Ah Yes, But Is It Art?
by Joe Ambrose, Literary Editor (2005-2018)
first published: April, 2005
first published: April, 2005
The highlight of the night was the Ivan the Terrible cocktail.
The London gallery scene may not be as on the edge as Manhattan's. It may not be as stuffed full of 20th Century classics as the working museums of Paris. London is home to a hugely lucrative and glitzy art universe which gave the world the cultural dog's dinner that is Brit Art, a universe where celebrity glamour and money mix freely with artists and art dealers.
London art reflects the huge confluences of class and race which make the city work. Many of the significant galleries are clustered around discreet Mayfair backwaters off Cork Street and Bond Street. In between the galleries you find top-drawer fashion outlets like the Gucci and Ralph Lauren stores. This reminds one, painfully, of the fundamental connection between art, commerce, and fashion. You have no business showing up for a reception at an important gallery in that neck of the woods unless you possess a handful of Paul Smith or Armani garments or, alternatively, know how to look on top of the world in rags or, alternatively, are jailbait.
I get invited to about fifteen openings a month and make it to two or three. The Timothy Taylor Gallery parties are typical. Taylor has art taste. There was a remarkable Sean Scully party, attended by the artist, and an equally fine display of early unseen work by Lucian Freud. I don't drink but I'm told that Taylor serves bad wine. This doesn't stop the great and the good from showing up. Taylor is married into the Royal Family - you sometimes see him in the papers making his way to Prince William or Prince Harry-hosted festivities. Taylor represents Willem de Kooning and Philip Guston.
The smartest opening this year was for a Robert Mapplethorpe show at the newish Alison Jacques Gallery (www.alisonjacquesgallery.com). Jacques, a denizen of the Groucho Club (which used to be London's Number One private members media hangout) is a savvy veteran of the Mayfair/Soho art world. She had a heavy duty PR firm on hand for an event attended by David Hockney, who curated this rather pedestrian selection from the dead photographer's work. Uri Geller, Brian Ferry, and the awful Salaman Rushdie kept the paparazzi happy. The highlight of the night was the Ivan the Terrible cocktail, a mixture of vodka, honey water and lemon juice with a dash of cinnamon. Hockney promoted the show by, mysteriously, giving press interviews in which he conducted a polemic against photography, arguing that digital cameras finally expose the naive nature of its claim to truth. (That said, I've seen more photographs of Iggy Pop than is good for a man - I wrote a book about him - and, yet, Mapplethorpe's Iggy portrait remains brutally direct and confrontational.)
The reception at Gimpel Fils (www.gimpelfils.com) for some deliberately dishonest photography by Edwin Zwakman was a civilised laid back event peopled by friendly, if somewhat entre nous, young rich folks all dressed in black as if the men were priests and the women were defrocked nuns. I think they think black looks chic. I think they're wrong. I think they have more money than taste. The Gimpels have been at this game a long long time. They're now fourth generation art dealers, having started in Paris when the great grandfather sold, amongst others, Renoir. The London gallery was founded in 1946 by brothers Charles and Peter Gimpel. In the 50s and 60s they were associated with the avant-garde, giving Lynn Chadwick and Anthony Caro their first exhibitions, alongside exhibitions of Marcel Duchamp and Yves Klein.
Joe Ambrose
Literary Editor (2005-2018)
Joe Ambrose wrote 14 books, including Chelsea Hotel Manhattan and The Fenian Reader. Joe sadly passed away in 2018. Visit Joe's website which was completed just before his passing, for more info: JoeAmbrose.co.uk.
about Joe Ambrose »»
The highlight of the night was the Ivan the Terrible cocktail.
the weekly guide to new releases
10 clickable things
☉ What can elephants, birds, and flamenco players teach a neuroscientist-composer about music? ☉
BOYCOTT University Challenge ☉
Bruce's Beach. Reparations really, or what? (NYT) ☉
Drag Shows are banned ☉
QPR: Promotion push to relegation fight, 474,000 a week losses and a rescue mission ☉
How to talk like a Chelsea coach ☉
De La Soul Streaming at Last (Gothamist) ☉
Why 1997 Changed Everything (NYT) ☉
Robert Forster: why Venus by Television is the most perfect song of all time (Guardian) ☉
Magentaverse ☉
RECENT STORIES
Adventures in the archives
RANDOM READS
What Readers are Reading Right Now
- Big Dog Training
A new poem by Wayne Dean-Richards - A Matter of Life and Death
'Momento Mori' is Depeche Mode's best record in a very long time. - Ancient Champion: Early Encounter with the Bard
I can't remember the last time there was an Ancient Champion column - Outsideleft Week in Music... Counting on Lloyd/Bean
We're hearing from... Lloyd/Bean, Swans, Modern Cosmology, Nuha Ruby Ra, The Damned, Eater, Tape Runs Out, Elita, Bloody Bananas, Resurrectionists, Librarians with Hickeys, Jimin, The Ironsides, Darkplace, Richard Norris, Hannah Jagadu, Secret Machines, Forty Feet Tall and Baby Jake - Is It All About Feeding Bono's Ego At This Point
When does U2 realize that the best thing for it is a calm, dignified hiatus? - Forty Years On: Dazzle Ships
Bedazzled: Jay celebrates OMD's finest album - Storied Walnuts
The Story of Chantal Pitts' Outsideleft Short Story Competition Trophies - In a league of their own - the beginnings of British Electric Foundation
Music for Stowaways: How BEF became your BFF - Is Indie Pop Alive and Kicking?
Tim Sparks asks Indie Pop band The Resolve to give us the answer... - A Soundtrack for Stanford
Jay Lewis marvels at Senestra's compelling debut
All About and Contributors
HELP OUTSIDELEFT
Outsideleft exists on a precarious no budget budget. We are interested in hearing from deep and deeper pocket types willing to underwrite our cultural vulture activity. We're not so interested in plastering your product all over our stories, but something more subtle and dignified for all parties concerned. Contact us and let's talk. [HELP OUTSIDELEFT]
WRITE FOR OUTSIDELEFT
If Outsideleft had arms they would always be wide open and welcoming to new writers and new ideas. If you've got something to say, something a small dank corner of the world needs to know about, a poem to publish, a book review, a short story, if you love music or the arts or anything else, write something about it and send it along. Of course we don't have anything as conformist as a budget here. But we'd love to see what you can do. Write for Outsideleft, do. [SUBMISSIONS FORM HERE]
WRITERS thru' the Years
Alan Devey, Alan Rider, Alex V. Cook, Ancient Champion, Andy Allison, Annemiek, Belle Plankton, Bruce Bailey, Caiomhin Millar, Chantal, Cheiron Coelho, Chris Connolly, Christian Present, Damon Hayhurst, Dan Breen, David Hackney, Denni Boyd, Dirty Lillie, DJ Fuzzyfelt, Dr. Richard Bennett, Duncan Jones, Erin, Erin Pipes, Erin Scott, Gracey Babs, Graham Baker, Guilaine Arts, H.xx, Hamilton High, Henderson Downing, Holly Martins, J. Charreaux, Jay Lewis, Jaycentee, Jennifer Lynn, Jenny McCann, Jeremy Gluck, Jez Collins, Joe Ambrose, John Robinson, Julie O, Karl Morgan, Katherine Pargeter, Kelsey Osgood, Kevin McHugh, Lake, Lee Paul, Luke Skinner, Malcolm, Marek Pytel, Mark Piggott, Meave Haughey, Michelle Williams, mindy strouse, Neil Campbell, Neil Scott, Ogglypoogly, OL House Writer, Pam, Paul Hawkins, Paul Quigley, Peter Williams, Pixie McMowat, Pixievic, Rene Williams, Rick Casson, Ronan Crinion, Ruby Lake, Ryan 'RJO' Stewart, Samantha Charles, Seth Sherwood, Shane O'Reilly, Sheridan Coyle, Sofia Ribeiro Willcox, Sophia Satchell-Baeza, Spanish Pantalones, Speedie John, Spencer Kansa, Steve McCarthy, The Conversation, Tim London, Tim Sparks, Toon Traveller, Wayne Dean-Richards, and founders, Alarcon & LamontpaulWEEK IN MUSIC
OUTSIDELEFT UNIVERSE
outsideleft content is not for everyone