WW Gallery presents a group exhibition of the long-list of 37
artists for their inaugural Solo Award at their impressive Hatton
Garden space. Six artists were shortlisted for the next stage of
selection and announced at the private view. The space is run by
gallerists/artists and couple Chiara Williams and Debra Wilson.
WW is one of London's leading contemporary artist-led spaces
with a reputation for consistently forward-thinking and innovative
projects, with sites in Clerkenwell and Hackney.
Showing an eclectic mix of media, where sculptural works seemed to
dominate alongside film/video pieces some dual screenings, abstract
and conceptual objects, collages and paintings.
Six of the artists are LGBT, but sexuality aside I was drawn
specifically to the tactile sculptural displays that had a sensuous
quality and an overtly feminine edge coupled with the use of
embroidery and stitching, which is socially and historically deemed
a "female craft".
These references to the body are made from different angles,
through for example clothing, a pin-stripe suit which symbolises
masculinity, hierarchy and wealth, subverted as one of short listed
artists Wendy Nelson is female. Perceptions and notions of beauty
are investigated by
Sally Hewett with her sculpture "A Second on the Lips..." this is
hung loud and proud made from padding, stitching and hair.
Keeping with the intimate regions of the female anatomy, Sarah
Gillham's "Sling" interprets parts of the body, female genitalia in
this case that epitomises its erotic splendour using latex fabric
and hooks as a decorative form and replacement of the real.
Fetishism thematic continues with DIVA-featured artist Roman
Manfredi's dual sculptural pieces "Hollywood Tease/Half Zip
Princess made out of latex.
Visual representations using film/video to convey ideas of female
identity in DIVA-featured artist Ope Lori's split screening of
"Deracination" (pictured) which references racial power hierarchies
between black and white women, and critiques the two-sided story of
the invisibility of the black woman and the over-objectification
and sexualization of the white female in popular culture and media
images.
Kate Elliott's single channel video "The Birth" conveys her
investigation into the breakdown of conventionalised forms of
representation. In particular, her aim is to deconstruct the
traditional ways of looking at femininity and masculinity, in order
to question the boundaries of gender identities.
These are my particular highlights, but there is something here to
suit all artistic tastes. Some are more traditional forms of
contemporary art such as painting and collage showing figurative
elements and other art practices are also incorporated into the mix
showing an abstract element of conceptual and pop art.
The six short-listed artists of which one is LGBT who will go into
the next stage of selection are: Emma Cousin, Calum James Crowther,
Dexter Dymoke, Jonathan Gabb, Wendy Nelson, Elly Thomas.
Additionally, visitors to GROUP2012 will be encouraged to vote for
their favourite work in the show. The winner will be commissioned
to produce a limited edition work for display and sale at WW
Gallery next year.
Longlist of artists:
Tristram Aver, Alison Bickmore, Catrine Bodum, Sarah Brannan,
Max Cahn, Emma Cousin, Calum James Crowther, Jolanta Dolewska,
Alexandra Dudley, Dexter Dymoke, Kate Elliott, Gabriela Fabrowska,
Susan Forsyth, Jonathan Gabbe, Sarah Gillham, Kirsty Harris, Mark
Harris, Sally Hewett, Andrew Litten, Ope Lori, Roman Manfredi, Lee
Marshall, Sonia Martin, Rob Miller, Wendy Nelson, Margaret
Proudfoot, Julie Rafalski, Scott Robertson, Mark Scott-Wood, Yukako
Shibata, Elly Thomas, Kazuya Tsuji, Ben Walker, Dominic Watson, Joe
Webb, Sarah West, Sarah Kate Wilson.
WW Gallery, 34-35 Hatton Garden, EC1N 8DX
Open Weds-Fri 11am-6pm; Sat 11am-4pm
Open from 1st - 25th August 2012
For further info about artists see wilsonwilliamsgallery.com
or email wwgallery@gmail.com
