GSK CONTEMPORARY
A multidisciplinary
season of experimental art
Until 19 January 2009
6 Burlington Gardens
Piccadilly, London W1J 0BD
A multidisciplinary season of experimental art
Royal Academy of Arts, 6 Burlington Gardens
Supported by GlaxoSmithKline
Media Partner Time Out
This Autumn marks the beginning of the Royal Academy of Arts’ inaugural season of contemporary art. GSK Contemporary promises visitors a challenging line-up of experimental art and contemporary theatre to be enjoyed and debated within a stimulating, salon-style environment.
GSK Contemporary will feature more than 20 art exhibitions, 40 live events and 100 film screenings and be repeated over the next three winters. Supported by GlaxoSmithKline, the programme is complemented by a late-night art bar where live events will take place. This plus a pop-up, fine-dining restaurant called FLASH by hip, tongue-in-cheek outfit Bistrotheque will allow visitors to extend their visit into the evening and as late as midnight from Thursday to Saturday.
The programme is divided into two main parts:
Part 1: Molten States
31 October – 4 December 2008
Inspired by a series of dialogues between the critic Thomas Irmer, the dramatist René Pollesch and the artist Olaf Nicolai, Molten States examines the relationship between experimental theatre and contemporary art. This multi-media exhibition features work from four international artists known for their focus on film, theatre and narrative – Olaf Nicolai, René Pollesch, Julian Rosefeldt and Catherine Sullivan.
Part II: Collision Course
16 December 2008 – 19 January 2009
Conceived to react to the rich winter season of cold, dark bleakness, the second part of the season consists of three major elements: Sudden White (After London), Dark Materials and Burroughs Live. Collision Course will reveal an apocalyptic vision, including a tribute to the artistic legacy of William Burroughs, new work from the Frank Cohen Collection and artists’ film and video. A new film work from artist Malcolm McLaren, Shallow, will be shown alongside Burroughs Live. The 21 ‘film portraits’ that make up the work were inspired by Burroughs’ Cut Up technique.
Also launching during the season is Event Horizon, a dynamic programme of new commissions by major London-based artists. Performances, live music, film and installations will be featured alongside fashion art events and long weekends. Highlights of this 12-week programme include Georgina Starr, Bob and Roberta Smith, David Medalla, Spartacus Chetwynd and Marc Camille Chaimowicz. Event Horizon explores a trend in British contemporary art in which ‘sculpture becomes event’. In an installation by temporarycontemporary a late-night bar is open, serving drinks, cocktails and light snacks.
Throughout the entire run of the season, work by artists Antony Micallef, Rémy Markowitsch and Maya Roos will be installed in the grand entrance hall of 6 Burlington Gardens and the surrounding ground floor galleries.
GSK Contemporary also sees Pablo & David of Bistrotheque swap the East End for Mayfair to open their second pop-up restaurant, FLASH. FLASH will be a room within a room, an installation within an exhibition, but most of all a cool and buzzy restaurant in the heart of London. To find out more and book visit www.bookflashnow.com.
Royal Academy of Arts, 6 Burlington Gardens
Piccadilly, London W1J 0BD
www.royalacademy.org.uk/gskcontemporary
Opening times
Sunday and Monday 12noon-10pm
Tuesday and Wednesday 12noon-6pm
Thursday, Friday and Saturday 12noon-12midnight
Closed 24 and 25 December
Tickets
To book in advance visit www.royalacademy.org.uk/gskcontemporary
or call +44 (0)8716 20 40 20
