Surprise
Public Art Group Show guest-curated for Somers Gallery
14th -21st October 2023
Numerous locations across Somers Town: Chalton St; Phoenix Rd; The Cock Tavern & Local Corner Shop facades;
Oakshott Court Facade & Green Space.
Numerous locations across Somers Town: Chalton St; Phoenix Rd; The Cock Tavern & Local Corner Shop facades;
Oakshott Court Facade & Green Space.
Just as mosaics preserve their majesty despite their fragmentation into capricious particles,
so philosophical contemplation is not lacking in momentum.
Walter Benjamin, The Origin of German Tragic, 1928
so philosophical contemplation is not lacking in momentum.
Walter Benjamin, The Origin of German Tragic, 1928
Surprise is a site-specific Public Art group show developed for Somers Town. Enveloped within hectic Euston and Kings X, Somers Town is a bliss arising from the enduring bond of the community. Showcasing artworks by 10 early-career talents, the exhibition forms an art trail along Chalton St and Phoenix Rd, opening up a dialogue with the local social housing estates, convenience shop and pub. Inspired by genuineness and humility of the local area, Surprise meditates on the concept of Phenomenological Treatise.
Deliberately lacking uninterrupted purposeful framework, Treatise is a circular flow of contemplations on the things of the world. Zooming in and out a phenomenon, this process is a pausing for breath, a timeless infinite spacing free from definitions. It is a chance, an offering from the World to step back to notice, observe and appreciate simple habitual details and diverse levels of meanings. Once taking this chance, One is gifted the greatest Surprise of the World – an invitation to merge with genuine, unconditional intercorporeity of the We-world.
A bright particle of the Big Smoke mosaics, Somers Town is an intricate patchwork on its own. Its pattern is stitched from contrasts of soulful sentiments of heart-warming locals and loyal enthusiasts; joyful rhythms of period chimneys and brutalist platforms; captivating charms of green oases and deserted ruins. It is a Surprise which One is lucky to discover once they take the courage to divert from the haste on the Big Smoke.
Deliberately lacking uninterrupted purposeful framework, Treatise is a circular flow of contemplations on the things of the world. Zooming in and out a phenomenon, this process is a pausing for breath, a timeless infinite spacing free from definitions. It is a chance, an offering from the World to step back to notice, observe and appreciate simple habitual details and diverse levels of meanings. Once taking this chance, One is gifted the greatest Surprise of the World – an invitation to merge with genuine, unconditional intercorporeity of the We-world.
A bright particle of the Big Smoke mosaics, Somers Town is an intricate patchwork on its own. Its pattern is stitched from contrasts of soulful sentiments of heart-warming locals and loyal enthusiasts; joyful rhythms of period chimneys and brutalist platforms; captivating charms of green oases and deserted ruins. It is a Surprise which One is lucky to discover once they take the courage to divert from the haste on the Big Smoke.
About the Artists
Luke Andrew
Andrew is a Glasgow-based artist graduated from Glasgow School of Art in 2021. Selected shows: [in]visible city (UKMAS, 2021); Get Liminal (The Old Police Station, 2019).
Kelly Ewing
Ewing graduated from Chelsea College of Arts. Recent exhibitions: PORTAL [SIDH ALA EZE] (P×ssy Palace, 2023); Revenge of the Real (Hampton Wick, 2021); Hot Air (BAD ART, 2021).
Sam Ge
Ge has recently completed an MFA as Slade School of Fine Art. Selected shows: Stone Art, (Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts, 2019); Geometry Aggregation (Hotel Cloud Lofi, 2018).
Damian Linossi
Linossi is a recent MFA graduate of Goldsmiths University. Recent shows: XV Premio Nacional de Pintura Banco Central (Buenos Aires, 2022); Margia Delay (BIENAL SUR, 2021).
Sana Iqbal Qutb
Qutb has recently completed an MFA as Slade School of Fine Art. Selected exhibitions: Squeeze at Barbican arts group trust (London, 2023); Lambing season (Worlding, 2023).
Chloe Rochefort
Rochefort is a London-based artist graduated from RCA in MA Textiles. Recent shows: Unpuzzled (Gallery No 32, 2023); Craftspace: In:site (Festival, 2022).
Katie Surridge
Surridge is a recent MFA graduate of Goldsmiths University. Recent exhibitions: New Contemporaries (London, 2022); Wells Art Contemporary (Wells, 2022).
Valentino Vannini
Vannini is a recent City & Guilds MA Fine Art graduate. Selected shows: Peckham Platform (London, 2016); Candid Art Trust (London, 2015).
Chen Yang
Yang is a Central Saint Martins graduate based in London. Selected exhibitions: The thin metal is going through my left ear hole, (LUX Art, 2022); The desire to repeat (Himalayan Art Museum, 2021).
Diana Zrnic
Zrnic is an MFA graduate of Goldsmiths University. Recent exhibitions: Echoes of Belonging (The Bomb Factory Foundation, 2023); ROSL, RBA Rising Stars (2022); Hold on (Stone Space, 2022); Radical Residency (Unit 1 Gallery|Workshop, 2022).
Luke Andrew
Andrew is a Glasgow-based artist graduated from Glasgow School of Art in 2021. Selected shows: [in]visible city (UKMAS, 2021); Get Liminal (The Old Police Station, 2019).
Kelly Ewing
Ewing graduated from Chelsea College of Arts. Recent exhibitions: PORTAL [SIDH ALA EZE] (P×ssy Palace, 2023); Revenge of the Real (Hampton Wick, 2021); Hot Air (BAD ART, 2021).
Sam Ge
Ge has recently completed an MFA as Slade School of Fine Art. Selected shows: Stone Art, (Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts, 2019); Geometry Aggregation (Hotel Cloud Lofi, 2018).
Damian Linossi
Linossi is a recent MFA graduate of Goldsmiths University. Recent shows: XV Premio Nacional de Pintura Banco Central (Buenos Aires, 2022); Margia Delay (BIENAL SUR, 2021).
Sana Iqbal Qutb
Qutb has recently completed an MFA as Slade School of Fine Art. Selected exhibitions: Squeeze at Barbican arts group trust (London, 2023); Lambing season (Worlding, 2023).
Chloe Rochefort
Rochefort is a London-based artist graduated from RCA in MA Textiles. Recent shows: Unpuzzled (Gallery No 32, 2023); Craftspace: In:site (Festival, 2022).
Katie Surridge
Surridge is a recent MFA graduate of Goldsmiths University. Recent exhibitions: New Contemporaries (London, 2022); Wells Art Contemporary (Wells, 2022).
Valentino Vannini
Vannini is a recent City & Guilds MA Fine Art graduate. Selected shows: Peckham Platform (London, 2016); Candid Art Trust (London, 2015).
Chen Yang
Yang is a Central Saint Martins graduate based in London. Selected exhibitions: The thin metal is going through my left ear hole, (LUX Art, 2022); The desire to repeat (Himalayan Art Museum, 2021).
Diana Zrnic
Zrnic is an MFA graduate of Goldsmiths University. Recent exhibitions: Echoes of Belonging (The Bomb Factory Foundation, 2023); ROSL, RBA Rising Stars (2022); Hold on (Stone Space, 2022); Radical Residency (Unit 1 Gallery|Workshop, 2022).
About Somers Gallery
Somers Gallery is dedicated to showcasing current art practices by international artists at our gallery space, off-site and online. Somers Gallery is the successor of Chalton Gallery 2015/2021.
Somers Gallery is dedicated to showcasing current art practices by international artists at our gallery space, off-site and online. Somers Gallery is the successor of Chalton Gallery 2015/2021.