Blood event April 2006 - Courtauld Institute East Wing Collection
Jung Lee, School of English (Series of 8), 2005, 720 x 510 mm, light jet print
Courtesy of the artist
Culture Bound, Courtauld Institute
Wednesday 26 April
7pm-8.30pm
>7pm-8.30: Tour of Culture Bound, Courtauld Institute
Somerset House, Strand, WC2R 0RN
eastwingcollection.org.uk
We will meet at the main entrance under the arches, second door on your left just by the bookshop.
The Courtauld Institute is well known for its art history education and its collections of late 19th and early 20th century European paintings and drawings. Its contemporary art programme is much less publicised, which we think is a bit of a hidden gem…so this month’s Blood event brings you contemporary art at the Courtauld.
When the Courtauld moved to Somerset House in 1992, Courtauld student Joshua Compston set up The East Wing Collection to bring contemporary art into the daily life of the Institute and onto its walls. Now a biennial event, it is still organised and curated entirely by undergraduate art history students. With no budget and having to manage everything themselves, the students have brought together artists such as Gavin Turk, Jeremy Deller, Oleg Kulik and Marinne Hugonnier alongside commissioning two of the works by Chris Kenny and Michael Takeo-Magruder.
The seventh East Wing Collection, Culture Bound reflects a growing awareness of the restrictions of cultural identity. The works of nearly forty national and international artists merge or re-visit with their own contemporary and cultural identity in the communal spaces and seminar rooms of this canonical 18th century building.
Nicolas Dubois, one of the curators, introduced us to the show. Starting with videos, he led us through the entire building as the work is displayed throughout the corridors, lecture rooms and offices of the Institute. He spoke eloquently of the curatorial challenge to put contemporary works into what can be challenging existing spaces such as period rooms and narrow corridors.
>8.30: Bar, One Aldwych
Strand, WC2B 4RH
onealdwych.co.uk
Named one of the top five hotel bars in the world by the Sunday Telegraph. Stunning double height space with original contemporary sculptures. Serious cocktails. Delectable bar food. Brilliant buzz.
Please note:
This is one of many art events organised by Blood in the past.
Blood events are by invite only and RSVP is essential. Blood members have priority on the guest list. You can only RSVP from your own personal invite sent to you by email. Become a Blood member today to receive your invite.