If in London next week herewith a cultural offerring
If in London next week and nowt on TV go here:
A Fakes Progress
Alex James, Gary Hume, Tim Noble, Charles Saatchi, Jay Jopling, Natasha Plowright, Jade Jagger, Max Wigram, David Thorp, Soraya Rodriguez, Victoria Miro, Roger Tatley, Russell Thoburn, Emily Paget, Sarah Whalley, Deirdre McGinnis, Brony Mclellan, Lara Raymond.
A Fakes progress is the latest offering from contemporary artist Russell Thoburn. Thoburn has brought together, celebrity artists, a popstar, collectors, curators, gallerists, art editors, press and publicity officers in a mischievous work, which highlights the workings of the artworld and the cult of celebrity.
For the past three years the artist has been exchanging emails, attending exhibitions and VIP parties as well as ‘recommending’ himself via his fake popstar and international artist email accounts. The project documents the rapid growth of the British artworld during the past decade. Many galleries now have their own press and publicity officers, sales teams and amidst all this publicity; a new team of collectors and photo opportunity celebrities have arisen
A Fakes Progress is the perfect exhibition to mirror our time. It relies primarily on the internet to gain information and emailing as a form of communication. Even Charles Saatchi recently admitted that, “If you don’t go to the right art school or know the right people who have the right dealers it’s very hard to break into the art world”. Thoburn’s approach has enabled him to be in the ’right place at the right time’. Whether discussing Kitchens with Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, hanging out on the dance floor with Barbara Windsor and David Walliams, talking football with Jude Law or hanging out with Jade Jagger at Garrards, he’s been getting about.
In a circle 2005/7 is a sculpture created from matchboxes collected from various Venues. The work echoes a pagan stone circle, with its columns of Groucho, Claridges, Loungelover, Sketch, Funky Buddha, St. John and Café De Paris it offers a collective place of worship. Inside and upright stand the distinct matchsticks of varying colours and dimensions, all vying for recognition. Outside, we have the standard, the ordinary match not sure whether it will ever be allowed in or if it just needs to change colour.
Russell Thoburn is never far away from controversy; his Installation ‘Motor Project’ (97) received widespread publicity featuring a Charles Saatchi go-kart engine and video of the collector racing. Artists re-united (2004) involved Thoburn contacting people with famous names and having them comment on his exhibition. A Fakes Progress continues the artist’s interest in the systems and structures that surround us.
Exhibition Dates: 28th Feb – March 20th Tue/Sat 4.30-11.30, Sun 2.30–10.30
Launch: Thursday March 1st 18:30-
8pm performance by London’s hippest art band The Readymades.
The Foundry 84–86 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A. Old St. Tube
Further info: enquiries@russellthoburn.com
http://www.russellthoburn.com
http://www.newstatesman.com/writers/Russell_Thoburn
A Fakes Progress
Alex James, Gary Hume, Tim Noble, Charles Saatchi, Jay Jopling, Natasha Plowright, Jade Jagger, Max Wigram, David Thorp, Soraya Rodriguez, Victoria Miro, Roger Tatley, Russell Thoburn, Emily Paget, Sarah Whalley, Deirdre McGinnis, Brony Mclellan, Lara Raymond.
A Fakes progress is the latest offering from contemporary artist Russell Thoburn. Thoburn has brought together, celebrity artists, a popstar, collectors, curators, gallerists, art editors, press and publicity officers in a mischievous work, which highlights the workings of the artworld and the cult of celebrity.
For the past three years the artist has been exchanging emails, attending exhibitions and VIP parties as well as ‘recommending’ himself via his fake popstar and international artist email accounts. The project documents the rapid growth of the British artworld during the past decade. Many galleries now have their own press and publicity officers, sales teams and amidst all this publicity; a new team of collectors and photo opportunity celebrities have arisen
A Fakes Progress is the perfect exhibition to mirror our time. It relies primarily on the internet to gain information and emailing as a form of communication. Even Charles Saatchi recently admitted that, “If you don’t go to the right art school or know the right people who have the right dealers it’s very hard to break into the art world”. Thoburn’s approach has enabled him to be in the ’right place at the right time’. Whether discussing Kitchens with Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, hanging out on the dance floor with Barbara Windsor and David Walliams, talking football with Jude Law or hanging out with Jade Jagger at Garrards, he’s been getting about.
In a circle 2005/7 is a sculpture created from matchboxes collected from various Venues. The work echoes a pagan stone circle, with its columns of Groucho, Claridges, Loungelover, Sketch, Funky Buddha, St. John and Café De Paris it offers a collective place of worship. Inside and upright stand the distinct matchsticks of varying colours and dimensions, all vying for recognition. Outside, we have the standard, the ordinary match not sure whether it will ever be allowed in or if it just needs to change colour.
Russell Thoburn is never far away from controversy; his Installation ‘Motor Project’ (97) received widespread publicity featuring a Charles Saatchi go-kart engine and video of the collector racing. Artists re-united (2004) involved Thoburn contacting people with famous names and having them comment on his exhibition. A Fakes Progress continues the artist’s interest in the systems and structures that surround us.
Exhibition Dates: 28th Feb – March 20th Tue/Sat 4.30-11.30, Sun 2.30–10.30
Launch: Thursday March 1st 18:30-
8pm performance by London’s hippest art band The Readymades.
The Foundry 84–86 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A. Old St. Tube
Further info: enquiries@russellthoburn.com
http://www.russellthoburn.com
http://www.newstatesman.com/writers/Russell_Thoburn
Comments
way too far away, of course.
will you post a review after?