As we face an uncertain world, I and fellow artists from the Royal Society of Sculptors have been asking ourselves: “what role can artists and sculpture can play?”. So, we are On the Edge… what does the future hold…
Like many of you, the pandemic brought a slew of new regular zooms we were invited to. For example, I was invited to a new zoom group made up of the London members of the Royal Society of Sculptors. I actually found it quite hard to attend these regularly at the time. At the time I was dealing with homeschooling, looking after not only my own 3 children (one of which was only 6 months at the start) but also another lovely teenage relative. But when I could steal away to my studio, it was great to remember that I was actually an artist and could think about more things than what to cook next, why weren’t they doing their work, or helping them out with technology/printers etc…
Over the last 2 years, many of these artists have become close friends. We have even now met in-person too, although not as much as I would want. As a result, our discussions have evolved into this group show called ‘On the Edge’ that addresses the War in Ukraine and the Climate Crisis.
I will be showing a rammed earth and litter sculpture that has come out of my Plastic Mountain project and I will be running a family workshop on Saturday 18th March. This is a chance for my north London friends to make a little rammed earth sculpture like the ones we have been making in Lambeth.
On the Edge
Espacio Gallery
PV:
Thursday 16 March 2023 18:00 – 21:00
Of course, the Private View would coincide with a Rail Strike (sod’s law!) but it would be lovely to see you at the private view if you can get there on the tube lines which should all be working (avoid Elizabeth and Overground lines). Or come to the Saturday workshop (more details below).
OPENING HOURS:
14 – 18 March 11:00 – 18:00 & 19 March 10:00 – 14:00
VENUE:
Espacio Gallery, 159 Bethnal Green Road, London, E2 7DG
(closest tube station: Bethnal Green; overground station: Shoreditch High Street; Bus: Brick Lane bus stop, take 8 or 388 from Liverpool Street Tube Station towards Shoreditch High Street).
ARTISTS:
Borys Krylov MRSS, Oles Sydoruk MRSS, Farnoush Amini MRSS, Nicola Anthony MRSS, Pauline Antram MRSS, Barbara Beyer MRSS, Elspeth-Billie-Penfold MRSS, Johanna Bolton MRSS, Paul Bonomini MRSS, Julie Brixey-Williams MRSS, Denise Bryan MRSS, Tere Chad MRSS, Emma Elliott MRSS, Susie Olczak MRSS, Stephen Duncan FRSS, Cheryl Gould MRSS, Alexandra Harley MRSS, Nayoung Jeong MRSS, Sandra Lane MRSS, Briony Marshall MRSS, Claire McDermott MRSS, Mark Richards FRSS, Caroline Russell MRSS, Christy Symington MRSS, Almuth Tebbenhoff FRSS, Poppy Whatmore MRSS, Caro Williams MRSS, Emma Woffenden MRSS
Family Workshop
Plastic Mountain family workshop (free)
Saturday 18 March 14 – 17hrs
Espacio Gallery (as above)
A fun art and environmental workshop: a chance to make a rammed earth and litter sculpture with artist Briony Marshall.
This is a drop-in session suitable for adults or families (any age children or teenagers accompanied by an adult). The activity will involved a litterpick, a plastic timeline game and the chance to make a mini plastic mountain
The total length of time will depend on the individual’s speed and preference. However, it is likely to be between 15 & 30 minutes. Last start time 4.30pm. The event is run by Planet STEAM, a social enterprise that uses participatory art to engage and enlighten people with the science behind our current environmental challenges.
For more information about the Plastic Mountain project see:
plasticmountain.org
On the Edge
This is a quote from the Ukrainian poet Boris Khersonsky, that has inspired debate and discussion between the exhibiting artists throughout almost a year of online meetings:
‘Every hut in our beloved country is on the edge. And to be honest, I’m on the edge too. I feel sorry for the ones at the centre, but really I’m especially sorry for the ones in the camp towers, watching the frosty distance…’
Integral to this exhibition are Ukranian artists Boris Krylov and Oles Sydoruk, and Iranian artist
Farnoush Amini who will be making work that will be highlighting the ongoing conflicts in their home
countries.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a series of public events including an online lecture
with the non-profit organisation Artists at Risk which provides refuge to artists fleeing from war,
persecution or oppression.
The On the Edge exhibition is sponsored by Chilean wine company Arboleda.
Oles Sydoruk expresses his thoughts from Kiev: “Today’s world has accelerated its way to the
abyss. Humanity destroys all living things and thereby condemns humanity to self-destruction. The
war in Ukraine is a vivid example of senseless, bloody, harsh aggression of a state that does not want
to coexist with the civilised world, ignoring all norms of humanity and the norms of the world order.
This is a vivid example of not wanting to develop oneself as a state, but trying to seize foreign
territories using medieval methods in order to satisfy one's own imperial ambitions. In my opinion, our
task as artists with our works is to convey this message to the world community and to contribute to
stopping the bloody monster, which threatens the existence of the world with its actions.”
See eventbright page for the associated events
