Drawing
Drawing is the new group show at M.Goldstein, Hackney Road, London.
Wylde asked Pippa Brooks, who curated the show, to talk us through a few of the works on sale.
Why did you call the show Drawing?
Pippa: I was interested in the different ways artists make their marks; how wide the term “drawing” could be stretched. There are marks made with pencil, as you would expect, but also light is used as medium, flowers, neon, photography…
What drew you to these particular artists?
Drawing was my starting point. I respond to all the artists in the show on many levels, not just process. All of them make questioning, compassionate, ground-breaking work, the mark-making was an interesting way in, to form a group.
William Farr Roots That Clutch (Printed lightbox. 2019)
I'm interested to know what William Farr's work [see above] will be like in real life… doesn't he work with flowers? Will it last for the run of the show?
Of course, William's work is often temporary, since he works sculpturally with living flowers, wire, trash, found detritus. An interesting development is the way he photographs these sculptures and assemblages, often treating them quite clinically. This light box means that his own photograph of one of these ephemeral works is lit from within, it's a stunning object. There is also a limited edition print available exclusively to the show, of a group of leather flowers he made.
Julie Verhoeven Nancy (Paint, ink, paper, charcoal, pencil, pen, cork, jersey. 2019)
The Julie Verhoeven pieces [see image above] look like they feature pencil?
Yes, and paint, ink, charcoal, pen, glue gun, glitter tape, string..... Julie's drawings have been a touchstone for me for many years, these works are surprising yet characteristic, made up of collaged layers, and utilising T-shirts in their hanging construction.
Louise Gray REAL (Neon on perspex. 2019)
We're a bit obsessed with Louise Gray's REAL in neon [above]..!
Lime green neon! I mean! Louise's work is like a call to arms, REAL often features in her word and image pieces. Also, it's almost like a self-portrait, I'd have to think very hard to find a different single word that describes her to a T.
John Maybury
Above: Lost Boy (Acrylic on vintage porn paper. 2019)
Below: Read Only Memory Fragment videofilm. 1983 / Soundtrack by Daniel Goddard
Interesting that John Maybury is showing a film and a painting alongside each other…
Film and painting have always been a constant for John, he studied both, and became more recognised for the former. These Lost Boys [see above] which are painted in acrylic on top of the pages of vintage porn magazines, are a subject to which he has continually returned since the 80s. These are recent, the series as a whole charts his response to porn pre AIDS, throughout the 80s epidemic and today, it's an important body of work. The videofilm [below] is a mesmeric, solarised loop of peak Michael Clark/Maybury collaborative genius, and Daniel Goodard's soundtrack perfectly melds the two. Filmed in 1983, there is something about this time in London creatively that is always golden for me, I was surprised how much this piece moves me, actually.
Drawing runs for two weeks from 7th-21st November 2019 and features the work of William Farr, Louise Gray, Liz Johnson Artur, John Maybury, Matthew Stone, Julie Verhoeven.
M.Goldstein, 67 Hackney Road, London E2 8ET
12-6pm daily or by appointment (closed Monday & Tuesday)
Enquiries pippa@mgoldstein.co.uk