UK: "When Britain Went Pop!" - Christie's launch the exhibition of British Pop Art, including works that haven't been seen in public since the 1960's

Record ID: 583362

  • Title: UK: "When Britain Went Pop!" - Christie's launch the exhibition of British Pop Art, including works that haven't been seen in public since the 1960's
  • Date: 8th October 2013
  • Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (OCTOBER 8, 2013) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF CHRISTIE'S MAYFAIR GALLERY SPACE CLOSE-UP OF CHRISTIE'S SIGN "WHEN BRITAIN WENT POP" POSTER PHOTOGRAPHERS TAKING PICTURES OF THE EXHIBITION WORKS BY VARIOUS ARTISTS ON DISPLAY VARIOUS OF DAVID HOCKNEY'S "SWIMMING POOL" PAINTING WIDE OF EXHIBITION ROOM VARIOUS OF DEREK BOSHIER'S "SPECIAL K" PAINTING (SOUNDBITE ) (English) CHRISTIE'S HEAD OF PRIVATE SALES, LOCK ANDERSON KRESLER, SAYING: "There's been a significant reaction and rebirth in the idea of British Pop Art. For me it seems like an absolute shame that we haven't had as much of an introspective look in Britain at the British movement. There was an exhibition back in 1991 that was a survey of all of Pop Art but never in London has there been an exhibition of just British Pop Art." PAINTINGS ON DISPLAY JOURNALISTS IN EXHIBITION ROOM (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHRISTIE'S HEAD OF PRIVATE SALES, LOCK ANDERSON KRESLER, SAYING: "With British Pop Art, it hasn't been quite as internationalised and I think that's one of the steps that we are trying to do here is really make an international voice for artists like Peter Blake, Gerald Laing and in many cases, artists that aren't as known such as Derek Boshier or Peter Phillips. I think this is a great platform to be able to sort of try and internationalise those names." EXHIBITION ROOM VARIOUS OF EDUARDO PAOLOZZI'S PICTURE (UNTITLED) VARIOUS OF ALLEN JONES' "4TH BUS/SLOW RED AND GREEN" PAINTINGS VARIOUS OF RICHARD HAMILTON'S "SWINGEING LONDON 67" PAINTING (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHRISTIE'S HEAD OF PRIVATE SALES, LOCK ANDERSON KRESLER, SAYING: "You're desensitised and that shock factor isn't really there but you know seeing some of these works by Allen Jones and you know in the late 60s, it must have been an absolute shock to everyone that came in and I think that he was really pushing those boundaries on "What is art?." You know many people found them extremely pornographic but you know he has made that into a significant piece of art." EXHIBITION ROOM WITH A PHOTOGRAPHER TAKING PHOTOS VARIOUS OF ALLEN JONES' "FURNITURE SCULPTURE" PIECES FEATURING FEMALE NAKED MANNEQUINS (GRAPHIC IMAGES)
  • Embargoed: 23rd October 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: History
  • Reuters ID: LVA102ATB269N7Q1ZOR5G5W4WHKM
  • Story Text: Christie's "When Britain Went Pop!" is the largest exhibition of British Pop Art ever held in the UK and highlights the influence Brit Pop Artists, such as David Hockney and Richard Hamilton, had on the movement. Many of the works have not been seen in public since the 1960's.
    The exhibition opened on Tuesday (October 8) to celebrate the auction house's new Mayfair gallery space.
    The Pop Art movement emerged in mid-1950s Britain. Imagery often included advertising, comic books and mundane cultural objects breaking fine art traditions. Some consider Pop Art as the earliest form of postmodernism. A famous example is David Hockey's Swimming Pool painting which is one of the highlights of the exhibition.
    "There's been a significant reaction and rebirth in the idea of British Pop Art." said Head of Private Sales for Christie's, Lock Anderson Kresler.
    "For me it seems like an absolute shame that we haven't had as much of an introspective look in Britain at the British movement. There was an exhibition back in 1991 that was a survey of all of Pop Art but never in London has there been an exhibition of just British Pop Art," he said.
    British Pop Art is still overshadowed by American examples selling for much higher prices.
    "With British Pop Art, it hasn't been quite as internationalised and I think that's one of the steps that we are trying to do here is really make an international voice for artists like Peter Blake, Gerald Laing and in many cases, artists that aren't as known such as Derek Boshier or Peter Phillips. I think this is a great platform to be able to sort of try and internationalise those names," he said.
    First examples of Pop Art were created by Scottish artist, Eduardo Paolozzi in 1948 depicting a British boxer. Other iconic images on display include Allen Jones' depiction of a London bus and Richard Hamilton's "Swingeing London 67" featuring Mick Jagger after appearing in court for drug charges.
    Certain Pop Art sculptures by Allen Jones are sexual in theme. Kresler compared the reactions of then and now: "You're desensitised and that shock factor isn't really there," he said.
    "In the late 60s, it must have been an absolute shock to everyone that came in and I think that he was really pushing those boundaries on "What is art?." You know many people found them extremely pornographic but you know he has made that into a significant piece of art," he said.
    Many of the 140 works on display in Mayfair are on loan from private collectors. The exhibition runs until November 23.
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