Jamie Reid: Let it Grow

Green Bar by Jamie Reid

As the UK enters into its first hung parliament decades, we are approaching a period of intense political uncertainty and instability. It thus seems more appropriate than ever, to consider art’s position within the political arena and L-13 Gallery in Clerkenwell is doing exactly that. The gallery’s current show is a collection of works by radical political veteran and activist Jamie Reid, a collection which derives predominantly from the artist’s political discontentment and contextual motivations.

Jamie Reid, born in 1952, is an artist and anarchist, considered by many to have defined the image of punk rock in the UK. He famously created art work for the Sex Pistols including the album cover to Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols and the iconic punk image of Queen Elizabeth II, with a safety pin through her nose and swastikas in her eyes. His latest exhibition, Jamie Reid: Let it Grow, is a collection of the artist’s most recent work, all of which are integrated heavily with his life, belief system, radicalism and activism.

I heart this…

Experimental Lighting

This spooky glowing chemistry set is the latest in the labware lighting range from Benjamin Hubert in collaboration with British manufacturer Authentics. Hubert has created three test tube inspired designs, which may be displayed as floor lights or hanging pendent bulbs. Each light is mouth blown and hand finished, made from opal and clear glass with Portuguese bark corks and blue braided cable. The handmade nature of the lights makes each one a unique work of art in it’s own right. So if you’re looking to give your home that Frankenstien feel, or simply have a yearning to reconnect with your school days of chemistry sets and science lessons, Hubert’s labware lighting is just the ticket.

The All of Everything

 

 
When I first saw images in the press of this latest exhibition at University of the Arts London, I was despaerate to see it for myself. There was a particularly mad panic as the building in which the exhibition is held is due to be demolished at an unassigned date so the fate of this fantastic work hangs in the balance every day.

It’s the work of acclaimed artist Mike Ballard, held in the main exhibition space at Univeristy of the Arts London, just next door to Bond Street tube. This ambitious work turns the entire gallery space into an all-encompassing installation covering floors, walls and ceilings and is fittingly epic for the gallery’s final, pre-demolition showcase.

The artist self proclaims that his work transports “the viewer on a supersonic journey through a galaxy of hypermodern and prehistoric art”. Whether that seems OTT to you or not, it’s an undeniably impressive feat, disorientatingly stunning and immersive.

The images really speak for themself so if you’re tempted to “race back and project forward through art history…at blistering speed” then get down to University of Arts London, 65 Davies Street, while you still can! More info is available HERE.

Fancy a Rank?…at the Old Truman Brewery

Last Thursday saw the opening night of celebrity photographer John Rankin’s epic retrospective exhibition at the Old Truman Brewery. Epic is no over statement; described as ‘museum scale’, the exhibition covers 22,000 square foot and includes over 600 of Rankin’s distinctive images from is archive. Rankin showcases a vast array of his work spanning  across his 22 year career. His subjects range from Kate Moss to the Queen with themes ranging from the bizarre to the erotic, cleverly curated within separated sectioned off areas. The exhibition goes by the title ‘Fancy a Rank’ and whoever came up with that cheeky line had a few more where that came from, ‘He came, he saw, he ranked’, ‘Rank OFF!’ and ‘I’ve been Ranking’ were all displayed on button badges handed out at the entrance on the night of the private view.

This is an ambitious and entertianing show from one of the world’s most talented celebrity photographers and is well worth a visit. The show is on at The Old Truman Brewery, 85 Brick Lane and runs for 7 weeks until 18th September.

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Abstract in America

The whole look of the Saatchi Gallery never fails to be engaging with it fresh clean walls, grand windows and white washed wooden floorboards, the whole atmosphre is always bright and airy. Whilst some of the work in the current ‘Abstract in America’ exhibition is a little difficult to get your head around (off the wall installations and a selection of bizarre sculptures), the work is beautifully curated and the look of the show is certainly impressive.

Kristin Baker ‘The Unfair Advantage’ 2003

Baker’s work has become iconic of the exhibition as a whole. Her bold, acrylic on PVC works play on ideas of technology and painting.

Sterling Ruby ‘Kiss Trap Kismet’ 2008

Ruby’s three dimensional structure engages with traditional considerations of sculpture being inherently relative to the human bodyin its occupation of real space and experienced physically. He uses PVC pipe, urethane, and  expanding foam to achieve this fascinatingly grotesque effect.

Matt Johnson ‘The Pianist’ 2005

A single gigantic blue plastic tarpaulin has been folded and refolded by  Johnson into a larger-than-life origami rendering of a piano and pianist. This piece was made in tribute to the American physicist and origami buff Robert J Lang.

Peter Coffin ‘Untitled’ (Spiral Staircase) 2007

Coffin turns a feature of mundane utility into a dizzying conceptual game. Through his humorous constructions, Coffin bridges art history and everyday experience.

More work from the exhibition is featured on the flickr stream

Save the Fish!

A pop up diplay in the window at Central Saint Martin’s on Charing Cross Road. It combines a Michael Jackson tribute with a brutal blender aquarium for two unfortunate gold fish…