‘No Foreign Lands’: Peter Doig’s World

By Brynn Gordon

Born in Scotland in 1959, Doig has spent most of his life outside of the country. In 1960, his family relocated to Trinidad; in 1966, to Canada; and in 1979, to London. In each location, he gained new foundational experiences and perspectives, new experiential threads that wound their way into the fabric of his practice – creating a richly coloured tapestry of bright Caribbean hues, stark Canadian snow, and the grey London smog.

 In his first major exhibit in Scotland, Doig underscored this idea by titling his show “No Foreign Lands” (2013), speaking to his personal lack of distinction as well as evoking the widespread dispersion of the Scottish diaspora. “Home” can be wherever one decides it is. In this vein, insight into Doig’s life experiences can be gained through three works of his that represent his reflections on his life in each location.

Trinidad

Peter Doig, Grande Riviere, 2001-2002, Oil on canvas, 229 x 358 cm, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. DACS/Artimage 2022. Photo: Jochen Littkemann

Indulging his love of bright colours, this work reflects Doig’s impression of the bright quality of Trinidadian light he encountered as a child. He presents the viewers with a rich and peaceful tropical night.

Canada

Peter Doig, Ski Jacket (Ten Etchings), 1996, Etching and aquatint on paper, 22 x 15 cm, Tate. P11471

Representing the view of a busy ski slope observed from the mountain, Doig reduces figures to abstract figures that blend seamlessly into the snowy landscape. Perhaps the indistinuishibility between the people and the land reflects a child’s perspective.

London

Peter Doig, Rosedale House(Ten Etchings), 1996, etching and aquatint on paper, 17.3 x 27.3 cm, Tate. P11472

While there is a Rosedale house in Yorkshire, the grey and overcast quality of the light paired with the thick mass of bare tree branches and iron railing recalls the spirit of London.

Doig currently lives in London and recently completed a solo exhibition at the Musée d’Orsay from 2023 to 2024. His works are held by the Institute of Chicago, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., the Tate Modern, the Met, and the Goetz Collection. For more information, please consult his website here.

Bibliography

Doig, Peter. “Peter Doig.” peterdoig.com, n.d. https://peterdoig.com/.

nationalgalleries. “Peter Doig | No Foreign Lands.” YouTube Video. National Galleries of Scotland, August 9, 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IKe529_2kM.

Tate. “Peter Doig Born 1959 | Tate.” Tate, 2018. https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/peter-doig-2361.