The concept of selling your life, getting rid of every piece of art you’ve ever made and jetting off to start a whole new life from scratch could only be the move of a very angry man. A quick glance around Jasper Joffe’s work currently on display at the Idea Generation Gallery would back up this assessment – not particularly perceptive considering some of his paintings spell out his feelings quite literally in black and white – “You’re all cunts”.
In the exhibition The Sale of a lifetime the Joffe sells all his possessions, including his collections of paintings, drawings, teddy bears, and rare books. He will only keep the clothes he is wearing. The number 33 is recurrent theme throughout the exhibition, which has been installed in 33 different lots, all for sale for £ 3,333, as Biblical reference to death and rebirth (Jesus dies at the age of 33) – a rather bold association for any man to make it has to be said! The exhibition invites the public to browse through the artist’s entire collection of works which are piled high throughout the intimate gallery space, voyeuristically investigating parts of his private and more intimate life: from the books he reads, to the things he uses in his daily life, including his personal keepsakes and collections. Letters, family memories, pictures and personal objects belonging to friends and relatives are all included, as part of a cathartic process of separation from the past.
The exhibition runs until 2nd August at the Idea Generation Gallery at 11 Chance Street, Shoreditch, E2 7JB.
Posted by Pippa 
