Amelia’s Magazine | London Art Fair 2012 Review: Part Two

elisabeth lecourt map dress
You’ve read the first part of my London Art Fair 2012 round up, now catch up with the rest… starting with Elisabeth Lecourt of Byard Art in Cambridge who creates gorgeous dresses from maps. (I told you maps were big news.)

London Art Fair 2012 -chris wood
I’m always a bit of a sucker for pearlescent materials: Chris Wood (also with Byard) favours the medium of Dichroic glass for angular abstract patterns.

Claire Moynihan byard London Art Fair 2012 -Claire Moynihan
London Art Fair 2012 -Claire Moynihan
Claire Moynihan byard dragonfly
It’s great to see an upsurge of interest in textile art. Claire Moynihan works in detailed felt and embroidery, and is best admired up close – her ‘moth balls’ are beautiful.

London Art Fair 2012 - Justin Hammond
London Art Fair 2012 - Justin Hammond
On the second floor of the exhibition I was able to pop in on Justin Hammond, hosting a display of great new Catlin Guide commissioned art pieces.

London Art Fair 2012 -hannah harkes
London Art Fair 2012 -tom howse
My favourites have to be Hannah Harkes (with a cowboy snogging an Indian) and the naif folk art of Tom Howse.

London Art Fair 2012 -Chris Pensa
Next door Chris Pensa of Love Art London talked me through some of his upcoming tours – check out their website for ideas, I fancy me a tour with the fossil hunter! Read my review of an earlier tour here.

Run riot run laura jordan
A strong theme of disaffection unsurprisingly runs through many artworks, including Laura Jordan‘s Run Riot Run, an intricate map of the riots, shown with Galleryone.

UK Uncut oona hassim trafalgar_square
Oona Hassim took as the starting point for her oil painting a photo of the Anti Cuts Demo in March 2011 in Piccadilly Circus. If I’m not much mistaken this is the UK Uncut parade that led to Fortnum & Mason – despite the blurry feel I recognise it, because I was there – those flags are a dead giveaway. The pieces are oddly energetic and beautiful but how odd to see direct action flogged as fine art!

YouTube Preview Image
You can watch a short film showing her making the initial sketches here. She has an exhibition opening this week at Woolff Gallery.

London Art Fair 2012 -Joanne Tinker
London Art Fair 2012 -Joanne Tinker
At Woolff there was lots of upcycling going on. Special mention goes to Joanne Tinker who created rows of goblets out of sweet wrappers.

London Art Fair 2012 -Susila Bailey-Bond
Susila Bailey-Bond is another butterfly papercut artist, concentrating on their decorative qualities.

Jess littlewood contemporary
Jess Littlewood at The Contemporary London collages together monochrome otherworldly scenes that are very ‘now’. Like a lot.

London Art Fair 2012 -Juz Kitson
Porcelain, ink and wool are the preferred medium of artist Juz Kitson, who created wall installations of skulls, pulsating hearts and corals.

London Art Fair 2012 -Cynthia Corbett Gallery Ghost of a Dream
For the Cynthia Corbett Gallery Ghost of a Dream have produced an amazing collaboration that I first spotted at the graduate art fairs that I visited in abundance last year. The installation uses lottery tickets and the covers of romance novels, which are glued in patterns onto panels, mirrors and chandeliers.

Zak Ove
Irish/Carribean artist and film director Zak Ove at Vigo Gallery cobbles together found objects to create religiously inspired ensembles.

Reginald S Aloysius
At Bearspace I recognised Reginald S Aloysius from the 2011 Jerwood Drawing Prize. His overgrown temples are intersected by the paths of cross atlantic planes.

London Art Fair 2012  jane ward
Jane Ward imagined a disturbed dystopian future of exploding buildings. I hope we don’t end up there!

London Art Fair 2012 -Nomad
Lastly I can’t go without mentioning the huge Nomad light sculpture by Beau McClellan in the entrance to the design centre: yours for just 250,000 euros. One for those Russian oligarchs me thinks.

Categories ,2012, ,Bearspace, ,Beau McClellan, ,Byard Art, ,Chris Pensa, ,Chris Wood, ,Claire Moynihan, ,craft, ,Cynthia Corbett Gallery, ,Dichroic Glass, ,Elisabeth Lecourt, ,Fortnum & Mason, ,Galleryone, ,Ghost of a Dream, ,Hannah Harkes, ,Islington Business Design Centre, ,Jane Ward, ,Jerwood Drawing Prize, ,Jess Littlewood, ,Joanne Tinker, ,Justin Hammond, ,Juz Kitson, ,Laura Jordan, ,Light Sculpture, ,London Art Fair, ,Love Art London, ,Moth Balls, ,Nomad, ,Oligarch, ,Oona Hassim, ,Papercutting, ,Porcelain, ,Reginald Aloysius, ,review, ,Riots, ,Run Riot Run, ,susila bailey-bond, ,textile, ,The Catlin Guide, ,The Contemporary London, ,Tom Howse, ,UK Uncut, ,Upcycling, ,Vigo Gallery, ,wool, ,Woolff, ,Zak Ove

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Amelia’s Magazine | Love Art London: A Victorian Walking Tour around the Hyde Park Sculptures

Climate Camp No Tar Sands
Chris Pensa of Love Art London 2010 by Amelia Gregory
Chris Pensa of Love Art London. All photography by Amelia Gregory.

When members only art club Love Art London invited me to join them on a sculpture art walk through Hyde Park I jumped at the chance. I love a guided stroll, order especially on a balmy summer evening. But dressing up straight from work? Nice idea, here but unlikely for most despite the lure of a fiver off the ticket price if you dressed up as a Victorian. Instead we all (briefly) donned fake stick-on moustaches – that universal symbol of Victoriana – and marvelled at the outrageous attire of the goth girl from Florida.

Love Art London 2010 by Amelia Gregory

Gathered beneath the Wellington Monument we were given a brief history of Hyde Park, more about romping from visions of Henry VII shooting deer through to the biggest event of recent times, Live Aid. We were then introduced to our two knowledgeable tour leaders, a pair of ladies studying for PhDs at the Courtauld Institute. Katie Faulkner led the first group off whilst we followed Ayla Lepine, an expert in Revivalist Gothic Architecture and a Pugin aficionado.

Love Art London 2010 by Amelia Gregory
Ayla Lepine and Katie Faulkner. Love Art London 2010 by Amelia Gregory
Katie Faulkner and Ayla Lepine from the Courtauld Institute of Art.

The Wellington Monument is a nude statue of Achilles, made from melted canons and commissioned of sculptor Richard Westmacott by some aristocratic ladies as a symbol of Empire. But it didn’t quite turn out as they expected, and thoroughly embarrassed by his exposed dangly bits they insisted on a fig leaf to protect his modesty.

Love Art London 2010 by Amelia Gregory Wellington Monument
Achilles by Faye West
Achilles by Faye West.

A bit of a walk westwards soon brought us right out of the park and across the road to our next statue – created in the 1950s by Jacob Epstein as his swansong, Pan, or the Rites of Spring, shows a joyous family accompanied by a dog, rushing away from the city smog towards the parkland to symbolise progress and community. It was built in front of an unprepossessing 50s office block and was largely ignored. At present it is girdled with a construction company‘s wire fencing as a new prestigious address, One Hyde Park rises behind it. We learnt that there is some confusion over the fact that this isn’t actually a real postal address, thus annoying the extremely rich owners of these new condominiums. One can only hope they at least appreciate this fabulous work of art in their front drive.

Love Art London 2010 by Amelia Gregory Jacob Epstein One Hyde Park
The Jacob Epstein statue in front of One Hyde Park.

Jacob Epstein Rush of Green by Gareth A Hopkins
Jacob Epstein Rush of Green by Gareth A Hopkins. This sculpture seems to have numerous names.

A quick jaunt back towards the Serpentine – accompanied by a bit of impromptu Owl and the Pussycat poetry – brought us to the newest statue in Hyde Park, Isis by Simon Gudgeon. Erected only last year the smooth statue of a bird takes its name from the goddess of nature and sales of commemorative plaques and miniature versions of the sculpture will raise money for a wildlife centre.

Love Art London 2010 by Amelia Gregory poetry
Reading the Owl and the Pussycat.

Isis Love Art London group by Amelia Gregory
amelia's magazine - hyde park sculpture - Simon Gudgeon Isis - jenny robins
Isis by Jenny Robins.

Crossing the road past the Serpentine Gallery we came to the next imposing sculpture. GF Watts was also a painter and brought his rough brush strokes to the figure of Physical Energy – a muscled man and horse charging towards the statue of Albert in the distance. It was made during a time when ideas and places were things to be conquered and took inspiration from multiple ancient warriors including Mohammed, Attila the Hun and Genghis Khan.

Love Art London 2010 by Amelia Gregory GF Watts Physical Energy
Physical-Energy - Octavi-Navarro
Physical Energy by Octavi Navarro.

Our next visit was to Brampton’s Peter Pan standing just inside Kensington Gardens, a popular statue that caused a lot of controversy when it was first built. Even as the story of Peter Pan held the nation in its grasp, how was an author granted such a fabulous spot? We can wonder this now as they did back at the turn of the last century… Barrie claimed that he created to give pleasure, and from the gasps of excitement as we surrounded Peter Pan and stroked the worn rabbit ears like excited tourists, he succeeded.

Love Art London 2010 by Amelia Gregory Brampton Peter Pan
Peter Pan Statue by Vicky Yates
Peter Pan Statue by Vicky Yates.

An undoubted highlight of the walk was a mini rendition of a scene from Peter Pan given by two wandering actors.

Love Art London 2010 by Amelia Gregory Brampton Peter Pan

Then it was onward to catch up with the other half of our group under the daunting glittery gold structure of the Albert Memorial, built by George Gilbert Scott and finished in 1872, over ten years after Prince Albert died and 20 years after the Great Exhibition it commemorated. As we chomped on handmade iced moustache biscuits we learnt that by the time it was completed the majority of tasteful Victorians considered this Gothic wonder a gaudy affair, and for 80 years, up until recent times, Albert ended up covered in black paint.

Love Art London-cookies
Albert-Memorial-by-Lisa-Stannard
The Albert Memorial by Lisa Stannard.

Two hours after we started it was time for the walkers to adjourn to a nearby pub. Learning obscure facts to impress friends and chatting with some friendly art lovers as we wandered through the leafy environs of Hyde Park was a delightful way to spend an evening.

Love Art London – The art scene, exclusively tailored – is the brain child of Chris Pensa, who left Sothebys to create an accessible club for people who love art. For a very reasonable fixed membership fee you get to attend three events every month, from glass blowing to twilight tours of grand houses. And I can’t help thinking… if one were single… this could be an even better use of your money than joining an online dating service. Don’t the profiles always say “I love to travel, watch films, and go to art galleries” anyway? *ponders*

Next up Love Art London will run a guided tour around the new Ernesto Neto exhibition at the Hayward Gallery.

Categories ,Achilles, ,Albert Memorial, ,Art Membership Club, ,Ayla Lepine, ,Brampton, ,Chris Pensa, ,courtauld institute, ,Ernesto Neto, ,Faye West, ,Gareth A Hopkins, ,George Gilbert Scott, ,GF Watts, ,gothic, ,Hayward Gallery, ,Hyde Park, ,Hyde Park Sculptures, ,Isis, ,Jacob Epstein, ,Jenny Robins, ,Katie Faulkner, ,Lisa Stannard, ,Love Art London, ,Octavi Navarro, ,One Hyde Park, ,Online Dating, ,Peter Pan, ,Physical Energy, ,Pugin, ,sculpture, ,Simon Gudgeon, ,Vicky Yates, ,Victorian, ,Wellington Monument, ,Westmacott

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Amelia’s Magazine | Love Art London: A Victorian Walking Tour around the Hyde Park Sculptures

Climate Camp No Tar Sands
Chris Pensa of Love Art London 2010 by Amelia Gregory
Chris Pensa of Love Art London. All photography by Amelia Gregory.

When members only art club Love Art London invited me to join them on a sculpture art walk through Hyde Park I jumped at the chance. I love a guided stroll, order especially on a balmy summer evening. But dressing up straight from work? Nice idea, here but unlikely for most despite the lure of a fiver off the ticket price if you dressed up as a Victorian. Instead we all (briefly) donned fake stick-on moustaches – that universal symbol of Victoriana – and marvelled at the outrageous attire of the goth girl from Florida.

Love Art London 2010 by Amelia Gregory

Gathered beneath the Wellington Monument we were given a brief history of Hyde Park, more about romping from visions of Henry VII shooting deer through to the biggest event of recent times, Live Aid. We were then introduced to our two knowledgeable tour leaders, a pair of ladies studying for PhDs at the Courtauld Institute. Katie Faulkner led the first group off whilst we followed Ayla Lepine, an expert in Revivalist Gothic Architecture and a Pugin aficionado.

Love Art London 2010 by Amelia Gregory
Ayla Lepine and Katie Faulkner. Love Art London 2010 by Amelia Gregory
Katie Faulkner and Ayla Lepine from the Courtauld Institute of Art.

The Wellington Monument is a nude statue of Achilles, made from melted canons and commissioned of sculptor Richard Westmacott by some aristocratic ladies as a symbol of Empire. But it didn’t quite turn out as they expected, and thoroughly embarrassed by his exposed dangly bits they insisted on a fig leaf to protect his modesty.

Love Art London 2010 by Amelia Gregory Wellington Monument
Achilles by Faye West
Achilles by Faye West.

A bit of a walk westwards soon brought us right out of the park and across the road to our next statue – created in the 1950s by Jacob Epstein as his swansong, Pan, or the Rites of Spring, shows a joyous family accompanied by a dog, rushing away from the city smog towards the parkland to symbolise progress and community. It was built in front of an unprepossessing 50s office block and was largely ignored. At present it is girdled with a construction company‘s wire fencing as a new prestigious address, One Hyde Park rises behind it. We learnt that there is some confusion over the fact that this isn’t actually a real postal address, thus annoying the extremely rich owners of these new condominiums. One can only hope they at least appreciate this fabulous work of art in their front drive.

Love Art London 2010 by Amelia Gregory Jacob Epstein One Hyde Park
The Jacob Epstein statue in front of One Hyde Park.

Jacob Epstein Rush of Green by Gareth A Hopkins
Jacob Epstein Rush of Green by Gareth A Hopkins. This sculpture seems to have numerous names.

A quick jaunt back towards the Serpentine – accompanied by a bit of impromptu Owl and the Pussycat poetry – brought us to the newest statue in Hyde Park, Isis by Simon Gudgeon. Erected only last year the smooth statue of a bird takes its name from the goddess of nature and sales of commemorative plaques and miniature versions of the sculpture will raise money for a wildlife centre.

Love Art London 2010 by Amelia Gregory poetry
Reading the Owl and the Pussycat.

Isis Love Art London group by Amelia Gregory
amelia's magazine - hyde park sculpture - Simon Gudgeon Isis - jenny robins
Isis by Jenny Robins.

Crossing the road past the Serpentine Gallery we came to the next imposing sculpture. GF Watts was also a painter and brought his rough brush strokes to the figure of Physical Energy – a muscled man and horse charging towards the statue of Albert in the distance. It was made during a time when ideas and places were things to be conquered and took inspiration from multiple ancient warriors including Mohammed, Attila the Hun and Genghis Khan.

Love Art London 2010 by Amelia Gregory GF Watts Physical Energy
Physical-Energy - Octavi-Navarro
Physical Energy by Octavi Navarro.

Our next visit was to Brampton’s Peter Pan standing just inside Kensington Gardens, a popular statue that caused a lot of controversy when it was first built. Even as the story of Peter Pan held the nation in its grasp, how was an author granted such a fabulous spot? We can wonder this now as they did back at the turn of the last century… Barrie claimed that he created to give pleasure, and from the gasps of excitement as we surrounded Peter Pan and stroked the worn rabbit ears like excited tourists, he succeeded.

Love Art London 2010 by Amelia Gregory Brampton Peter Pan
Peter Pan Statue by Vicky Yates
Peter Pan Statue by Vicky Yates.

An undoubted highlight of the walk was a mini rendition of a scene from Peter Pan given by two wandering actors.

Love Art London 2010 by Amelia Gregory Brampton Peter Pan

Then it was onward to catch up with the other half of our group under the daunting glittery gold structure of the Albert Memorial, built by George Gilbert Scott and finished in 1872, over ten years after Prince Albert died and 20 years after the Great Exhibition it commemorated. As we chomped on handmade iced moustache biscuits we learnt that by the time it was completed the majority of tasteful Victorians considered this Gothic wonder a gaudy affair, and for 80 years, up until recent times, Albert ended up covered in black paint.

Love Art London-cookies
Albert-Memorial-by-Lisa-Stannard
The Albert Memorial by Lisa Stannard.

Two hours after we started it was time for the walkers to adjourn to a nearby pub. Learning obscure facts to impress friends and chatting with some friendly art lovers as we wandered through the leafy environs of Hyde Park was a delightful way to spend an evening.

Love Art London – The art scene, exclusively tailored – is the brain child of Chris Pensa, who left Sothebys to create an accessible club for people who love art. For a very reasonable fixed membership fee you get to attend three events every month, from glass blowing to twilight tours of grand houses. And I can’t help thinking… if one were single… this could be an even better use of your money than joining an online dating service. Don’t the profiles always say “I love to travel, watch films, and go to art galleries” anyway? *ponders*

Next up Love Art London will run a guided tour around the new Ernesto Neto exhibition at the Hayward Gallery.

Categories ,Achilles, ,Albert Memorial, ,Art Membership Club, ,Ayla Lepine, ,Brampton, ,Chris Pensa, ,courtauld institute, ,Ernesto Neto, ,Faye West, ,Gareth A Hopkins, ,George Gilbert Scott, ,GF Watts, ,gothic, ,Hayward Gallery, ,Hyde Park, ,Hyde Park Sculptures, ,Isis, ,Jacob Epstein, ,Jenny Robins, ,Katie Faulkner, ,Lisa Stannard, ,Love Art London, ,Octavi Navarro, ,One Hyde Park, ,Online Dating, ,Peter Pan, ,Physical Energy, ,Pugin, ,sculpture, ,Simon Gudgeon, ,Vicky Yates, ,Victorian, ,Wellington Monument, ,Westmacott

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