Rachel Jones: say cheeeeese

Chisenhale Gallery is pleased to present say cheeeeese, a new commission by artist Rachel Jones and her first solo exhibition in an institution. Working with painting, installation and performance, Jones’ work examines ways of expressing that which can be seen and sensed rather than uttered. Jones’ oil pastel on canvas and paper works often repeat symbols, colours and textures, creating associative, even familial relationships between works varying in scale from the monumental to the hand-held and jewel-like.

For her Chisenhale Gallery commission, Jones develops her chosen materials of oil pastels and oil sticks to produce a new body of paintings on canvas and paper. Making architectural adaptations to the gallery, Jones’ exhibition creates new sightlines by the use of freestanding walls and by revealing all six of Chisenhale Gallery’s windows to allow daylight in, exposed in full for the first time since the 1980s. Additionally, Jones has produced a large-scale sticker on the exterior doors of the building, which welcomes passers-by and signals the importance of found imagery and music in her practice.

say cheeeeese builds on Jones’ previous work, repeating the motif of obscured teeth and the orifices that contain them. Only partially legible, these forms signal both a multitude of symbolic and literal entry points to the interior self. Jones’ new works extend the use of this now-familiar motif to incorporate bold, hand-drawn lines over dense blocks of colour. The shapes, marks and tones used by Jones in her new commission often clash and overlay, or sit uncomfortably side-by-side, creating differing perspectives. say cheeeeese invites the viewer to contemplate what emotional responses are assigned to a colour or a form, for example, to reconsider yellow’s association with happiness, and in so doing, to explore the possibility of myriad expressions that coexist simultaneously. 

As part of the commissioning process, Chisenhale Gallery has produced an accompanying publication Rachel Jones: say cheeeeese. This publication marks the inaugural book as part of our new publishing strand, Chisenhale Books. This unique publication, the artist’s first, features works by Jones and a new photo essay by the artist, alongside newly commissioned essays and contributions by poet and artist Anaïs Duplan; Chisenhale Gallery Senior Curator, Ellen Greig; curator and researcher Aïcha Mehrez; and poet, essayist, playwright, and MacArthur Fellow Claudia Rankine; with a foreword by Chisenhale Gallery Director, Zoé Whitley.

Jones’ exhibition commences Chisenhale Gallery’s Commissions Programme for 2022, which comprises three new exhibitions by artists Rachel Jones, Nikita Gale and Ayo Akingbade, and a new commission by the vacuum cleaner (James Leadbitter), which is produced in collaboration with curator and artist Caroline Moore, and the staff and young inpatients currently resident at The Coborn Centre for Adolescent Mental Health at Newham Centre for Mental Health, London.

Exhibition events
As part of the commissioning process, a programme of talks and events has been devised in collaboration with Rachel Jones, spanning the duration of the exhibition.

Chisenhale Crits with Mandy El-Sayegh
Saturday 19 March, 2pm
Artist and Chisenhale Gallery alumna Mandy El-Sayegh joins Peer Sessions (artists Kate Pickering and Charlotte Warne Thomas) inviting members of the public to share work-in-progress.

Rachel Jones in conversation with Sepake Angiama
Thursday 24 March, 7pm (onsite and online)
Rachel Jones is joined in conversation with curator and Iniva Artistic Director Sepake Angiama to discuss Jones’ new exhibition and wider practice.

Listening party 
Thursday 7 April, 7pm–9pm 
A drop-in listening event featuring a sonic response to Rachel Jones’ exhibition by rapper, songwriter and record producer MIKE. The sonic response will also be shared via a limited number of CDs available on the night. 

Reading group
Tuesday 3 May, 7pm (online)
Members of the Feminist Duration Reading Group deliver an online, out-loud reading group exploring shared themes between Rachel Jones’ Chisenhale commission and artist Hayv Karahman’s exhibition Gut Feelings at Mosaic Rooms, London. 

Outdoor family workshop
Saturday 28 May, 11am–1pm, 2pm–4pm
Artist Alicia Reyes McNamara leads a day of outdoor, drop-in, family art-making. The activities will start with a child-friendly guided tour of Rachel Jones' exhibition.

All events are free to attend, but booking is essential. Please visit chisenhale.eventbrite.co.uk or ask at the front desk to make a reservation. 

We are committed to ensuring our events are accessible for all.  Please contact max.jefcut@chisenhale.org.uk to discuss your access needs. We will endeavour to meet all requests where possible. Please be advised that requests should be made two weeks in advance of the event

Biography
Rachel Jones lives and works in London, UK. Selected exhibitions include SMIIIILLLLEEEE, Thaddeus Ropac gallery, London (2021); Mixing It Up Painting Today, Hayward Gallery (2021); Blessings Pon Blessings, Harlesden High Street (2021); A Focus on Painting, Thaddeus Ropac gallery, London; Rachel Jones & Nicholas Pope, The Sunday Painter, London; A Sovereign Mouth, 12.26, Dallas (all 2020); Red Shaped Mouths, The Chinati Foundation, Marfa; The Artist Dining Room | Faith Ringgold, Guest Projects, London (all 2019); Mad Dogs, Jupiter Woods, London; Winter in America III, Mom’s Favorite Space, Los Angeles; MYCO-TV, 7 Rue de Juvisy, Paris (all 2018.) 

say cheeeeese is commissioned and produced by Chisenhale Gallery.

Lead Exhibition Supporter: Thaddaeus Ropac gallery.

Headline Exhibition Supporter: Concrete Projects and The Clare McKeon Charitable Trust. Produced with support from the Chisenhale Gallery Commissions Fund. With additional support from Alexander V. Petalas.

The publication Rachel Jones: say cheeeeese is produced by Chisenhale Gallery in collaboration with Hurtwood and generously supported by Thaddaeus Ropac. With additional support from Chisenhale Books Founding Supporter Pamela J. Joyner.

Chisenhale Gallery’s Talks and Events Programme 2022 is supported by Brian Boylan.

Registered charity number: 1026175