Salon Contemporary
Salon Contemporary was opened in 2006 by curator Samir Ceric, in London, England. It is a platform for recent graduates of UK art schools to show their works. The annual programme includes: a selection of artists from across the three years of the gallery's lifetime who operate exclusively with the gallery; a summer show, designed to showcase graduates of the previous year; and, various solo shows.
The gallery's operations include an apprenticeship programme for aspiring curators, and the placing of art work in off-site locations. Art work displayed includes painting, photography, video art, performance art, sculpture, and alternative art. In subject matter they cover a broad spectrum from culture clash to political and social commentary.
The gallery was the site of controversy in 2008 when British Muslim visual artist Sarah Maple exhibited work deemed "offensive" to Muslims. The gallery windows were smashed, and both gallery staff and the artist received threats of violence. Samir Ceric the director of the gallery said that the violence and death threats were an "attack on freedom of expression".
Represented Artists
Sarah Maple Much of her inspiration originated from her being brought up as a Muslim, with parents of mixed religious and cultural backgrounds. Understandably, issues of identity are of huge interest to her. Maple’s work often takes on fabricated scenes and situations and she admits she is affected by the art world, as well as from her general surroundings; including friends, family, television and popular culture. She is also greatly moved by music, comedy and literature. She believes these influences are truly woven into her art, and provide the platform upon which her work is realised. Maple states that the aim of her work is: "to give my audience food for thought. I believe comedy is a great tool to achieve this, which is why I choose to portray my conceptual ideas through a light-hearted and tongue-in-cheek approach".
Sarah Gwyer Through a combination of traditional and contemporary methods Gwyer’s artwork investigates the issues involved with the beauty industry today. She believes that creating works of art with a thought-provoking content need not mean a loss of aesthetics; beauty is now sought after more than ever and through the investigation of beauty in her work she hopes to be part of a renewed interest in beauty in contemporary art.
Pakpoom Shilapham Growing up in Thailand Silaphan became subconsciously aware of icons of Western culture, but did not understand who they were or what they stood for. It was only when he arrived in the UK at the age of twenty-four to study at Camberwell College of Art that he learnt the significance of these individuals and the roles they played in Western culture. For example, in Thailand he often came across the image of Andy Warhol but due to his appearance i.e. long hair and glasses he assumed Warhol was a scientist (as he looks similar to Einstein). It was not until he attended art school in London that he came to realise how significant Warhol was in the art world – the world into which he was trying to assimilate himself.
Ben Young Young is fascinated by the aesthetic qualities of spray painted walls that have established themselves as a part of big cities long ago. These walls can look both beautiful and ugly, disturbing and inspiring. The tension between the extremes is made clear in Young’s work through the juxtaposition of the repeatable quality of the stencils and the randomness of the scribbles. The beholder is able to see how the work has been built up over time; the different stages of its creation. The interaction of different and anonymous artists CREATES a very unusual masterpiece.Ben Young is represented by Locuslux Gallery, Brussels in Europe (see www.locuslux.com) and Salon Contemporary in the UK and Republic of Ireland.
James Allen "The history of figurative art shows the brilliance of its progress from century to century. I have become hungry to access the knowledge of this development to inform my work. By ’standing On The Shoulders of Giants’, I seek to develop the skill and flair to bridge the gap between the traditional and the contemporary creating a classical context of the modern image. I aim to reveal the strength of personality, dignity and wealth of character I hold to be the essence of every individual, regardless of status. The relationship between artist and subject is a dynamic one and as the layers of defence fade away the self is inevitably exposed. In avoiding the sentimental and paying attention to detail I strive to capture these moments of revealed truth."
Jackie Tsai Jacky Tsai has developed a balance between the eastern traditional drawing and western contemporary art as his art form. Currently he is collaborating with Mu Dae, who established the Dae Textile in London. By using the most delicate Chinese Su-Xiu embroidery onto Silk fabrics to represent Jacky’s works, this innovative art form builds up the art in a brand new level.
Dorothy M. Yoon Growing up, the artist always dreamed about being one of the blue eyed, blonde beauties she admired on the covers of western magazines. Thus she created the group of the 13 blondes: famous European beauties with that intriguing hair colour. Headed by Venus, there are four categories of blondes: iconic blonde, historical royals, fictional manga, and those who upgraded their social statuses through men. The work is the result of the artist’s light-hearted expression of WestEast Crash, as well as endless experiments in fashion, performance and storytelling.
Past Exhibitions
SaLon Gallery presents Dorothy M. Yoon's deut solo show. '8 of Heroines' 14th Octover - 22nd November 2009
UK's Future Greats, Best of the British graduate art scene 2007-2009 12 June – 2 August 2009
http://www.kallaway.co.uk/salon-gallery-press-release2.htm
SaLon Gallery presents Sarah Gwyer’s debut solo show. 17 April – 7 June 2009
Best of the UK 2008 19 March – 11 April 2009
A group exhibition featuring some of the UK’s most talented 2008 graduates.
SaLon Gallery presents Pakpoom Silaphan’s debut solo show. 12 February – 15 March 2009
“ART WARS” . 15 January - 5 February2009
SaLon Gallery presents Ben Moore’s debut solo show
James Allen 27 Nov 08 - 17 Jan 09
A solo exhibition of a talented portraiture artist James Allen (upper gallery) complimented by a group show featuring Jacky Tsai, Dorothy Yoon, Sarah Gwyer, Guler Ates and Tomas Rydin (lower gallery).
http://www.jamesallenpaintings.com/
“This Artist Blows” 16 Oct – 16 Nov 2008
SaLon Gallery presents Sarah Maple’s debut solo show.
‘SaLon Summer 2008 Show’ 23 Jul – 30 Sep 2008
An exhibition featuring some of the best art work of London’s recent graduates from Goldsmiths, Royal Academy, Royal College of Art, Chelsea, City and Guilds, Wimbledon, Camberwell and Slade.
Inaugural Show held in White Box, Chelsea NY 12 Jun - 19 Jul 2008
UK’s Future Greats in NY, Best of the British Graduate Art Scene 2007/8 in New York
UK’s FUTURE GREATS 15 May – 15 July 2008
Featuring UK’s Most Exciting Recent Graduate Artists
2009 Exhibitions
SaLon Summer ’09 Show (6 August – 12 September 2009) "The third annual exhibition showcasing the best of new British talent opening 6th August"
The show consists of artists completing their studies within the last year. The artists were drawn from around 1000 graduates considered across major UK art schools, particularly in the Greater London region. These schools include Goldsmiths, Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, Camberwell College of Arts, Royal College of Art, Kingston University, Chelsea College of Art and Design. 10 artists are included in the show: Andreas Blank, Ian Gonczarow, Kyu Seon Lee, Carlo Cicero, Seren Jones, EJ Major, Catrin Davies, Lewis Wright, Gus Brown, and visiting Canadian artist Juli Jolly.
Andreas Blank is a finalist in this year's ongoing 4 New Sensations competition, and produces trompe l'oeil still life sculptures using unusual stone media. Ian Gonczarow creates large-scale oil paintings around political, corporate, and consumerist motifs. Kyu Seon Lee creates high-tech work depicting the interactions of people, their social networks, and technology. He has exhibited at the London Design Festival, and has won both The Timmey de Villeneuve Award and the Albini Menswear Shirt Project Prize. Carlo Cicero is a performance artist who creates interactive dance pieces using a team of professional dancers, as well as video art. Seren Jones, whose mysteriously beguiling female portraits assert a new position for the depiction of women in art. EJ Major, whose training as a photographer and social scientist has led her to thought provoking explorations of identity and the collage-like construction that constitutes an individual. The couple of Catrin Davies and Lewis Write, who take their communication issues as subject matter - temptation, love, conflict, sexuality, tension and power lead to a dramatic photographic climax. Gus Brown, who takes his cues from unashamed opulence and self-expression, 'tailoring' buildings to reveal himself as a craftsman and teasing questioner of the relationship between maker and wearer. And finally, Juli Jolly, the Russian born painter hopes to reunite her audience with the small beauties and pleasures so often forfeited in favour of our fast paced lives.
Future Exhibitions
UK's Future Greats NY '09 11 Sep – 10 Oct 2009
Eastern Beauty 8 Oct – 8 Nov 2009
SaLon Gallery presents Dorothy Yoon’s debut solo show.
Steve Rosenthal 13 Nov – 5 Dec 2009
SaLon Gallery presents Steve Rosenthal’s debut solo show.
SaLon Christmas ’09 Show 11 Dec 2009 – 10 Jan 2010
A group exhibition featuring some of the UK’s most talented 2009 graduates.
External links
- www.salongallery.co.uk
- www.saloncontemporary.co.uk