1977 Hayward Annual [antikvár]

ForewordThe idea of staging an annual exhibition of British art at the Hayward Gallery has developed out of previous exhibitions which took place at two-year intervais and included Anne Seymour's The New Art in 1972 and Andrew Forge's British Painting '74. An exhibition ofthis kind would have beenheld in 1976 had it not been precluded by the coincidence in the same calendar year of the large exhibitions of Islamic and American Indian art. At that time the committee which advises the Arts Council on its programme suggested that these exhibitions should take place annually. We therefore start a new series with the present exhibition and it has been possible, almost by way of making up for lost time in 19 76, to extend the showing period so that the 1977 Annual can take place in two parts and include the work of more artists than will normally be practical.As Michael Compton points out in his statement on behalf of the selectors, the ground rules for the Hayward Annuals are extremely simple. They will be chosen by a différent group of individuáis each year and will show recent work by a limited number of artists, a limitation which results from the décision to show each artist fully. As a series we hope that the Annuals will present a cumulative picture of British art as it develops. The 1978 Annual will be selected by Rita Donagh, Tess Jaray, Liliane Lijn, Kim Lim and Gillian Wise.We would like to express our warm thanks to Michael Compton, Howard Hodgkin and William Turnbull whose work for this first exhibition has extended beyond selection. They have advised both on the présentation of the exhibition itself and on the contents ofthis catalogue. It is at their suggestion that the exhibition contains an information area and the catalogue a minimum number of words in favour of a maximum number of illustrations. We are also grateful to the many lenders to the exhibition.Joanna Drew Director of Exhibitions