BRISTOL.- Arnolfini Centre for Contemporary Arts in Bristol announces a major new exhibition of work by Richard Long. Part of the programme celebrating Bristol’s year as European Green Capital, TIME AND SPACE includes several new works and recreations of previous works that have been made for this exhibition, and it's accompanied by a new publication. Richard Long was born in Bristol, where he continues to live and work and this is the most comprehensive exhibition by the artist in his home city since 2000. TIME AND SPACE will run from 31 July – 15 November 2015.

Richard Long’s work is born out of his engagement with the landscape and through the experience of making solitary walks in rural or remote areas of Britain, and as far afield as Alaska, Mongolia and Bolivia. Walking is central to the artist’s work, which he uses as a way to articulate ideas about time and space and natural materials. Richard Long leaves subtle traces of his journeys on the landscape, marks of passage such as marking the ground or moving stones. Alternatively a walk could be recorded by a text work or photograph.

TIME AND SPACE comprises sculpture, drawing, photography and text works that date from 1967 to the present. The exhibition features a number of important early works, which are key to understanding the significance of Bristol and the South West in Richard Long’s practice, including an early sculpture, Ireland (1967), which is remade in the galleries. The exhibition includes two major new works: a large sculpture made from Cornish slate and a wall work made with mud collected from the River Avon. Also included is a selection of new mud fingerprint drawings on driftwood collected by the artist, as well as a selection of photo works and installed vinyl text works.

Richard Long is considered to be among the most important artists of his generation. He won the Turner Prize in 1989 and represented Great Britain at the 37th Venice Biennale in 1976. He was awarded Japan’s Praemium Imperiale in the field of sculpture (2009) and was made a CBE in 2013. He has made artworks in all five continents and has had over 250 solo exhibitions to date.

TIME AND SPACE is curated by Arnolfini. The exhibition is funded by Arts Council England as part of the Bristol 2015 European Green Capital programme, and is being delivered by the Bristol Culture Development Partnership (BDCP).

Phil Gibby, Area Director, South West, Arts Council England, said: ‘We are very pleased that Bristol 2015 is celebrating local Bristol-based artist Richard Long with a large scale exhibition at Arnolfini. This unique show explores the artist’s relationship with the city as well as his connection to the landscape, encouraging audiences to meditate on their own place in the world and impact on the environment. A combination of integral early works and major new pieces, the exhibition is a great opportunity for people to connect and engage with great art that inspires us to think about the way we live.

'This exhibition is part of an incredibly exciting and ambitious year-long series of events that puts arts and culture right at the heart of Bristol's year as European Green Capital. We are delighted to be able to support Bristol Cultural Development Partnership and Bristol 2015 with a grant of £744,564 from our Exceptional Award fund which recognises one off projects of great ambition that have national and international impact.'