Wednesday 10 October 2012

Weds 10th Oct: V1 GALLERY & THE HOLE PRESENTS: MATTHEW STONE AT THE HOUSE OF THE NOBLEMAN

















A day ahead the official opening of Frieze Art Fair in London, "New Re-Visions" launched at Neo Bankside - a gallery in the top floor pent house apartments over looking the Tate Modern and stunning Southbank river view.  I headed down to see Matthew Stone's selection in the group show which fitted neatly into the space with its vast wooden floors as the angular sculptures slotted into corners of the triangular window facets.  Here you can see the photographic 3D works alongside hanging canvases of his trademark abstract portraits portraying tonal harmonies of human skin with sweeps of his additional pastel colour palette complimenting the curves.  His London crew turned out in full force to represent and inspect the works to detect which limb or soft slice of flesh may belong to them e.g  Phoebe Collings James and Sean Frank  (seen above and also in the current issue of Vogue shot by Daniel Jackson).  After the initial cordial protocol of private views, the proceedings turned into a mini penthouse party with Matthew Josephs spinning a soundtrack inspiring an impromptu limbo dance session.  Not an example of your regular art opening, but then Matthew Stone isn't your regular artist!
Watch Matthew's latest film for Channel 4 "Random Acts" above 'EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE' - a visual manifesto-cum-music video encapsulating the importance of his own definition of optimism from acts of kindness.
"Everything is Possible & Love Changes Everything.  Looking back now it had become clear to me that we are still able to credibly speak about love. A love that finds its feet in a kindness that is more powerful than violence. A love that's mystery lies in a type of beauty that is beyond the body & that dwarfs the things that you can buy."
(Top to bottom:  Matthew, Sean & Phoebe, Carri & Rich, Matthew & IsaGT, Theo & Ashleigh, William Richard Green & Daryoush Haj-Najafi & Craig Lawrence)

No comments: