1 of the UK's most influential artistic partnerships comes to Southport this November. The Atkinson presents a major exhibition of work by Gilbert & George, organised in collaboration with ARTIST ROOMS, which tours single-artist exhibitions drawn from a national collection jointly owned by Tate and the National Galleries of Scotland. This is the 1st time in over 30 years that an exhibition of the artists’ work has been shown in the North West of England.
2 people, 1 artist:- for nearly 60 years Gilbert (b. 1943) & George (b. 1942) have made large-scale, often vividly coloured works combining photography, text and found objects, building 1 of the most recognisable partnerships in modern art. Winners of the Turner Prize in 1986, they remain among Britain's most influential contemporary artists, with work held in major collections worldwide.
Recurring themes include religion, sexuality, race and identity, and the tensions and desires generated by life in the modern metropolis. Gilbert & George are recognised above all for their radical expansion of the concept of sculpture, shifting it from an object-based practice into one encompassing their lived experience and environs, with the artists themselves as its enduring subject.
This exhibition spans decades of practice, from the rarely seen charcoal-on-paper sculpture The Nature of Our Looking 1970, early video works including Gordon's Makes Us Drunk 1972 and In the Bush 1972, to larger multi-part, brightly coloured works such as EXISTSERS 1984 and FAITH DROP 1991.
Central to their practice is the idea of the:- ‘living sculpture’:- Gilbert & George incorporate themselves and their lives directly into their art, using this position to provoke, and to question social convention and taboo. The 1969:- ‘magazine sculpture’ on display, in which the artists smile out at the viewer with cut-out letters pinned to their chests, exemplifies this early emphasis on self-image, on their status as outsiders, and on their guiding principle of:- ‘art for all’.
Cllr Liz Dowd, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Partnership Engagement, said:- “Hosting this exhibition of works by 2 of the country’s most renowned artists, Gilbert & Geroge, is a real coup for The Atkinson and for Southport. Each year, The Atkinson attracts over 400,000 visitors, making it one of the most significant cultural destinations in the Liverpool City Region. This ARTIST ROOMS exhibition in the autumn is, no doubt, going to add to the number of those visitors to the gallery and the town.”
Jemma Tynan, Exhibitions and Learning Officer at The Atkinson said:- “To welcome the work of Gilbert & George to The Atkinson is a very special moment for us. Their bold vision has shaped contemporary art for decades, and we are delighted to be working with ARTIST ROOMS to give our visitors the chance to experience these incredible works. I am sure everyone is going to enjoy seeing these:- ‘larger-than-life’ works in a truly memorable exhibition!”
Ceri Lewis, Senior Curator, ARTIST ROOMS at Tate & National Galleries of Scotland said:- “Gilbert & George championed:- ‘art for all’, wanting their art to speak directly to people about their life. Connecting people with art is the mission of ARTIST ROOMS, and we are passionate that our national collections can be seen and shared right across the country because they exist for the benefit of everyone. We want more people to have the opportunity to experience world-class art by the leading artists of today, and through partnerships such as this with The Atkinson, create space for curiosity and imagination, delight and debate. This exhibition is an open invitation to enter the world of Gilbert & George – and to confront our own attitudes to the social norms and taboos of contemporary life in the company of the legendary cultural provocateurs, where their only ask is to think and feel for yourself.”
