Art Preview: As We Longed For A Home That Did Not Exist

By Londonist Last edited 165 months ago
Art Preview: As We Longed For A Home That Did Not Exist

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An exciting collective of London-based artists has a new exhibition opening this weekend at the To and For gallery in what was previously a clothes shop on Holloway Road. The exhibition, entitled ‘As we longed for a home that did not exist’ brings together artists who specialise in the more traditional pursuits of painting and drawing but also photography. This particular exhibition is themed around conceptions of childhood memories, and whether these recollections are in fact romanticised notions, the work of an overactive subconscious or perhaps a longing for home. They explore the triggers, which could be a colour, a feeling, a symbol or a reference to the past, using photography, objects, fabrics, lines and marks in their response.

The collective, consisting of Jill Tegan Doherty, Harriet Jones and Chris Lane, should be commended, not only for assembling the artists involved in the exhibition, but for their tenacity in securing the premises. Following the success of their first exhibition last year at 2 and 4 Archway Close (see where the current gallery name was inspired from) the group was provided with funding by the Cripplegate Foundation to continue their work. They set about trying to secure premises or shops that were standing empty, but have been thwarted by over-cautious landlords who would rather not rent their otherwise idle space to an arts organisation.

They have the shop/gallery for four months, so can plan ahead for future exhibitions. If you can’t make it along to this one, then hopefully it won’t be long until these enterprising artists offer up further wares. We were going to say ‘enterprising young artists’ then, but one of their number, Richard Niman, is in his 80s and willbe giving a talk towards the end of the exhibition as well as performing on Friday’s opening night.

The exhibition features work from Jennifer Hooper, Beck Belsham, Edward Burnand and John Lofts, so, if you’re passing down Holloway Road, pop in and check it out for yourself.

TO AND FOR Gallery is at 720 Holloway Road, Archway, N19 3NH. The exhibition is free and runs 25 June-16 July. Opening Times: Mon & Tue (12pm-6pm), Thur (12pm-8pm), Fri (12pm-6pm), Sat (10am-6pm), Sun (11am-4pm)

By Jonnie Fielding

Last Updated 24 June 2010