My essay on artist Derek Boshier’s engagement with popular music is in the new catalogue from Pallant House Gallery, home to the forthcoming show Derek Boshier: David Bowie And The Clash.
Continue reading Rebel Rebel: Essay on Derek Boshier in Pallant House’s new catalogue
I’m very much looking forward to artist Belinda Syme’s show of recent work, which opens at west London landmark The Tabernacle later this month.
Artist Derek Boshier’s practice is marked by his engagement with contemporary culture; this has been a consistent aspect of his work since the earliest days of the British Pop movement.
When popular music has invigorated the wider world, Boshier has been present, incorporating Buddy Holly into his painting I Wonder What My Heroes Think Of The Space Race? in Ken Russell’s defining 1962 Monitor piece Pop Goes The Easel, and providing one of the most vivid visual documents of the punk and post-punk era, Clash 2nd Songbook.
Continue reading Derek Boshier: David Bowie + The Clash at Pallant House this summer
Peter Golding has very kindly supplied this shot of the facade of his glam Chelsea shop Ace, which ran for a decade from 1975 (for the first couple of years from 185 King’s Road) as a “purveyor of funky elegance” to well-heeled celebrities and pop and rock stars.
The final piece in Tate Modern’s current Yayoi Kusama show – her dramatic Infinity Mirror Room – brought to my vinyl-fixated mind one of the greatest record sleeves of all time: the gatefold for (No Pussyfooting), the album released in 1973 by Brian Eno and Robert Fripp.
All of a piece with the music it packages – prismatic, playful, calm, cerebral, oblique – the four-part composition was photographed and designed at Eno’s behest by photographer/filmmaker Willie Christie.
Continue reading Photography: Willie Christie on the (No Pussyfooting) cover
Sculptor John Frankland is a near-contemporary of Damien Hirst’s; both studied at Goldsmith’s in the 80s and their work has been included in the same group shows and prominent collections.
I asked John for his take on the grand Gagogo gesture of The Complete Spot Paintings, the exhibition which has “taken over the planet” (according to some press reports) by showing 1500 examples of one of the artist’s signature works across the 11 Gagosian galleries.
John visited the London shows, in Britannia Street and Davies Street.
Continue reading John Frankland on Damien Hirst – The Complete Spot Paintings 1986-2011
Earlier this month I gave a talk to foundation year art and design students at Saint Martin’s as part of a brief to deliver work based on their personal opinions and beliefs.
The subject was the 1974 t-shirt You’re Gonna Wake Up One Of These Days And Know Which Side Of The Bed You’ve Been Lying On!.
This month’s arts calendar in London is marked by a rare treat: From Doris To Chemical Cowboys, a talk by the great British artist Derek Boshier at Chelsea College Of Art’s lecture theatre on January 18.
Los Angeles-based Boshier will be discussing recent projects as well as providing insights into earlier achievements, including his part in the Pop Art explosion of the 60s and his Texas work of the 80s.
Continue reading Derek Boshier: From Doris To Chemical Cowboys, Chelsea College Of Art January 18
//Cancer Relief card adapted, augmented and personalised by Lorry Sartorio, oil paint on printed card, 150mm x 150mm.//
No surprises that the pick of the cards received this Christmas came from artists.
Above is Lorry Sartorio‘s wowser enhancement of a pack card. Below is Andrew Greaves‘ digital image, printed on photographic paper.
Thanks, love and best wishes to all who sent me cards and “happy everything” in the words of another great card (an e-type from Dave Robinson) to all readers, friends, supporters, collaborators and contributors. Let’s together make 2012 special.
PGx
These images are from the private view for The Lightbox gallery’s exhibition Snap Crackle & Pop (about British pop art and it’s influence on culture); I contributed exhibits and advice after being approached by BBC TV’s Katherine Higgins (who sure knows her stuff).
This excellent show was opened on Friday by Peter Blake. Among the attendees were John and Molly Dove, Lloyd Johnson, Mike Ross of Ritva and Paul Weller (the subject of the gallery’s current companion exhibition of photographs by Lawrence Watson).
Continue reading Pictures from an exhibition: Snap Crackle & Pop at The Lightbox