THE ART OF REGENERATION
The Menier Gallery sits within the historic Menier Chocolate Factory. Located in the heart of one of London’s artistic hubs. It is just minutes walk from Tate Modern and Borough Market. On 26th April the Gallery hosted a private view of The Art of Regeneration exhibition. In response to the changing city landscape FocusLDN has brought together London's multicultural art scene to collaborate on a group show. It emphasized the connection between urban regeneration and culture. FocusLDN specialises in interdisciplinary events around the capital with a particular interest in bringing the arts and industry together. Most of all they ask how the transitional nature of London affects our past, present and future. This intangible cultural heritage is represented via an array of mixed media. From pen, ink and oils to large scale digital prints. The Art of Regeneration presents a collection of images synonymous with London’s identity.
Inspired by Battersea Power Station and London's industrial cityscape Gerard has created 3 large scale figurative pieces. 'City Ladder', 'Up-Lifting' and charcoal sketch 'Balance of Power'. The artist's interest in huge scale man made structures reaches as far as his childhood. As a boy he was admiring monstrous cranes in Dublin Docklands. Seems like Gerard's adolescence work as an electrician repairing Irish lighthouses and power generators in Australia consequently left imprinted in him the love for steel constructions.
Along Gerard Byrne's paintings the group exhibition featured artworks by: Thomas Cox, Patrick Blower, Alexandra Sivov, Mark Mulholland, Robyn Lister, John Brooks, Laurence Causse – Parsley, Su Wen Seah, Jonathan Gray, Clive Croft, Amy Bridges, Miranda Pissarides, Tim Hill, H.A.S, Yuliya V Krylova, Malcolm Willett and Billy Riley.
The Art of Regeneration opens to the public from Tuesday 26th to Saturday 30th April 2016 11am-6pm.
