhibition along with Graevnitz and Dilworth, characterised the end result as: ‘a show selected by an artist and intended to reflect artists’ preoccupations’.

Private View Card for Pier + Ocean: Construction in the Art of the Seventies, Hayward Gallery (1980) by Hayward GalleryHayward Gallery

Private view card for the Hayward Gallery showing.

Walter De Maria, Bed of Spikes (1968-9). Installation view: Pier + Ocean: Construction in the Art of the Seventies, Hayward Gallery, 1980. Photo: Christine Cadin (1980) by Walter de MariaHayward Gallery

The exhibition took its name from a series of paintings by Piet Mondrian and was divided into three distinct sections. These sections dealt in turn with ideas of space, the internal structure of the work of art, and the physical properties of materials.

Notes on Pier + Ocean: Construction in the Art of the Seventies, Hayward Gallery (1980) by Hayward GalleryHayward Gallery

Notes on the three sections of the exhibition: 'Concepts of Space', 'Chance Systems Endlessness', and 'Gravity'.

Exhibition Introduction for Pier + Ocean: Construction in the Art of the Seventies, Hayward Gallery Exhibition Introduction for Pier + Ocean: Construction in the Art of the Seventies, Hayward Gallery (1980) by Hayward GalleryHayward Gallery

An introduction to Pier + Ocean written by curator Barry Barker.

Exhibition Outline for Pier + Ocean: Construction in the Art of the Seventies, Hayward Gallery (1979-03-03) by Hayward GalleryHayward Gallery

Works List for Pier + Ocean: Construction in the Art of the Seventies, Hayward Gallery Works List for Pier + Ocean: Construction in the Art of the Seventies, Hayward Gallery (1980) by Hayward GalleryHayward Gallery

List of works in Pier + Ocean.

Press Cutting for Pier + Ocean: Construction in the Art of the Seventies, Hayward Gallery (1980-05-06) by John Spurling and New StatesmanHayward Gallery

Despite its largely critical reception in the UK, Pier + Ocean successfully paved the way for later thematic group exhibitions of international art the Hayward Gallery, not least Falls the Shadow: Recent British and European Art (1986), Doubletake: Collective Memory and Current Art (1992) and Gravity & Grace: The Changing Condition of Sculpture (1993).

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