Category: Art
On now: Horace Panter's Robots, Saints & (Extra) Ordinary People at The Strand Gallery in London. Horace Panter is perhaps better known as the bassist of 70s ska sensations The Specials, which he joined after gaining a degree in Fine Art. Whilst touring with the band he had little time to create art but he collected copious amounts of rock 'n' roll paraphernalia and began to create graphics for the 2-Tone record label. These drew on the history of the African-American struggle for freedom and mixed this with a celebration of the Blues. By the 80s Horace Panter was experimenting with silk screen artworks, tie-dying and stencilling, and in the 90s he became the Head of Art at a Coventry school for children with autism, where he used art as a form of therapy.
Horace Panter's interest in iconography was a starting point for many of his new artworks which draw on the fascinations of popular culture. Travels in Asia fuelled this interest, resulting in bold images such as Punk Rock Girl and Robot at the Beach.
The Specials reformed for their 30th anniversary in 2009 and are looking forward to a UK wide tour soon. The Strand Gallery is an offshoot of Proud Galleries.