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The Outward Urge
Simon Hollington presents a solo exhibition of drawing at The Smithfield Gallery,
London from 14th October to 7th November 2009.
These drawings depict the first earthlings ever to venture into space. Taken
from contemporary documentation, they employ the backdrop of early space
exploration to observe our difficult relationship with the animals that are mans
nearest biological relatives.
For many, the conquest of space is still seen as the pinnacle of human
achievement with 2009 marking the fortieth anniversary of mans historic
landing on the moon. However, Hollington reminds us that outer space was
experienced for the first time by a hominid (or great ape) on January 31, 1961,
when Chimp 65 made a flight lasting 16 minutes and 39 seconds. When he
returned alive he was renamed HAM and became an overnight media
sensation.
HAM has been called ‘The first American in outer space’, event though HAM was
born and captured in Cameroon. HAM has also been called ‘the first astronaut’
as he was not only a passenger, but also carried out basic operations he was
trained for.
In these startling realistic drawings, Hollington reminds us that these earthlings
went into space before humans, scientifically and culturally paving the way for
manned space flight. In many ways, it may be said that they are the ones that
defined the 20th century. The subject matter moves from extreme
sentimentality to dark, questionably abusive scenes of human-animal
interaction, leaving the viewer to judge the ethical and scientific significance of
these first ever space explorers.
For more information and images: www.electronicsunset.org
Further press information:
Caroline Gaskin Cultural Management Ltd
Vivienne Modarressy-Tehrani, Caroline MT Public Relations
tel: + 44 7921 062494
Vivienne@viviennegaskin.com
email: carolinemt@hotmail.co.uk
07950 328 112
The Smithfield Gallery 16-18 West Smithfield, London EC1A 9HQ
Opening hours:10-6pm Monday to Saturday
info@thesmithfieldgallery.com / 0207 489 7549
The Smithfield Gallery, 16 West Smithfield, London EC1A 9HQ
14th October – 7th November 2009
Private View: 13th October 6-9pm
14th October – 7th November 2009
Private View: 13th October 6-9pm
The Great Reclaimation, Simon Hollington.
Cat
©Jean Overton Fuller.
Cats and other immortals. Exhibition coming soon at the Atlantis bookshop, 49a Museum Street. Bloomsbury. London. WC1
Dates to be added soon.
Jean Overton Fuller - a brief biography
Dates to be added soon.
Jean Overton Fuller - a brief biography
Saca-Grapas
Deviant buddy Saca Grapas (one of those things you use to pull staples out of paper in Spanish)
Really moving photography including some charming self portraits, not many can pull off well!
I'm choosing to ignore the love for a four piece Liverpudlian "barber shop harmony band" Each one to his or her own!
Live at the Apollo
29 Norwood Road, Herne Hill, London, SE24.
For the month of June only.
It is a dark time for the Video Store. The Age of Video has been destroyed.
For the month of June only.
It is a dark time for the Video Store. The Age of Video has been destroyed.
Attempting to evade the the dreaded Economic Death Star, a group of freedom fighters led by local Herne Hill residents has established a new secret base on the remote ice world of Apollo.
In a bid to rid the streets of decay, and support the local businesses, the group has secured the shop for the month of June. With crucial backing of the Herne Hill Traders Association and local Councils, the Apollo Video Store will be home to a creative festival of art, film, music and performance provided by local talent and high profile artists.
Decay on the high street during this period of recession is creeping into our communities. Rather than sit by and watch the broken glass syndrome take over, we are committed to using this space to attract visitors from near and far to the area.
The Apollo strikes back! VHS, popcorn and old-fashioned good will is alive in full technicolour glory on the streets of Herne Hill, South London..
Events planned so far.....
Thursday June 4th - Opening night, DJ set from Fab Fatale
Friday June 5th - Preview of Keith Coventry’s Haunch of Venison show
Saturday June 6th - Preview of Keith Coventry’s Haunch of Venison show
Sunday June 7th - Preview of Keith Coventry’s Haunch of Venison show
Thursday June 11th- Live at the Apollo: Live at the Apollo -
Lobelia: 8.00 to 8.30
Cop on the Edge: 8.45 to 9.15
Something Beginning with L: 9.30 to 10.00
Friday June 12th - TBC
Saturday June 13th: Music night: What They Could Do, They Did
Sunday June 14th - Live at the Apollo: Acoustic
Wednesday June 17th - Photography: Upshotz Youth Project- ‘An Eye For Peace’ opening night
Thursday June 18th - Live at the Apollo: TBC
Friday June 19th - Spoken word: Neither Am I and Harriet Poole
Saturday June 20th - Writing workshop: Sarwat Chadda; Event: Golf evening with Mike Gilden
Sunday June 21st - TBC
Thursday June 25th - Live at the Apollo: TBC
Friday June 26th - Event: Super Collider
Saturday June 27th - Event: Super Collider; Pop-up Portrait night
Sunday June 28th - TBC
NUCLEAR: Art and Radioactivity
Another one you'd be advised to look out for is. Kyp & Simons NUCLEAR: Art and Radioactivity
Please check out their site, and even better go along to the show. In the middle of E1, there's plenty else to do, make it a day trip and check out Brick Lane market and the Columbia Road Flowers.
Plenty of boozers too, to rest those tired feet, sup on a throat gargler and perhaps indulge in a good Sunday feed of Roasted stuff. Though some of the prices do suggest that you're somewhere far more glamorous.
Opens Thursday 13th November
(private view 6 – 8.30pm, open to press from 4pm)
Runs: 14th - 30th November 2008, 12 – 6.30pm
Not open every day, so check site first.
Admission free
Nicholls and Clarke Building,
3-10 Shoreditch High Street, Spitalfields, London E1
Nuclear Talkaoke with The People Speak - Friday 14 November
Nuclear Forum at the RSA - Friday 28 November
Harmony Korine
I'm a big fan of Harmony Korine.His work is raw, disturbing, controversial and brilliant. I haven't had permission to use this video, but feel the need to big it; and him up, check out his work here - Harmony Korine
It's strange, but strangely fascinating.
If Harmony, or anyone else wishes me to remove this video, then please let me know, with your reason for my doing so Remove Video
The Spirit of Arlington
The Novas gallery. Parkway. Camden.
A combined exhibition of work including photography, sculpture and interviewed podcasts portraying customers of Arlington house. A centre for homeless people in London.
Having successfully knocked over a delicate sculpture and throwing red wine over a clean white wall, the least I can do is highly recommend this fascinating exhibition of top class paintings and photography. A fabulous and raw selection of interviews of various residents of Arlington house is brilliant and can be heard upstairs along side almost life sized photographs of some of the people interviewed.
Words by Mattlox
Performed by Alan Whyte
Photograph by Aimee louise
The Swallow and the Swift
Shall we sit for a while?
Said the swallow to the swift.
But the sun was so bright and the sky was all blue
So they ducked and they fluttered and they sang as they flew.
Shall we perch on that branch
While the others are at play?
We could sit and relax and just soak up the day.
But the wind was just right and the clouds were all white
So they carried on singing and flying about.
Shall we sit for a while?
Said the swallow to the swift.
You might find a rest makes you fly with more care
We could watch out friends play from that tree over there.
But the swift was busy singing and flying about in the air.
Come now winged friend, come and sit for a while.
So they sat and looked out as their friends danced about
From their perch in a tree they rested their wings
And swift shivered a little as the spinning slowed down
She was scared she might wobble and fall down from that tree
But she felt there and then, then and there she was free.
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Head Rush
In disarray my head hurtles from pillar to post and back again
Careless of the time spent in between
In fact it’s enjoying the ride
Uncertain where is home and where is ill.
Sophie Lynch
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Feeling that you’ve lost this round,
you might decide to wait
for one more compensatory twist of fate.
Having spun and lost so many times
you think:
‘It’s only fair I win this game,’
forgetting that each time you spin the coin
the odds remain the same.
For all you wish that there’s a pattern to your pain
Nothing says that fate won’t twist and twist and twist again
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The Gambler's Fallacy
Feeling that you’ve lost this round,
you might decide to wait
for one more compensatory twist of fate.
Having spun and lost so many times
you think:
‘It’s only fair I win this game,’
forgetting that each time you spin the coin
the odds remain the same.
For all you wish that there’s a pattern to your pain
Nothing says that fate won’t twist and twist and twist again
Ned Palmer
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Sunday evening and it's cold and quiet out. Lights from the houses lining
Josephine Avenue shed a warm orange glow onto the street and other than
the odd car rumbling past and irregular shouts from the main road, all is
calm.
But do not be fooled by this image of suburban tranquility for if you
trust in rhythm and do not run in fear from routine then allow yourself the
pleasure of believing that somthing will soon be breaking the silence...
in fact, do not doubt it.
Sure enough as the clock trips on idly past midnight a new sound can be
heard in the air, a whizzing rhythmic tone, not quite a whistle yet nearly a
tune. Round the corner at the north end of the street a shape whips in
and out of the shadows stretched out on the road. A step closer and voices
can be heard, no words discerned but a giggle plays out alongside a low
focused murmur.
Then, just as you begin to make out what the shape is, it has passed you
in a flurry of wheels and flickering lights. One pair of feet move round
and round urging the pedals on faster and faster. whilst another pair stick
out at right angled to the back wheels. The latter, if correctly executing
her role as passenger, is hanging on for dear life, body leaning outwards
slightly, head thrown back and a look of alcohol doused shock, mixed
with mounting glee flooding across her face.
The cyclist, in turn, is stretched forward, down almost onto the
handlebars, a cheeky yet urgent sparkle in his eyes. The rest of his body mirrors
the tone permanently set to reliable swiftness. Everything is leant
forwards, urging the bike onwards. Onwards and upwards....
“We'll have you home in no time my love.”
The Josephine Cycle Express runs regularly from the pub back home
despite any alcohol consumed by the driver.
Feel free to get a lift anytime!
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The Josephine Cycle Express
Sunday evening and it's cold and quiet out. Lights from the houses lining
Josephine Avenue shed a warm orange glow onto the street and other than
the odd car rumbling past and irregular shouts from the main road, all is
calm.
But do not be fooled by this image of suburban tranquility for if you
trust in rhythm and do not run in fear from routine then allow yourself the
pleasure of believing that somthing will soon be breaking the silence...
in fact, do not doubt it.
Sure enough as the clock trips on idly past midnight a new sound can be
heard in the air, a whizzing rhythmic tone, not quite a whistle yet nearly a
tune. Round the corner at the north end of the street a shape whips in
and out of the shadows stretched out on the road. A step closer and voices
can be heard, no words discerned but a giggle plays out alongside a low
focused murmur.
Then, just as you begin to make out what the shape is, it has passed you
in a flurry of wheels and flickering lights. One pair of feet move round
and round urging the pedals on faster and faster. whilst another pair stick
out at right angled to the back wheels. The latter, if correctly executing
her role as passenger, is hanging on for dear life, body leaning outwards
slightly, head thrown back and a look of alcohol doused shock, mixed
with mounting glee flooding across her face.
The cyclist, in turn, is stretched forward, down almost onto the
handlebars, a cheeky yet urgent sparkle in his eyes. The rest of his body mirrors
the tone permanently set to reliable swiftness. Everything is leant
forwards, urging the bike onwards. Onwards and upwards....
“We'll have you home in no time my love.”
The Josephine Cycle Express runs regularly from the pub back home
despite any alcohol consumed by the driver.
Feel free to get a lift anytime!
Sophie Lynch
Rubbish Square
Animation by Kypros Kyprianou
Sam the Wheels
Clovis Salmon aka Sam the Wheels
Clovis was born in 1930's Jamaica. As a young man in his 20's he was part of the first generation immigrants to settle in the United Kingdom.
1950's Brixton became home to Clovis, as did the next half Century. A life that's seen and heard many things.
Incredible and sometimes turbulent. Brixton; has a story to tell.
As a pentecostal minister, and perhaps more well known as, Sam the Wheels, the finest wheel builder of bikes, Clovis has recorded much of the last 50 years on film. A moving image history of Lambeth, with all its ups and downs.
A unique video archive for the first time is available, and preserved for generations.
Explore the heritage of Brixton and it's ever changing surrounding 'hoods' through an incredible film, and participatory video and web project.
For more information and film footage go to http://www.samthewheels.co.uk/
Goodbye Vile Earth!
The Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE) was once a top-secret military complex and one of the most important aeronautical research centres in the world. Presented here are objects, text and photographs from its extensive archive, intertwined with a subjective history of modern art comparing and contrasting the two different cultures at key points in the 20th Century.
Kypros Kyprianou and Simon Hollington are responsible for this most fascinating exhibition, adding to their 10 year national and international collaborative arts practices which incorporates contextual and material frameworks embracing cultural scientific and political concerns.
Goodbye Vile Earth was shown at the Bracknell Gallery, in the South Hill Park arts Centre. Bracknell. Berkshire.
The British Isles
Watching all the tears run dry
Witnessing the life simply fade from their eyes
Wishing I could see them moving on
Hiding from themselves it seems so wrong
Always being their by their side
Waiting for a day when we all guide
A different song
Different soul
Making one another our normal goal
And you know how
you know how
You only know so much
We know
You know so much
I cant believe the news today
Someone else’s life just faded away
Now I understand leadership’s lost
People that I care about are living like ghosts
Being told we’re always wrong
Ordering us all just to get along
Watching you bicker in media wars
We’re all Britain’s people not political whores
And you know how
you know how
You only know so much
We know
You know so much
Comprehend all the feelings that their going through
Realise if we work together we’re breaking through
Angry days childhood times fade away
Visions of a future once were clear you stole the smile away
Remember who we are
Remember why we’re here
Remember where we are
This is the British isles
England Ireland Scotland Wales
The British isles
England Ireland Scotland Wales
The British isles
England Ireland Scotland Wales
The British isles
This is the British isles
This is the British isles
This is the British isles
Welcome to your home
Lyrics by Maximi’an Hart
Music by Henderson/Hart
Performed by The Time Of Wonders
Produced by Fluke Productions
Square Gaffer
Animation by Kypros Kyprianou
