Pop-up Contemporary Exhibition in Hampstead

This is one of the most unusual venues for a pop-up yet - a 17th Century National Trust property.

"Taking place at this elegant 17th century merchant’s house, Linear Collections is an exhibition of new drawings where Venetia has taken inspiration from the beautiful walled gardens at Fenton, studying arrangements of flowers and considering the way they are used as decoration within the house.  Her work has a modern twist as she looks at a traditional subject with fresh eyes.  During the exhibition, Venetia will also be holding two days of drop-in drawing workshops.
Fenton House is well-known as a collection of collections and the temporary installation of Norris’s exhibition enhances this theme.  As Norris has spent time in, and come to know, the gardens at Fenton, she has found inspiration in a wider range of plant forms including vegetables and fruit.  Rather than focusing on single blooms, she has been studying arrangements of flowers considering the way they are used within the house and further extending the garden’s decorative impact. 
Using directional light and accentuating tonal contrasts, Norris is now creating more dramatic images while continuing to develop the relationship between delicate harmony and the energetic excitement of ink or gold-leaf lines.    Many of Norris’s works make use of a restricted colour palette which allows her to explore tonal variation of line. 
Norris looks at a traditional subject with fresh eyes.  Although this exhibition focuses mostly on flowers and plants, the artist finds their shape and form more captivating than the subjects themselves. Coming from a resolutely feminine art history, flower depictions have been pursued and developed over the years, recently by such notable artists as Georgia O’Keefe and Dame Elizabeth Blackadder.  Norris has followed in their footsteps and her detailed studies focus on the intricate forms in nature, analysing their structures in a beautiful and mesmerising way. 
To coincide with the Open Garden Squares Weekend and Fenton’s Summer Tea Party, the artist will be holding a number of 30-45-minute drawing workshops on 4th and 9th June 2012 (these will be held at 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm on both days).  Materials will be provided.  Classes are free of charge but a donation is requested to contribute to the upkeep of the gardens."

When - 4th April - 1st July
(Events happening on 4th & 9th June)

Where - Fenton House and Garden, Hampstead Grove, London NW3 6SP

Map

Link - Venitia Norris