Trips to the Hauser & Wirth, Somerset galleries provided inspiration for our artists this term...

Flickr album: Art Trips to Hauser & Wirth - Easter Term 2023 | Height: auto | Theme: Default | Skin: Default Skin

As we swing into spring, our 3^rd, 4^th & 6^th Form artists had the chance to venture out of the classroom to experience for themselves the latest Hauser & Wirth Somerset’s exhibitions during the Easter term. This season’s double bill includes the much anticipated ‘The New Bend’ exhibition travelling from the gallery’s Los Angeles location to Somerset, bringing together 13 contemporary artists working in the traditions of quilting and textile practice. Alongside Canadian artist Rodney Graham’s poignant exhibition, ‘Getting it Together in the Country’.

Both these exhibitions provided a welcome source of inspiration to kick start several thematic projects across each year group. ‘The New Bends’ exhibition curated by Legacy Russell, brings all the collaborators together to tell the story of the ‘Quilts of the Gee’s Bend’. This exhibition acknowledges the work of Gee’s Bend quilters such as Sarah Benning (b. 1933), Missouri Pettway (1902-1981), Lizzie Major (1922-2011), and so many more, as central to expanded histories of abstraction and modernism.

Our artists were able to explore the ‘Gee’s Bend’ legacy both in their technical approach and aesthetic designs. As we set the challenge for pupils to record the abstract and expressive modes of cutting, stitching, splicing, and performative elements articulated in this exhibition. Our aim was to allow pupils to investigate and encourage pupils to take inspiration from the array of subject matter and textiles technique to enrich their own creative practice.

In contrast, Rodney Graham’s exhibition, presents the artist's expansive practice in the form of large-scale lightboxes that truly immerse the viewer in a series of multi-layered, performative, and witty worlds of the artist. During the 1980’s Graham was part of the Vancouver School of Photography taught by the renowned artist, Jeff Wall, celebrated for his cinematographic style. In Graham’s photographic work, each image is a fictional self-portrait, with the artist in costume, but always recognisable, portraying a vast array of characters. From the props and their placement within the frame to the elaborate costumes and stage sets.

Graham’s work provides a fantastic source of inspiration as we encourage pupils to consider ways they could alter their own appearance or identity. To make the most of working from a first-hand source, we gave time for a creative drawing activity, with the focus on combining three elements extracted from Graham’s works, to create their own responses to changing appearances. The level of detail and information within Graham’s work was incredible. By working on both sides of the lens he is able to manufacture each scene in a hyper realistic style. Graham presents a series of playful self-portraits produced over a prolonged period that allows himself time to inhabit and change his appearance with conviction. His work challenges us to look closely and examine how we consume and interpret imagery, whilst asking us to explore our own sense of identity. 

A huge thank you to Briony Brickell (Associate Director of Learning at Hauser & Wirth, Somerset), and the team for making us feel most welcome. Our pupils thoroughly enjoyed the guided tours with the opportunity to gain further insights into themes, context, and ideas behind relevant artworks.   

George Cole - Art Teacher