The London Group: 111 Not Out: Quay Arts
Founded in October 1913, The London Group will celebrate the 110th anniversary of their first exhibition at the Goupil Gallery in March 1914.
Each of the 48 participating members has created work in response to one of the 32 founder members that most appeals to them in terms of personality and art practice. A QR-coded picture and a short explanatory text will appear alongside their work.
Moich Abrahams, Ade Adesina, Wendy Anderson, Victoria Arney, Victoria Bartlett, Bryan Benge, Slavomir Blatton, Paul Bonomini, Mary Branson, Clive Burton, Stephen Carley, Peter Clossick, Tim Craven, Sandra Crisp, John Crossley, Martin Darbyshire, Angela Eames, James Faure Walker, Cadi Froehlich, Marenka Gabeler, Alexandra Harley, Julie Held, Aude Hérail Jäger, Chris Horner, Gill Ingham, Annie Johns, Judith Jones, Anne Leigniel, Amanda Loomes, Hannah Luxton, Kathleen Mullaniff, Eugene Palmer, Ian Parker, Janet Patterson, Sumi Perera, Steve Pettengell, David Redfern, Tommy Seaward, Almuth Tebbenhoff, Paul Tecklenberg, Lisa Traxler, Philippa Tunstill, Joshua Uvieghara, Bill Watson, Tisna Westerhof, Susan Wilson, David Wiseman, Carol Wyss.
111 Not Out celebrates the 110th anniversary of The London Group’s inaugural exhibition at London’s Goupil Gallery in March 1914 by reaching back across that long period of time to connect with the founders. Each of the 48 participating members has commended one of the 32 founders that most appeals to them in terms of personality and art practice, with a QR coded work of art and a short explanatory text displayed together with their own work. Some sort of connection between the two might even be evident.
The project has naturally identified the most popular founder with current members as David Bomberg (7), and Henri Gaudier-Brzeska as runner up (5) out of 20 chosen, by means of this straw poll. Different commentaries on the same founder-member add further and varied insight into their practice and influence.
The London Group was set up in October 1913 by artists including Harold Gilman, Robert Bevan, Jacob Epstein, Duncan Grant, Sylvia Gosse, Wyndham Lewis, Lucien Pissarro, Ethel Sands and Walter Sickert, with the aim of creating a powerful artist-run group to act as a progressive counterbalance to institutions such as the Royal Academy. The founding group created a unique and sustainable organisation, that has gone on to successfully nurture the careers of many of Britain’s best-known artists.
The London Group is a thriving democratic artists’ collective practicing in all disciplines, from painting and sculpture to moving image, digital and performance, with a full annual events programme in London and beyond.
The Group’s written constitution requires it “to advance public awareness of contemporary visual art by holding exhibitions annually.” Operating in the interstices of existent art institutions, the Group’s focus today is on self-generated exhibitions. Organised and managed by its artist members, these events aim to offer a serious and alternative perspective to contemporary visual arts in Britain.
111 Not Out includes paintings, prints, drawings, photography, film/video, digital and sculpture and related events. This is the London Group's first exhibition at Quay Arts, Isle of Wight.