Reporting on Lambeth’s ‘Wide Open Weekend’
October 3rd, 2009 § 1 Comment
Borough-wide Studio Events in Lambeth 3 – 4 October 2009
I spent yesterday afternoon visiting some of the studios during Lambeth’s ‘Wide-Open Weekend’ and came across some very interesting works…
Firstly, I discovered established Swiss artist Christina Neiderberger in Stockwell Road, Briton, who studied at Byam Shaw School of Art followed by completing one of two MA’s in fine art at Goldsmiths College in London.
Christina creates large scale work using a variety of mediums, most interestingly painting using oil, light-reflecting beads and varnish on the back of a glass or perspex canvas, shown below in this picture entitled ‘Cinderella Chandelier’.
Christina also produces interestingly kitsch-like images using a technique whereby she combs, brushes and trims colourful fake fur that she has laid flat onto a canvas, to create images of Disney like characters which she then sprays with copious amounts of fixative so that the ‘hair’ stays in place.
Tony Blackmore was also an artist who caught my eye and seemed to have a fair few visitors in his studio. He describes his work as trying to create ways to transform ‘plane materials’ by carefully folding paper and maintaining the continuity of the plane by not tearing or cutting.
Tony initially wanted to study architecture and decided on taking maths and science subjects for A-level. He then gave up on Chemistry after a few terms and luckily, replaced it with Art after which he studied Fine Art Sculpture at the very well reputed Kingston University in London.
He says his initial inspiration for this project came from photographing modern canal architecture whilst on a trip to Amsterdam. He is heavily influenced by architects Le Corbusier and Zaha Hadid as well as the Technology University in Delft.
Perhaps though, there are some Asiatic influences which he may have acquired having spent 5 years in Hong Kong (after graduating from Kingston with a first class degree) and travelling through South East Asia, where the art of origami was born.
The skill with which these pieces are produced really caught my eye and the mathematical drawings Tom had displayed by this sculptural work were almost works of art in themselves!
Dana Sucking, who is a part-time lecturer at Kingston University and who studied at 
Chelsea College of Art, as well as in France and the US, shares a studio with Tom. Dana had produced some wonderful 3-dimensional works using epoxy resin and coloured glass paint, beautifully mounted on steel frames.
Then there was the Camille Brueton, whom I found a few doors down. She had made some beautifully coloured map drawings from ordinance survey maps found in the 50′s. Impeccably framed and conceived in pencil and gouache, the subjects were entitled fun-fair, swimming pool, ladies pond and reserved games area.
Focusing on architecture again, is the work of trained printmaker Ima Okon whose work was impressively featured last year in Creative Review’s Graduate Annual.
Ima is inspired by her faith and her interest in space and the passage of time. “My work takes on anthropomorphic qualities obtained through the process of applying and reapplying combinations of printmaking, photography, film, model-making and installation.”
Below are a series of mono prints Ima did featuring a cluster of tower blocks in the borough entitled ‘A Time To Cast Away Stones, And A Time To Gather’. These were produced in an attempt to map and document the process of time and the visual transformations that it creates.
The project initially began when Ima took a set of individual photographs intermittently over five hours. Four of these photographs were then taken and each broken down into their four lithographic plates; Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black. These prints were then created by generating a pool of sixteen plates and by choosing at random four plates one from each colour and reprinting.
Ima’s photograph’s are also impressive, this one is entitled, ‘The Outward Appearance’
Adjacent And Touching, screen print
Here, Ima contrasts the scale, functionality and the repetitious layout of the tower block with the numerous identities of the occupants. Look out for Ima, she’s definitely one to watch!
Fabia Claris was a lady I met at ABS Studios yesterday who produced the most incredible sculptural creatures out of found objects.
Fabia is a sculptor by training although drawing has always been central to her practice. After graduating in English from Cambridge in 1975 and doing a foundation at Central, she studied sculpture at Wimbledon School of Art from 1981 to 1983 before working as an apprentice to a master carver in York from 1983 to 1985. She subsequently studied anatomy at the Ruskin in 1991 and spent two years as a postgraduate at the Prince’s Drawing School from 2004 to 2006.
She had some beautifully executed drawings for sale in her portfolio but she is currently concentrating on her three-dimensional work. I took some images of some birds she had created – in the photo below windscreen wipers and pieces of umbrella were used to make this Ibis.
Finally, I ended the day by looking into Nigel Grimmer‘s studio, a graduate in Fine Art from both Sheffield University, (BA Hons) and Central Saint Martin’s College of Art, (MA).
He had hung a selection of work from previous projects called ‘Roadkill Family Album’ and ‘Places I Call Home’ as well as a few pieces from a current project.
His work shows a series of photographs saturated in colour, constructed by using everyday objects and play-things. Nigel’s images suggest a fascination with private thoughts and quiet self-contemplation which I found to be both hilarious but at the same time tender and touching.
“Each work will evoke a different response from the viewer and Nigel generously invites us to collaborate in imagining its meaning. The titles that accompany each photograph challenges our reading of the images whilst providing an ironic twist” Joanne Lee, Senior lecturer, Nottingham University.
Nigel’s images are by no means original. They remind me very much of the highly popular work of artists Sloane Tanen and Stefan Hagen in a series of books they published in 2003 called ‘Life and Times of Some Chickens’ where they placed these bright yellow chenille chickens with pipe cleaner legs, amongst exquisitely crafted, miniature settings in a series of hilarious dilemmas. Whether playing the online dating game, dreaming of a better life, or dealing with uncooperative children, the chickens encounter everyday troubles and triumphs in a series of books called ‘Bitter with Baggage Seeks Same.’
Although Nigel’s images are along the same lines, they have certainly made me interact and engage with the work, which can only be a good thing!
Oh…and one last thing…I came across this studio with no artists in it and the door wide open. I was gutted as I wasn’t able to find out whose work this was. Walking into this working space was like walking into a magical kingdom…The only clue I had were these names on the door…Please get in touch and tell us more about your work!
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“Lambeth Wide Open 2009 is an exciting new event to showcase the unique talents of artists working in Lambeth.
Led by a group of local studios in partnership with Lambeth Arts, Lambeth Wide Open is a platform for artists in the borough to market their work to new audiences and to build Lambeth’s brand as a creative and cultural destination.
The event will see artists opening up their studios to the public from 12 to 6pm and will include the following artists’ studios: ASC studios, Red Gate Gallery and Studios, Whirled Art Studios, Bainbridge Studios and Gallery, and Parade Mews Studios.
Lambeth Wide Open has been timed to coincide with the Wandsworth Artists’ Open House to enable visitors to enjoy artwork across our shared boundaries.“ Lambeth Council
You are invited to the launch of Lambeth Open The Gallery:
Monday 2nd Nov, 6 – 8pm
132 Streatham Hill, London SW2 4RS
http://www.lambethopen.com
A new showcase for South London’s wealth of creative talent.