Without mentioning (but I will anyway) that the hype around Damien Hirst these days is far too much, member of the YBA (Young British Artists) is, was, want to be, should not be; the point here is that he can now get away with mediocre work but some people, a large number of them sometimes, they will confabulate about it for days.
Slagging off over.
Below is his latest work and is not for anyone, it is for the Red Hot Chili Peppers upcoming album entitled “I’m with you” and I am happy to say: “Damien, you nailed it, well done.
Saturday 26 November I made way to Degree Art’s gallery on Vyner Street to view the works of Helen Gorrill on show in the solo exhibition titled DEICIDE. The gallery is not so far away from Bethnal Green as people might think and a fair pace will get you to the gallery in 10 minutes.
Upon arrival to the gallery I chatted with gallery manager (and all round arts, culture & fashion voice) Ryan Lanji who gave me a few pointers about the show, which I had not picked up on from my brief musings online. The first of which being the portrait of a Pope which was attached to the floor at the entrance of the gallery; meaning that everyone that enters walks over the Pope – a sign of the conflict with sexuality and religion which appears a central aspect in Helen’s work.
Degree Art Gallery Manager, Ryan Lanji
After which Ryan explained about the Confession Chamber which was the interactive element of Helen’s work; a look at the notion of confession, who to and why. Within the chamber, which has been meticulously created to represent a real confession box, are confessions from every body that has entered, along with some well know confessors from the art world. Some of which have been stitched into the fabric of the inside, some written in chalk on the walls and some placed in envelopes on the wall. Everybody was encouraged to enter there own confessions…
The last point we covered, which really was not apparent with the online material was the sheer size of Helen’s work. I had imagined them to be water colour pieces which would look great in a plain white frame and would be of reasonable size to go above the fire place, hang in the dining room or be a centre piece for the spare room. I did not for one minute imagine them to be the slightly oversized real life height that they are!
The reason for this as I found out when talking with Helen is intertwined within the whole body of work. The role reversal; the woman in charge, the woman in power, the woman imposing in height standing above the crouched, submissive man.
Ryan Lanji and Helen Gorrill
Helen’s work was hung from chains on the ceiling to allow for the full effect of the size to be felt. They covered the main walls of the gallery and in my opinion are hard to find fault with in terms of the concept. Secured to the floor were 3 images of men in submissive postions, all positioned under the images of the women. In addition to this there was Helen’s provocative installation pieces which are steeped in religious references as well as a swipe at the controlling nature of the Church.
Helen’s background is that of an interesting mix of religion and control. A Christian background, a marriage to a Policeman who was also a Jehovah’s Witness and a seeming questioning of the effect of male influence in her life and choices. One of Helen’s shows was censored; the male nudity was covered but the female nudity was not – a very interesting point, especially as it was censored by men. This also questions the influence that men have had over society and the extent of control over what social acceptances should be. Helen’s work was actually featured on a Vatican sponsored website for some time because they thought it was promoting the Confession – when they realised it was actually asking a few more questions it was promptly removed!
Listening to Helen reference sexuality, feminism and religion in her work was very compelling in considering whether this is just a result of Helen’s personal experience or is a genuine perception of the world which many of us overlook or choose to ignore. Helen was supported by Degree Art’s very own Chloe Lawrence who covered some points in
literature relating to the feminist cause and the response this drew from female artists. References to Yoko Ono’s “Cut Piece”, Carole Schneemann’s “Interior Scroll” and Judy Chicago’s “Dinner Party” were all made. In addition we also heard from Kim Foxton who spoke about religion and the role of women through history and how this has changed.
Ryan Lanji, Helen Gorrill, Chloe Lawrence & Kim Foxton
Questions from the audience as well as Degree Art Founders Elinor Olisa & Isobel Beauchamp followed and this evolved to more personal discussions with the speakers accompanied with refreshments.
Overall a very well put together show which had important questions to state, as well as what I felt were aesthetically pleasing works. A great
environment to discuss the work and a well chosen line up of supporting speakers made a very enjoyable ‘art evening’.
Information
The provocative solo show ran from 3 November to 28 November 2011 with an evening in conversation with the artist on Saturday 26 November 2011.
MIX: Winter Group Show 2015 at Lawrence Alkin gallery forms the second of the gallery’s biannual group show programme, which showcases the breadth of artists that are associated with the gallery and introduces those who we’re big fans of and will be working closer with in the future.
The exhibition runs throughout December and January offering you the chance to enjoy a wide variety of art and artists over the coming couple of months. On display you’ll find new original works from our roster of contemporary and street artists alongside iconic pieces from world renowned names. Expect to see everything from oil on canvas through to neon/light sculpture.
‘Synthesis’ by Tom French | Art-Pie
Works on show from the following names:
Jake Wood-Evans | Jessica Albarn | Miss Bugs | Jeff Koons | Dan Baldwin | Zoe Grace | Banksy | Dave White | Ryan Callanan | Dean Fox | Tom French | Nick Smith | STIK | Laura Keeble | Damien Hirst | Nick Walker | Static | Jube Jube | David Walker | Jackie Berridge | Shuby | Ai Wei Wei | Michelle | Mildenhall | Kim Smith | Will Blanchard (Wildcat Will) | Lucy Sparrow | Matthew David Smith
WHAT – ‘MIX’ winter show WHERE – 42 New Compton Street, London WC2H 8DA WHen – Until 16/01/2015
We have come across to this stunning time lapse video from Pedro Simão and could not resist to share it. Ah we miss the Big Apple, we gotta get back there asap.
I always find fascinating when an artist can juggle between medias or techniques, when artists can be as varied as Gordon Cheung is. It is definitely a sign of open mindedness and in this case also talent.
Pyrographics, spray paint, oil, acrylics, sculpture, animation… Gordon Cheung seems to explore everything in is art. THE JOURNEY (ink, acrylic gel and spray paint on canvas), BEAR and BULL (both being acrylic gel and spray on canvases) are definitely my favorite pieces. Acrylic gel is superb to get incredible texture and relief. Continue reading Gordon Cheung at Room: multi media artist→
In 2007 the global population living in urban environments passed the halfway mark, and that trend is accelerating. As cities become bigger and denser, and within the rigid structures of a mass-market society, truly meaningful personal interactions become increasingly elusive. The anonymising effects of scale and excess on the actor in the postmodern city can lead to a shared sense of social isolation.
In Four Cities Black Rat Projects will take a look at the four artists whose experience of urbanity propelled them to create within their environment in similar ways. With new works by represented artist Swoon, and secondary market works sourced from Os Gemeos, Banksy and Shepard Fairey, BRP will map the parameters of the street art movement across continents through the voices that emerged simultaneously as the strongest of their respective city scenes.
Artists featured: Swoon, Os Gemeos, Banksy, Shepard Fairey
Where –
Black Rat Projects When –
20th May – 23rd June 2011 (Preview – 19th May – 6-9pm)
I have always been fascinated by SCI-FI subjects like AI – Artificial Intelligence.
AI is real and it’s slowly creeping into our lives, so I should probably not assimilate it to SCI-FI.
But I ask myself – how far will AI go in controlling our lives? Will it enhance them? Does AI mean the demise of the Human race – this is SCI-FI to me right now.
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If you feel the same way, Stephen Oram’s ‘Eating Robots: And Other Stories (Nudge the Future)‘ collection of short stories may bring you answers, or clues, as to what AI might look like in 100 years (or less, or more – I do not know).
Robots are AI
The author’s imagination about the topic is vast and will definitely make you think more about what AI will actually mean to us as humans.
From the ability to share memories with someone you love, to reseting us every 1000 years, and even the ability to choose which celebrity hologram will drive your driverless car today.
Stephen Oram goes from the very funny (which sometimes turns too silly for my taste), to the depressing and scary when it comes to AI, but why should it be one or the other.
Immerse yourself in these short stories and make up your own mind.
PS: Injecting some good old human anxiety into AI systems may be the answer for the fears we have. Described as the ‘anxiety loop’ by Oram, this sounds like a plan.
Andipa Gallery is delighted to announce a selling exhibition of unique works and rare graphics by Joan Miro.
Taking place from 7 April to 7 May 2011 the show coincides with the first major London retrospective of Miro’s work for almost 50 years, The Ladder of Escape at the Tate Modern, and will offer a rare opportunity to acquire some of the finest original works by this master of 20th Century art.
The exhibition will show rare works on paper, including some of Miro’s 1965 Le Courtisan Grotesque series. Works described as displaying “the most genuine Miro, the one of the astral signs (and) symbolic objects… who uses his own mature language, without hesitations.” Daniel Giralt-Miracle (art critic and historian).
Miro’s most iconic and admired engravings, lithography and etchings will also be on display. Pieces will include the original lithograph Montroig 2, named after the Catalan village to which Miro felt a deep connection, returning to throughout his life, and which inspired some of his most seminal works. These highly sought after brightly coloured pieces make up an integral part of the artist’s oeuvre and demonstrate Miro’s expert use of carborundum to produce richly textural pieces that reflect the original qualities of painting.
Miro was among the most prominent of modern artists, developing a unique Surrealist language that expressed freedom and energy through its fantastical imagery, vibrant use of colour and free use of paint, often splattered across his canvases creating an explosive effect. The more political side to Miro’s work reflects the turbulent times of the Spanish Civil War and repression under the Franco regime. His works express and react to conflict, protest and political upheaval. In our current instable and uncertain times, perhaps this more restless and anxious aspect of Miro’s practice is at its most resonant.
Another Make Sessions, another banging set of tunes. The crime scene, somewhere in East London of course, the usual suspects this time round were Portico Quartet, Stubborn Heart, Factory Floor, Anushka, Eaux and CKTRL. We have included a video of the Anushka below – what a set!
While the tunes were stacking on top of each other, T-Shirt Party presented their simple and creative tees in a t-shirt exhibition.
Art-Pie and Red Stripe Lager have teamed up to offer you the chance to win some of the 5 tee-shirts that were on display at the Make Sessions 08. What you have to do is just to subscribe to our newsletter and you will automatically enter the draw which will happen on the 21st May so hurry and get entering now
The illustrations/images for the 4 other tee-shirts are below, click to enlarge.
At first, I misread what Dunn, aka Dan Ericson was all about. I indeed confused “signtologist” with “scientologist” and was about to move on when painted road signs caught my eyes and made me read twice. “Signtologist” it was. Not surprising to get mixed up here, who has ever heard of this term?
Roots MC, Black Thought would have apparently dubbed him back in 2005, the Signtologist, which Dan Ericson would eventually keep as its “artist” name. But what does it mean?
You may have guessed by now that it has to do with signs, and especially roads signs that he recycles into unique homages to the musicians, actors, public figures and athletes that inspire him.
Examples of this original art (photos: Terrence Duncan) are shown below. See more on the Signtologist website
