Play Hide And Seek With Nick Fox's Art In A Tudor Manor

Tabish Khan
By Tabish Khan Last edited 109 months ago
Play Hide And Seek With Nick Fox's Art In A Tudor Manor ★★★☆☆ 3
These dark and surreal circular landscapes are Fox's trademark. Copyright Nick Fox.
These dark and surreal circular landscapes are Fox's trademark. Copyright Nick Fox.
This appears to be a painted doily when in fact it's a thin layer of paint with the design cut by hand. Copyright Nick Fox
This appears to be a painted doily when in fact it's a thin layer of paint with the design cut by hand. Copyright Nick Fox
The parts of faces are so delicately painted they almost look like abstract works. Copyright Nick Fox.
The parts of faces are so delicately painted they almost look like abstract works. Copyright Nick Fox.
One of his subtler works in the house, which could be easily missed. Copyright Nick Fox.
One of his subtler works in the house, which could be easily missed. Copyright Nick Fox.
These 'tablecloths' made entirely out of paint seem very fragile and are our favourite works. Copyright Nick Fox.
These 'tablecloths' made entirely out of paint seem very fragile and are our favourite works. Copyright Nick Fox.
Works can also be found on the floor such as these circular pieces. Copyright Nick Fox.
Works can also be found on the floor such as these circular pieces. Copyright Nick Fox.

Londonist Rating: ★★★☆☆

Normally when artists hold an exhibition it's in a gallery and it's solely up to the works to captivate the viewer.  Not so in Nick Fox's latest exhibition, a survey of his current and past works has been dotted around an old Tudor manor house.

Sutton House in Hackney is in fact the oldest domestic residence in east London — built by Sir Ralph Sadlier, the secretary of state to Henry VIII. It has been transformed over time with both Georgian and Victorian additions including an extension to the house, so it's filled with history, well maintained by the National Trust and worth a visit just to have a look around.

Fox's works are often subtle, which means they blend in nicely with the furniture and artwork of Sutton House. One of his shadowy figures in a darkened landscape, for example, sits on an adjacent wall to two classical portraits. He also hand cuts doilies and other works from paint and these are also on display — a favourite of ours is a layer of paint hung over a table as if it were a tablecloth, it looks as if would break if touched.

Out in the garden the artist has created a seed bank themed around flowers and their meaning. Visitors are encouraged to engage with this secret language and then write their own relationship experiences before purchasing a seed for a pound and planting it in the gardens, a memento of a current or past relationship. It's also important not to miss the amazing mini-stately home in a caravan while in the garden — it's wonderfully surreal.

Nick Fox's works are made more impressive by being contained within this fascinating Tudor manor, which complements his art well.

Nick Fox: Bad Seed & Seed bank is on at Sutton House, 2 & 4 Homerton High St, E9 6JQ until 31 March. Entrance is £3.50 for adults and free to National Trust members. There is also another show of his work around the corner at Angus-Hughes gallery, 26 Lower Clapton Rd, E5 0PD until 8 March, entrance is free.

Last Updated 18 February 2015