To be released and unselfconscious—how wonderful that would be.
—Michael Andrew
My largest work yet – a view from The Monument of the City of London – 84cm x 120cm
February Art Bulletin
January has been a quiet month of course from an activity perspective, but a wonderful opportunity to get into the studio, get a good routine established, and make some pictures! It’s been lovely, despite the sometimes miserable weather and the concrete floor in the Studio. And it’s also been a great opportunity to see some shows and exhibitions, and there has been much to see.
New Work for a London show
I’ve been given a wonderful opportunity to be part of a group exhibition at a gallery in Shoreditch. I’m really looking forward to being able to see my work in this kind of show, which will have a very contemporary feel. It has spurred me on to take a few risks, and show some different pictures, including my large “View from the Monument” above, and also an unusual interior, “Picasso show” below. I’m very excited to see how my work sits beside other professional artists, and what the public make of it.
The exhibition is called “Art Dialogues” and is at the Espacio Gallery in Shoreditch from Tue 14th to Sun 19th February (1-7pm each day), with the Private View on Thursday 16th Feb from 6-9pm. I’ll be in the Gallery on the Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, and would love to see you there.
Shows to see
There is much of note to see in London at the moment, and I’ve spent 2 full days in January taking in some exhibitions. I regard these days as part of my working practise now, and so try and be very efficient. I’ll typically take in 2 large shows, and then 4 or 5 Commercial galleries too. London’s Commercial Galleries are incredibly varied, and it’s a very closed world to try and understand and enjoy. The rewards can be great though, with access to world-class art and really interesting curation, all for free and usually on your own!
My favourite large show is undoubtedly Robert Rauschenberg at Tate Modern. As ever the Tate Modern show is a stunning and authoritative summary of Rauschenberg’s career, an artist who was instrumental in changing what we saw as, and what could be, art. If you like my work I’m sure you’ll love this!
Robert Rauschenberg, Monogram Michael Andrews, SAX A.D. 832
And a couple of shows at Commercial galleries well worth seeking out. Anselm Kiefer has a major body of work from the last 2 years filling up the White Cube in Bermondsey – this really was a wonderful and immersive experience, from one of the world’s most important artists. It closes though on the 12th Feb, so be quick! Just opened and on until the 25th March, is Michael Andrews at the Gagosian Gallery in Grosvenor Hill, Mayfair. An English artist associated with the likes of Francis Bacon and Lucien Freud, he eschewed abstraction and painted evocative, and very English landscapes, often with a narrative element. They are beautiful and in a lovely airy space, again worth finding for something different.
Press
The other big excitement in January was to see my name in print. I was interviewed for “Hertfordshire Life”, a glossy lifestyle magazine with a local focus. They have a large culture section in the magazine, and I was profiled as the artist of the month with a 4-page spread. Having spent an hour and a half with the journalist being interviewed before Christmas, I was a little trepidatious to see what angle she would take. I found reading the article for the first time really excruciating, and actually had to close the magazine and take a few deep breaths twice to get through it. There was quite a bit of “I never said that! – oh yes I did!” moments. When I’d calmed down and after a couple of reads though I was really very pleased. It has taught me a lot about what people find interesting about me as an artist, and about my work, which will be really helpful going forward. As of yet I haven’t had any contacts as a direct result of the article, but I’m learning that growing as an artist is always a very serendipitous process, and it’s impossible to see what leads from what, because it’s never that direct. But certainly this level of publicity can only be good!
Espacio Gallery, Bethnal Green Road, London E2, Group Exhibition “Art Dialogues”, Tue 14th February – Sunday 19th February 2017, with a Private View on the evening of Thursday 16th February.