ARTIST ROOMS: Gilbert & George
Exeter’s Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery is encouraging debate about contemporary art with its latest exhibition.
The art of Gilbert & George explores important contemporary issues such as racial tension, politics, religion, sex and violence.
Although Gilbert and Plymouth-born George are well known in London, it’s the first time there has been a major exhibition of their work in the South West. RAMM has received funding through ARTIST ROOMS to introduce the work of Gilbert & George to people in Exeter, particularly young people.
A debate aimed at young people will examine the nature of controversy in contemporary art. A panel of experts will discuss with the audience what is shocking and how gallery curators decide what to include in an exhibition. ‘Modern Art: considering the contemporary’ takes place on 16 May 2014, 11.30am to 1pm.
When they met at art college in the 1960s, Gilbert & George reacted against conventional approaches to sculpture and elitist approaches to art, which they consider to be poor at communicating ideas outside the arts world. In an attempt to question and extend the definition of sculpture, they become ‘living sculptures’.
In addition to the debate, during the exhibition, there will be a number of events to help people understand the work of Gilbert & George and its context. These will include:
A talk, Drinking with Gilbert & George will be given by Lynda Morris who worked with Gilbert & George in the 1970s and spent many evenings drinking and dancing with the pair, and helping them to entertain other artists and art dealers from overseas. The evenings provided the subject matter for their Drinking Sculptures. The talk takes place at RAMM on Tuesday 8 April, 7.30 to 8.30pm.
A workshop to engage young people in the work of Gilbert & George by creating their own digital artwork. Tablets of Art will be run by daisi and will help young people to develop their tablet art skills. Wednesday 28 May 2014, from 10.30am to 3.30pm.
The works on display are taken from ARTIST ROOMS, an inspirational collection of modern and contemporary art acquired for the nation by Tate and The National Galleries of Scotland through the generosity of Anthony d'Offay with additional support from funders, including the Art Fund. The ARTIST ROOMS tour programme, now in its sixth year, is showing at 18 museums and galleries across the UK in 2014. The tour is made possible thanks to the support of Arts Council England and the Art Fund.
To find out more information about ARTIST ROOMS On Tour visit www.artfund.org/artistrooms. To see the full ARTIST ROOMS collection visit www.tate.org.uk/artistrooms and www.nationalgalleries.org/artistrooms
The Gilbert & George ARTIST ROOMS exhibition runs at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery from 22 March until 22 June. Entrance is free.
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