TEXT : PAIGE CRONIN , PHOTOGRAPHY : PAIGE CRONIN , TONY RAY JONES COURTESY OF © NATIONAL MEDIA MUSEUM
EXHIBITIONREVIEWS
Michael O ’ Connell : The Lost Modernist Place : The Gibberd Gallery Date : 15 / 11 / 2013 For the first time in Britain , the work of the internationally acclaimed textile artist Michael O ’ Connell is being shown in the Gibberd Gallery in Essex . The retrospective charts O ’ Connells work throughout his life , showcasing his abstract prints , vibrant colours and sharp lines that saw him become one of the most influential textile artists of his time . The show includes large wall hangings , clothing and hand written notes and sketches . The notebooks added a personal touch to the exhibition and showed the thought and depth that went into developing the prints , they look as though they were impulsive and abstract , however the notebooks show the thought and passion that went into them . You can clearly see the various inspirations behind the prints , which include aboriginal art , african culture and the London underground . The exhibition showcases the designers abstract printing style , containing narratives and inspiration from various cultures and intricate techniques such as a combination of batik and resist dyeing . O ’ Connells work is eclectic , innovative and the narratives within them moved with the
Only In England Place : The Sceince Museum - The Media Space Date : 10 / 11 / 2013 “ Eccentricity is a quality the British prize above other ”, a quote by Tony Ray-Jones that I believe truly sums up the current exhibition of his work in The Media Space of The Science Museum . The space featured more than 100 photographs , some previously unseen and many chosen by fellow photographer and fan of Ray-Jones , Martin Parr . Tony Ray-Jones had an interest in comedy and this shows throughout his images , he portrays bizarre social interactions through his work and I found that it takes more than your first glance to see the disconnected narratives layered up in the photos . The exhibition is full of quirky observations of British life , people miserably watching punch and Judy shows , men on a freezing cold beach sprawled over deck chairs wearing their finest suit , the typical British summer , and our eternal love of a good cup of tea . His work portrays melancholy in everyday life , peppered with humour and joy ; it presents quirky English customs and traditions that seem a lifetime away . There is a sincere truth to his images , which is something I really liked . As well as portraits , there are also cabinets containing Ray-Jones ’ collections of self critical notes to avoid making his photos boring and cliché , hand written reading lists of books
on British culture and a compilation of postcards from seaside towns which inspired his photography . The exhibition truly shows the British in all their eccentricity ! The exhibition runs until March 2014 and then shows at the National Media Museum , Bradford and is just £ 5 for
students !
BLACKPOOL , 1968
BEACHY HEAD BAOT TRIP , 1967
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