Connect 24 is Rod Kitson’s latest exhibition at the gallery space that seems to be turning more people into artists than tart schools. It is this year’s anything-goes open exhibition to bring people together, writes Michael Holland.
At the recent launch I was as impressed with the multitude of variety on show as I was with the quality of the work, and I wondered how Kitson managed to work out a system for hanging almost 300 artworks in his small space, plus the many submissions that can be viewed online: ‘It’s quite overwhelming when I get all the artworks brought in, because it looks like there is so much work, and it makes the space look so small. Even though I have done it before, I have this anxiety that I am not going to be able to fit it all in.’ He waited for the next question but I knew he had more: ‘This was the most artworks I’ve ever squeezed in here before – and in all different mediums. The majority are 2D work, like paintings and drawings; plenty of abstract work, collages, landscapes, and some stunning fashion works.’
His Art of Isolation gallery has worked with a charity this year – New Art Studio, a therapeutic arts organisation for refugees – so some artists have donated artworks for sale that will help the cause.
The gallery is also continuing its sterling community work by giving over exhibition space to Bacon’s College sixth form, who have submitted an eclectic collection of collage, sculpture, textiles and paintings.
There is kind of a thematic grouping of painting: a landscape wall, a portrait area, and sculptures as the centrepiece of the room, plus all the rest that come together in the space to create a very satisfying completeness. Rod said he had hung the big works at the top of the wall with the smaller artworks emanating from those: ‘I think of it like a Big Bang – an explosion of smaller artworks coming out from a centre point,’ he emphasises like a Professor Brian Cox for Bermondsey.
To get the real experience of the Connect 24 ethos you can go online and read what each artist as written about how they have felt connected, and what that means to their art*. I asked how that worked and Rod replied, ‘In a wider, more tangible sense it has been about connecting people to each other, artist to artist, person to person.’
I suddenly thought I was in a field with and 20,000 people, but Rod see enough in my eyes to carry on: ‘The opening night was crazy, more than 100 people came through the door. Lots of connection, excitement…and heat generated! I should have opened the back door to let some air in!’
I said, ‘Nice one, Geezer,’ (and that’s as far as the conversation went…)
I saw a few red stickers, so people are buying, and there are several art stocking fillers for sale but Rod Kitson deals in reality: ‘People are feeling the pinch and buying art is a luxury, which I guess is one of the first things that people would tighten up on. I love art, but its nutritional value isn’t great when compared to a weekly shop.’
Rod Kitson uses art to bring people together, as therapy, as communication and to learn. I asked what he has got from his latest venture and he’s learnt a lot. Next year he says, ‘I will give myself more time and be better at delegating!’
For me, art has many values. It’s therapeutic, informative, educational, aesthetic and we should all have it in our lives in any form. Some people can buy it, others can see it for free in the street and many galleries. Go and see Connect 24 for free and I guarantee you will see something you like.
Connect 24, The Art of Isolation, 47 Upper Floor, Surrey Quays Shopping Centre, Redriff Road, London, SE16 7LL until January 3rd.
*View Catalogue: www.rodkitson.com
