“Art is great and museums are a resource that you can’t find anywhere else. The Tate can’t suck up everything, people live in places other than London and Manchester. Welcome to our world and how terrible and wonderful it is.” – David Eliot, Curator, ‘Art From Elsewhere’, speaking at the private view 22 January 2016.
From Kara Walker’s hollow imagery of salvation and abandonment to the graphical sketch forms of Robert Smithson, the most recent exhibit to open at Eastbourne’s Towner Gallery is a whirligig of contemporary cultural truths and culturally varied perspectives on modern existence.
Tonally contrasting, each piece speaks of a personal view of hardship and enterprise with the combination of perspectives and modes of expression adding to the sensation of a catalogue of lives. The Towner is gaining a strong reputation for bold and vibrant programming – in itself a stimulating juxtaposition to the seemingly sleepy and elegant seaside town.
In fact, for those who have yet to discover it, the Towner itself is a delightful surprise: an award winning modernist building (designed by Rick Mather) squidged into a tiny plot alongside the more typical civic theatre and the presitgious tennis complex of the town. Three floors of gallery spaces, workshop areas and a stunning cafe, along with the architecture itself give the place a ‘hidden gem’ appeal.
‘Art from Elsewhere’ includes mixed media, video and sculpture alongside photography and paint by 26 internationally celebrated artists and runs from 23 Jan – 3 Apr 2016. Eastbourne is one of six galleries across Britain to host the Hayward Touring show which is being supported by the Art Fund. Entry is free.
Words by Louise Bloom
Private view photos by @avantphoto