SOLO’s new art space, Bowman Hal, opened to the public on 6 June 2025 with “Snakes and Ladders,” a solo exhibition by Australian artist William Mackinnon.
Bowman Hal is the first space to open within SOLO CSV, a new contemporary art and culture centre developed by the international art project SOLO. The gallery’s inaugural exhibition, “Snakes and Ladders,” runs until 12 July 2025 and features recent works by William Mackinnon. The exhibition draws inspiration from the board game of the same name, using its themes of chance, progress and setbacks as a metaphor for lived experience. Mackinnon presents landscapes and everyday scenes that reflect transitions, vulnerability, and emotional depth.
His paintings integrate materials such as acrylic, oil, automotive enamel, plaster, sand and glitter. Techniques like dripping, sanding and sponging produce rich textures. “When I face a problem in a painting, it forces me to explore unknown territory. Without obstacles, there are no surprising results,” says the artist.
Works on view include “Camino 4,” “Casita,” “Snakes and Ladders III,” “The Party is Over,” and “The Silent Scream.” In the latter, a surfer walks across a beach with a broken board. “He keeps moving forward. He’s not broken, but his vulnerability has been exposed,” Mackinnon explains.
Born in Melbourne in 1978, Mackinnon studied at Melbourne University and completed postgraduate training in both London and Australia. His work has been shown at institutions including the National Gallery of Victoria, the Art Gallery of South Australia, and the Royal College of Art. It is held in collections such as Artbank Sydney, the Parliament of Canberra, and the SOLO Collection.
Bowman Hal forms part of the SOLO project, founded by Spanish entrepreneurs Ana Gervás and David Cantolla. SOLO is dedicated to supporting and promoting contemporary art through a growing network of spaces, a collection of over 1,200 works, and support initiatives for artists. As gallery director Mun-Jung Chang explains, “The gallery is a living space, open to dialogue and committed to art as a driver of thought.” Participating artists are supported in areas such as production, research, conservation, and communication.
Designed by architect Juan Herreros and built on the site of the former Rivadeneyra printing presses, SOLO CSV will gradually open additional spaces dedicated to creation, research, and exhibition. With a surface area of approximately 4,500 m², the centre will also host future initiatives including Onkaos, LeCluf, El Extraordinario, and the collaborative art network Movimiento 37.
The launch of Bowman Hal marks the beginning of SOLO CSV’s public-facing activities. Its exhibition programme will feature national and international collaborations, with the first partnership scheduled for September 2025 with the French gallery Almine Rech, presenting work by American artist Aaron Johnson.
All images: courtesy of Bowman Hal
“Snakes and Ladders”
Bowman Hal, Cuesta de San Vicente 36, 28008 Madrid Spain
6 June to 12 July 2025
More information: www.bowmanhal.com or solocontemporary.com
