February 21 2005, Monday, 10am-6pm (continues until February 26 2005, Saturday, 10am-6pm)

OVER SIX DOZEN DRAWINGS, PAINTINGS & SCULPTURES BY EIGHT YOUNG ARTISTS: AFFLICK, BASED IN ESSEX; DAVIES, WHO HAS EXHIBITED IN SOUTH AFRICA; EARLY, FROM CORK; HARRINGTON, ALSO FROM CORK & WHO HAS EXHIBITED IN HARARE; SOUTH AFRICAN BORN & TRAINED DANCER, HIPPE; KALDOWSKI, FROM POLAND AND CURRENTLY BASED IN TOOTING; MIDDLETON AND, FROM PAKISTAN, SHEIKH

This is the last week of, “Hard Bodies,” exhibition, which has been on at the Arndean Gallery for the last two weeks. Why the name, “Hard Bodies?” Well, according to the press release - which we picked up at the first of the event’s two opening receptions, earlier this month – the exhibition includes work which: is Hard to create; portrays Hard men and Hardened women and makes you think Hard! So, who are the artists – who we tried hard to meet, when we visited, and what of their works? Well, there are eight of them – selected by the curator of Corpus Fine Art, James Fitzpatrick, who found the artists by seeing and liking over 80 of their painted, drawn and sculptured works. Going alphabetically, we start with John Afflick. This artist has works ranging from only £100 up to £5,400. According to the release, Afflick, ‘paints realistic representational work using traditional techniques which echo the work of old masters but with modern topics.’ Moving on, ornamental blacksmith and sculptor, Alex Davies – based at an Essex foundry, with works on show ranging from £900 up to £3,250, ‘developed his own technique for working in steel – carving shapes with a flame-cutting torch, then sanding and polishing parts to reveal a form.’ In the past, he has exhibited in South Africa, and told us an interesting story about the type of steel he uses. See he works, when you visit, and find out more! Chloe Early, originally from Cork, but now based in Canonbury, ‘is a painter whose work examines the female presence in the urban landscape and the relationship between the individual and her exterior development.’ Early’s works range from £700 up to £1,800. As you might guess, when you visit, Early has done the large painting of Canonbury tube station, which is on your left, after you enter the gallery, half way down Cork Street. Her boyfriend, Conor Harrington - who is also from Cork, ‘has produced a series of archetypal portraits of a young male whose image has been reproduced on walls around the world.’ His works have even been seen at an exhibition, as far away as Harare (Zimbabwe), but you can see his current works much closer to home… they range in price from £700 up to £3,000. South African born. Susan Hippe, who is a trained dancer, is exhibiting works from £600 up to £1,750. She, ‘often combines drawing with mixed media/collage, incorporating more unusual media – either as support or collage material – such as cosmetic pads and coffee filters.’
 

Mariusz Kaldowski, currently based in Tooting, is a graduate from the well-respected Krakov Fine Art Academy, in Poland, and has his own website (see below). He, ‘uses a variety of media to juxtapose vividly-expressed faces and figures with words and symbols.’ His prices range from £600 up to £2,250. Nicholas Middleton, with works in the £750 to £1,300 price range, ‘produces photo-realistic images in oils and lightboxes – focusing on people in everyday settings.’ Finally, Saqib Sheikh, ‘has produced a range of work drawing on the iconic imagery of Leonardo da Vinci.’ His works range from £500 up to £1,000. Needless to say, plenty to see! So, go along and discover more about the artists, and their fine works - ‘contemporary representations of the human form,’ which is what the organising gallery, Corpus Fine Art, specialises in. Their next show opens next month (at the Menier Chocolate Factory Gallery) but – we think - it will be on a smaller scale than the current one, which is housed on two floors of a Cork Street art gallery. The show in March will feature paintings and drawings by only four artists. So, get along now – in the current exhibition’s last week, and discover eight artists and their six dozen-plus fine drawings, paintings and sculptures – all at reasonable prices - from what, must be, a veritable well of talent! We read also, that, ten per cent of Corpus’ profits will go to support the work of three charities: Action Aid; Amnesty International and Widows and Orphans International. Another reason to buy one of the works this week!
^MENU A: Free
B: 8, 9, 14, 19, 22 or 38
E: curator: (see corpus-fine-art.com website) / artists: conorharry@hotmail.com (Conor); clo186@hotmail.com (Chloe) & mkaldowski@hotmail.com (Mariusz)
L: Arndean Gallery, 23 Cork Street, London, W1
N: 0777 462 4011
T: Green Park (Jubilee, Piccadilly and Victoria lines).
W: http://www.actionaid.org/
http://www.amnesty.org/
http://www.corpus-fine-art.com/
http://www.kaldowskigallery.co.uk/
http://www.worphan.org/
X: http://www.howtoenjoy.co.uk/counties_ireland/cork.htm
http://www.howtoenjoy.co.uk/interests/art_fine.htm
 

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