CREATIVE PANE - GROUP SHOW AT DALSTON SUPERSTORE

CREATIVE PANE

GROUP EXHIBITION

DALSTON SUPERSTORE

THURSDAY 8TH MARCH 2012 – SUNDAY 15TH APRIL 2012

PRIVATE VIEW – WEDNESDAY 7TH MARCH 2012 – 7PM – ONWARDS

JAMES ANDREWS, NAOMI BIRD, ANNA BRUDER, CLAUDE D'AVOINE, ALUN DAVIES, JACK DUFFY, LUKE EMBDEN, GEORGIA GENDALL, KIM HOWELLS, CHRISTINA MITRENTSE, ALEX NOBLE, MOSES POWERS, JONAS RANSON, ANN-KATHRIN SCHUBERT, ADAM TOWNER, CORDELIA WESTON AND SASKIA WICKINS.

CREATIVE PANE

Using the concept of a view through an open window, this exhibition invites the audience to explore and peer into the unique undisclosed landscape of a studio space. Giving an exceptional insight into the environment of creative process and practice, and the exhibiting artists visual manifestation of this concept.

Every space set up to enable creative practice can be defined as a studio. Whether it be a desk in a small nook, a neglected disused warehouse or a huge make shift white wall. These spaces are used for creative processes and amazing outcomes. Each studio is individual in character and style. Each wall filled with fundamental inspiration, ephemera and reference imagery. Busy shelves filled with boxes of materials, leftovers from previous briefs and those saved objects that will one day have a purpose.

The starting point of this exhibition is a recycled window frame given to 16 outstanding local artists, designers, stylist, photographers, set designers and illustrators.

These windows come in all different shapes and sizes, emphasizing the concept of individual space and vision. With the initial starting point of the window frame, each of the artists have been asked to produce the personal character and style of their studio space. Giving outsiders a chance to witness studio life where anything and everything can serve as inspiration. These representations will be as surreal, abstract, conceptual or documentary as desired by the artist.

Each of the individual window frames will come together and take their spot to transform the walls of Dalston Superstore into an exclusive insight through the windows of the creative space and mind.

The unique diversity of the work stems from the wide creative spectrum that these individual artists have been asked from. Superstore is lucky enough to have the completely amazing Anna Bruder, Alex Noble, Moses Powers and Jonas Ranson being involved in this exhibition. Already household names within the Superstore exhibition space. Amongst these names will be other renowned local artist's and designers such as set designer Alun Davies and stylist Kim Howells. Not only will Creative Pane be housing the work of these familiar names, but there will also be fresh faces including work from illustrators Naomi Bird and James Andrews, sculptural pieces from Georgia Gendall, fashion inspired artist Jack Duffy and graphic designer Claude d'Avione.

This exhibition will showcase the individuality of each of these standalone artists and their unique spaces. Giving others a chance to peek in to these hidden backdrop.

The curating at Dalston Superstore has been in the hands of Alex Noble on and off for the last three years. Some of his most memorable exhibitions includes 'Male Nudes' and 'exquisite corpse' each exhibition entirety unique, inspiring and visually breathtaking. The time has come for Alex Noble to hand over his position. Creative Pane is the debut exhibition curated by Saskia Wickins.

For more info please contact

art@dalstonsuperstore.com

www.gallerysuperstore.blogspot.com  www.dalstonsuperstore.com

'A view from within' mural by James Andrews

'Looming' by Emma Allan

'Like Clockwork' by Luke Embden

'I Made them. They made me' by Alex Noble

'Working 9 to 5 (480 minutes) light box image by Claude d'Avoine

'Shelf above my desk' by Tinker Tailor

 

'Mind Map' by Georgia Gendall

'Studio Scene II: Faustus Learns Necromancy' by Jonas Ranson

'Concept Collision' by Alun Davies

'Desk' by Naomi Bird

'A Blue View' Kim Howells

'Aline: Me and Him' by Anna Bruder

'The Other Us' by Saskia Wickins

'Gone With The Wind' Jack Duffy

'Podium Series I, II, III, IV, V, VI, As Part Of My Library - Penguin Vintage Collection' 

by Christina Mitrentse

'Synapse' by Ann-Kathrin Schubert

Ottoman Fight Club An Exhibition by Jamie Mcleod

Dalston Superstore and Jamie McLeod presents

OTTOMAN FIGHT CLUB

Private View 12^th January 2012

Exhibition runs 13^th – 26^th January 2012

Following his hugely successful show, Jack Off Johnny, the photo-artist Jamie Mcleod returns to the Dalston Superstore, a new exhibitions of his black and white portraits of Turkish Wrestlers, “Ottoman Fight Club”.

Screen-printed in a panoramic style on a 10-metre ream of canvas, giving the appearance of a Pasolini movie. Along side this canvas are other powerful photographic images that could standalone.

“ Bodies and faces become bruised and bloodied and smashed and the smell of oil, sweat and leather mixed with mud, blood and adrenalin is not something I will forget quickly. It’s a heady mix of emotions going on, you will have some boys crying in pain from an injury or despondent at losing and others in ecstasy and raptures of joy at winning or just having a laugh with their mates. I have never been anywhere with this much extreme drama coupled with brute force and tenderness. It is one photo opportunity after another and I got to take my photos backstage in the passageway before and after the wrestlers go into the arena so I got an angle that the other didn’t. I was interested in portraits and capturing the character and not documenting the actual sport” comments Mcleod.

These images are not mere homoerotic fantasy pictures in the vein of Bruce Weber but an in-depth study of Turkish ethnicity and male sexuality through the body. “I’m interested in the sensuality of the male physique and the mystery of the face, and the hidden surprise behind the eyes” Mcleod says. “I’m also fascinated by civilization and heritage. In Turkey you will find the classic Arabic-type face, Ottoman, Asiatic, Kurdish, Gypsy, Greek, Roman, Jewish and Georgian-type faces – all of which encompass the country’s rich and diverse cultural and heritage. Turkey is the stepping-stone between Eastern Europe, Asia and the Middle East so there is a strong mix of all these people.

It is not possible to discern what era these photographs were taken, as there is no reference to the modern day world, the photographs look and feel as if they could have been taken anytime over the last 100 years. Mcleod is also enchanted by how brutal and beautiful they are –with their cast of non-classical semi-nudes captured like the warriors and heroes that Mcleod believes them to be.

Anybody familiar with the photographer Wilhelm von Gloeden’s 1930s photos of Sicilian youth will find a direct link to the savage male beauty that is Mcleod’s subject.

Mcleod’s images were taken over an eight-year period at the annual Kirkpinar tournament, held in Edirne, Turkey. This is in what was the ancient area of Thrace where Ottoman soldiers prepared for warfare and instilling fear into the hearts of neighboring Greece and Bulgaria even before the era of Alexander the Great.

In Ottoman times, the sport was taught in athletic schools for warfare but also in spiritual centers. This is what differentiates it from just a sport, as there is a deeply romantic mythological and ceremonial side to the sport. It is also the oldest continuously running sporting competition in the world held in Edirne since 1362.

It not clear where the tournament originates – some saying from Greece with the Turks but more likely it is predated and from Persia from 1065 BC. The oil was added to make it more difficult for the opponent to grip but also mixed with a herb which also prevents mosquito bites. Wrestlers oil one another prior to matches as a demonstration of balance and mutual respect. If a man defeats an older opponent, he kisses the latter’s hand, a sign of respect for elders in Turkey.

The way Turkish men and boys interact with each other, massaging and caressing and laying together resting after the games and before fights. Male tenderness between each other is common in the Middle East and, quite often, it is only an expression of brotherly love – but it is something men in the west are scared to express without being labelled homosexual, Mcleod believes.

“When westerners see my photos they normally ask me if this is a gay festival and I laugh and say, sadly, no. It’s amazing to think just because men can express open affection towards each other through the way we would normally express it in heterosexuality, we conclude they are homosexual of which most of them are not. However the issue of sexuality in Turkey and the Middle East remains complicated.

For more information:

http://www.allaboutturkey.com/yagligures.htm

http://www.jamiemcleod.co.uk/