Rafael Klein, who, with so many public art works in the area, could be called Southwark’s Artist-in-Residence, will soon be opening his studios as part of the annual Nunhead Art Trail, writes Michael Holland.
The weekend of September 27th-28th is an invitation to visit over 50 different artists in their own homes or studios in SE15; an opportunity to enjoy – close up – all genres of artworks, and discuss them with those who created the work, over two days that celebrates the community and creativity in Nunhead.
Rafael and Jenny Klein will open their doors at 30 Homeleigh Road, London SE15 3EE where you can see some of his most recent artwork.
Rafael has also been selected by the collector Robert Bolick to be part of the AM Bruno Finale project that celebrates and facilitated the development and dissemination of the book as primary medium in art practice.
Bolick, the curator of Books On Books, will give a talk at the show and the resulting 18 books by 19 artists can be seen at Tate Library and Archive Reading Rooms on 26th September.
The Finale artists are Karen Blake, Laure Catugier, Claudia de la Torre, Judy Goldhill, Susan Johanknecht & Katharine Meynell, Rafael Klein, Pauline Lamont Fisher, Philip Lee, Sophie Loss, John McDowall, Alastair Noble, Linda Parr, Ximena Perez Grobet, Peter Rapp, Mireille Ribière, Cally Trench, Maria White and Roy Willingham.
The afternoon’s events will include performances, screen works, readings, a talk by Robert Bolick and presentations by some of the artists on their books. Central to the event are the performances, for which participating artists were invited to impart the concept and intrinsic character of their book by other means.
Rafael’s contribution is a book called Sketchbook for the End Times and depicts a road trip to Italy. He tells me, “The Trip is interrupted by a series of natural disasters recalling the interference of the Gods in Ovid’s Metamorphoses. These reach a crescendo, threatening total destruction.
A sculptural leporello of double-sided pop-ups on two sides allowing the viewer to walk around the work, giving a 3 dimensional aspect.”
You have to see it to get the full effect; I’ve seen it and it is quite amazing. The artist adds that “the paintings exhibited on the Art Trail weekend relate quite strongly to the new book, with the view of landscape fragmented into a diversity of ways of perceiving and representing.”
This is a free event at Tate Britain on 26th September. Full details: https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/ambrunos-finale
Nunhead Art Trail map: https://www.nunheadarttrail.com/performing-artists
