Paper Exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery in London

inspiringcity,

The Saatchi Gallery in the west of London is one of the artistic gems of London. Entirely free, the gallery has built a reputation over the years for showcasing up and coming talent in a variety of shows. It even provides a free repository for artists to showcase their art via Saatchi Online.

Situated off the Kings Road in the heart of affluent Chelsea and just down the way from Sloane Square station, the gallery was first opened by Charles Saatchi in 1985 and has had multiple locations prior to settling in the impressive ‘Duke of York HQ’ building. A grade II listed building it was completed in 1801 and designed by John Sanders and as the name might attest has a long military association.

Now the buildings light and airey rooms provide the perfect setting for some of the worlds brightest artistic talents and ‘Paper’, the latest exhibition makes good use of it’s surroundings. A take on the throwaway in an increasingly digital world, the show features 43 different artists contributing across multiple rooms in the gallery.

The show itself has attracted some controversy with headline grabbers focusing on the likes of Annie Kevans portraits of dictators in their youth and work from American artist Zak Smith whose art features actresses met from an alternative career in the porn industry. As it happens the Kevans work is a highlight and a credit to the curation, occupying a large space the small portraits present themselves in a straight line across the back and side walls. At first glance just pictures of kids, the images take on a new meaning as the viewer reflects on the lives that would come ahead.

Other highlights of the show include Han Feng’s floating city made from tracing paper, Jessica Jackson Hutchings ‘Couch for a long time’ made up of newspaper cuttings of Barack Obama and Yuken Teruya’s trees made out of discarded paper bags. Tom Thayer’s ‘nature scene’ depicts delicate birds and a tree made from paper and Miler Lagos has created a series of logs made from newspapers in his ‘fragments of time’.

A few shots of the show are below and it lasts until 3rd November 2013, it’s worth going to and absolutely free.

The entrance to the gallery just off the Kings Road
The entrance to the gallery just off the Kings Road
Admiring 'The Grocers Wife' by Ann Toebbe
Admiring ‘The Grocers Wife’ by Ann Toebbe
Couch for a Long Time by Jessica Jackson Hutchins made up of cuttings of Barack Obama
Couch for a Long Time by Jessica Jackson Hutchins made up of cuttings of Barack Obama
Michelle Obama features on one of the couch arms
Michelle Obama features on one of the couch arms
Annie Kevan's portraits or dictators in their youth
Annie Kevan’s portraits or dictators in their youth
Eric Manigaud's 'Portrait Clinique' drawings which recreate photographs taken of patients in Nazi medical faciliites
Eric Manigaud’s ‘Portrait Clinique’ drawings which recreate photographs taken of patients in Nazi medical faciliites
Works from Storm Tharp 'window' and 'Jodie Jill'
Works from Storm Tharp ‘window’ and ‘Jodie Jill’
Karen Heagle's 'The End of Abundance' shows a culture picking through the remains of symbols of an abundant economy
Karen Heagle’s ‘The End of Abundance’ shows a culture picking through the remains of symbols of an abundant economy
Tom Thayer's 'Nature Scene' shows a tree and birds created from bits of scrap paper
Tom Thayer’s ‘Nature Scene’ shows a tree and birds created from bits of scrap paper
A close up of one of the birds from Thayer's sculpture
A close up of one of the birds from Thayer’s sculpture
Gerald Davis's 'Fagboy' is admired by a visitor
Gerald Davis’s ‘Fagboy’ is admired by a visitor
Han Feng's 'Floating City' is made up from tracing paper
Han Feng’s ‘Floating City’ is made up from tracing paper
The city is made up of lots of different tracing paper buildings
The city is made up of lots of different tracing paper buildings
Silke Schatz's 'Mothership' was popular with photographers
Silke Schatz’s ‘Mothership’ was popular with photographers
Daniel Kelly's 'I see it all now... Some of it!' has been described as Paper Architecture
Daniel Kelly’s ‘I see it all now… Some of it!’ has been described as Paper Architecture
Two maids 'Clair and Jane' are collages made by Jannis Varelas
Two maids ‘Clair and Jane’ are collages made by Jannis Varelas
Paul Westcombe's 'Coffee Cups' are just that, art created on used cups of hot drink
Paul Westcombe’s ‘Coffee Cups’ are just that, art created on used cups of hot drink
Steven Lowry's try's to create 'visual noise' making use of statements and slogans
Steven Lowry’s try’s to create ‘visual noise’ making use of statements and slogans
Two visitors admire some of the art on display
Two visitors admire some of the art on display
Zak Smith's 'Girl in the Naked Girl Business' depicts Sasha Grey a pornographic actress
Zak Smith’s ‘Girl in the Naked Girl Business’ depicts Sasha Grey a pornographic actress
Dominating Gallery 7 Marcelo Jacome's 'Planos Pipas' hovers over the gallery like a series of conjoined kites
Dominating Gallery 7 Marcelo Jacome’s ‘Planos Pipas’ hovers over the gallery like a series of conjoined kites
Jason Brinkerhoff has produced a series of works inspired by the female form
Jason Brinkerhoff has produced a series of works inspired by the female form
Jose Lerma and Hector Madera produced this giant paper sculpture of former boxer Emanuel Augustus
Jose Lerma and Hector Madera produced this giant paper sculpture of former boxer Emanuel Augustus
Logs made out of newspaper by Miler Lagos
Logs made out of newspaper by Miler Lagos
This man admires an epic work from Dawn Clements
This man admires an epic work from Dawn Clements
A huge mural by Dominic McGill dominates the far end of Gallery 5
A huge mural by Dominic McGill dominates the far end of Gallery 5
McGill packs his work with quotes, history and politics. This piece takes the center of the room with another mural at the back
McGill packs his work with quotes, history and politics. This piece takes the center of the room with another mural at the back
Yuken Teruya's collection of trees made from discarded paper bags got a lot of attention
Yuken Teruya’s collection of trees made from discarded paper bags got a lot of attention
Undoubtedly one of the highlights of the show, this tree is made from a former McDonalds bag
Undoubtedly one of the highlights of the show, this tree is made from a former McDonalds bag
Photographers were lining up to take pictures of the little trees
Photographers were lining up to take pictures of the little trees
Rebecca Turner's 'Dumbstruck' provided a lot of fun for photographs
Rebecca Turner’s ‘Dumbstruck’ provided a lot of fun for photographs

Saatchi Gallery is a free public art gallery situated just off the Kings Road in Chelsea and down the road from Sloane Square tube station. For stunning paintings for sale uk by many different artists Saatchi Online provides an invaluable means of connecting directly with artists in order to buy their work. ‘Paper’ is on display at the gallery until 3rd November 2013.

To read more posts featuring the Saatchi Gallery, have a look here for the Anima, Alchemy, XX, Alo and Cash is King exhibitions.

Published by inspiringcity

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