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Not A Champagne Life

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Date: 
Thursday, 21 April 2016 to Sunday, 1 May 2016
Opening: 
Thursday, 21 April 2016 - 7:00pm
Penelope Harrall

With a nod to the recent all-female exhibition in a male-run corporate space, Not a Champagne Life brings together the works of three emerging artists in a female-run independent gallery, and addresses the subjects of social order, gender equality and freedom of speech.

Not a Champagne Life features three-dimensional works by Emma Elliott, Penelope Harrall and Ian Wolter, and makes reference to the luxury lifestyles enjoyed by a privileged minority compared to the increasing burden of austerity on the majority of people.

The selected works combine strong figurative and symbolic elements with performance, sound and movement while commenting on the hidden metaphor of each respective medium: Ian Wolter’s busts implying status and authority; the assumption of aesthetic beauty in bronze as illustrated by Emma Elliott; while the items of feminine care at the core of Penelope Harrall’s work are generally expected to be hidden from view.

Artist ( Description ): 

Emma Elliott is a British artist whose central concerns are the incongruous aspects of humanity.  In her work she explores the relationships between the refined and the primitive, the physical and the spiritual, the influences of our pre-human past on present-day behaviour.

Emma was classically trained in painting and figurative sculpting both in the UK and Florence. Her excellence in craftsmanship and technique is matched by a fearless questioning of ideologies, religion, ancient and modern society – the universe.

Emma’s work is held in a number of private collections, including No. 10 Downing Street, Alexander Soros and the McAlpine family.  Most recent awards include Winter Pride 2014 and Passion for Freedom 2015.

Penelope Harrall recently graduated from Cambridge School of Art with a First Class BA (hons) in Fine Art. Using video and performance art Harrall aims to expose key issues in our society we choose to ignore. Previous works include a series of videos and photographs that explore the issues caused by sugar consumption in society. By creating overwhelming and kitsch videos, she bombarded the viewer in an enticing extravaganza of sugar and sex. "A baroque pop nightmare" is a phrase that has been used to describe her disturbing yet enticing sugar series.

The female body plays a strong role in Harrall’s practice and it is important that female body is hers. She aims to scrutinise the objectification we witness everyday in the media and the humiliation we have all felt due to our 'imperfections'. Penelope Harrall uses her own imperfections and insecurities to not only overcome them but to also tackle this warped image of what an ideal female should be.

These issues combined she endeavours to create comical yet serious videos and performances to expose these integral issues.

Ian Wolter is based in London and Cambridge and graduated as a mature student in Fine Art at Cambridge School of Art, Anglia Ruskin University, in 2015.

Winner of the Global Sustainability Institute Art Prize 2015 and most recently the Arte Laguna Prize 2016, his work has generated headlines nationally and internationally, and continues to probe the boundaries between politics, art and community.

Ian is fascinated by lying and liars, and by those who connive to put their own interests ahead of society’s. He is also interested in the ways in which people edit their personal past, memories and justifications; to make them fit their self-image or reputation. His new experimental works are sculptural and kinetic carriers of political messages. By seeking to make ‘solid’ or ‘permanent’ sculpture from industrial fluids, powders and unctuous waxes or petroleum jellies, he is led to create machines, with very human, ethical messages.

Telephone: 
+44 (0)20 3602 7973
Other Info: 

The launch event and private view on 21 April will include a live performance by Penelope Harrall, and the exhibition will be closing with a panel discussion on the artists’ respective approach to themes of social and political relevance on May Day, a date of pre-Christian significance more recently observed as Labour Day across the world.

Venue ( Address ): 

Hundred Years Gallery, 13 Pearson Street, London E2 8AJ

Hundred Years Gallery is a dynamic art space situated in Hoxton, East London supporting experimental and innovative art from London-based and international artists. The Gallery`s exhibitions programme is aimed at presenting a wide spectrum of contemporary art production with an emphasis on providing a platform for radical ideas and young or unrepresented artists. The space also provides opportunities for those in the arts to become part of our exhibition programme through annual open call and editions projects.

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