C-R-A-C-K predominantely red

We from the Hackney Empire Theatre's Marie Lloyd Bar are pleased to announce our first self-curated group art exhibition featuring the works of five artists namely Marco Sanges, Nick Pollen, Sona Davis & Keiko Yamazaki, Hollie de Pledge and Michal Iwanovski . Alongside the exhibited works a special slide show of artworks by 20 other artists will be shown on the main stage wall of the Marie Lloyd Bar.

The opening party will be held on Wednesday, 13 th May from 6pm transforming the Marie Lloyd Bar into an event in which the art, live performance and audience merge together into an artful organism.

The entry is free of charge and all are welcome.

The exhibition approaches the theme C-R-A-C-K predominantly red from five different angles creating a colorful, dark, erotic and mysterious landscape in which the viewer joyfully gets lost.

The title of the exhibition is based on a Cracking Night Out, a stage production at the Hackney Empire Theatre, 6 June 2009. For more info: www.underblingandvow.co.uk and www.myspace.com/crackingnightout

Artists
Marco Sanges
Nick Pollen
Shona Davis & Keiko Yamazaki
Hollie de Pledge
Michal Iwanowski

Event Team
Jay & Tim

Launch Party
WEDNESDAY 13 MAY 6PM

Featuring live music from an improvised collective of nonsensical musicians brought together only for the reason of playing the launch party and the debut of DJ Nancy.

Hackney Empire Theatre
Marie Lloyd Bar
291 Mare Street
London E8 1EJ

www.hackneyempire.co.uk
marielloyd@hackneyempire.co.uk

Press Release
eFlyer

The Artists

Marco Sanges

Marco is an imaginative and innovative photographer who has exhibited worldwide. Marco's clients include Vogue, Sunday Telegraph, Trace, Elle, Creative Review, Downtown, The Pozytyv, Zoom, Head, B&W Photo, Katalog, Dolce&Gabbana, Eyemazing. Books include: Circumstances,Venus, Wild, and Erotic Photography. Previous exhibitions include: 'Savile Row' at B-Store, 'Purity' at Cobden Club, 'Hidden Light' at ICI and 'Enigma' at Arte Fiera, Jonathan Cooper Park Walk Gallery, British Art Fair, Art London. Awards include Best Art Film at the Portobello Film Festival 2008 for the short Circumstances. The trailer can be viewed at http://www.myspace.com/marcosanges

Nick Pollen

Nick Pollen’s painting is based on both contemporary and historic sources and is primarily focused on the role of memory. Painters who engage with photography such as Anselm Kiefer and Gerhard Richter can be evidenced in his work. Furthermore, Nick Pollen is influenced by the theories within social and biological science. This union of research has resulted in a succession of work ranging from cartoon narratives to portraits of actors performing the role of iconic artists.

The work on display at C-R-A-C-K began with Nick Pollen’s fascination with how photographic images are created through a series of chemical reactions. The alchemic nature of a darkroom harks back to the traditional painter’s studio, where pigments would be produced from the raw materials available using the chemical knowledge available. In this work, the darkroom is allied to the ‘dark arts’ and the formation of imagery takes on a cautionary tale pertinent to the ease in which information is now transmitted within our physical and virtual environments.

Shona Davis & Keiko Yamazaki

Keiko and Shona have been collaborating since 2007. They are interested in the unconscious and in this work have explored a series of recurring dreams that have haunted each of them since childhood. They have created an animation that recreates the essence of each of the dreams and the images encapsulate the fascination and fantasy, the intensity of focus and the ferocity of feeling. They recall the hazy narrative to each dream and present these as scenes in a theatrical performance.

Theirs is a savage uncertain world, full of threats and where even the sumptuousness of the strawberries is tainted and spoils the sensory treat we associate with such luscious fruits. The drama lies in the richness of colour, the form and detail.

Hollie de Pledge

Hollie is currently studying on the MA Interior and Spatial Design Course at Chelsea College of Art and Design. She graduated with a BA (Hons) in Fine Art Degree at Winchester School of Art in July 2009.

In her Work and continual art practice Hollie investigates the notion of home and dwelling. She discovered a derelict cottage in Suffolk. Nature had begun to take control and by scraping back the ever growing ivy she stepped into the cottage and breathed life into the once loved home. The peeling wallpaper contained layers of secrets trapped in time but with gradual archaeological visits Hollie awakened the cottage and created her own existence and memories there. Hollie built an imaginative and physical connection preserving its life through her poems, photographic work and art installations; it is never to be forgotten.

Michal Iwanowski

Michal is an MFA photographer working and living in Wales. In his practice Michal addresses the complexities of individual experiences within a larger social context. From existential questions of loss and mourning, through daily anxieties, and to celebration of raptures - He photographs people involved in their private realities, contributing to a larger picture of the sate of human society. Using very long exposures and a torch as the only source of light, Michal bases his technique upon the principles of painting - a process which creates a unique and intimate connection between the subject and himself, allowing a great insight into the usually concealed personas. Michal's work has been recently published in 'Source' and 'British Journal Of Photography'.