Hackney,
10
July
2017
|
10:23
Europe/London

From Andy Warhol to Hackney Wick

Starting with the explosion of pop art in the 1960s, Warhol to Walker: American prints from pop art to today, displays works on loan from the British Museum by celebrated artists including Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg and Kara Walker alongside Hackney artists.

This free special exhibition explores the influence print movements have had on art in the borough from the 1960s right through to today.

Neil Martinson, one of the local artists featured in the display, said: "Hackney in the 70's and 80's was a cultural desert. It was like everything was in monochrome. Cinemas were closed, buildings were falling down, grim pubs littered the streets. I was just out of Hackney Downs School where our wonderfully subversive teachers had introduced us to the likes of Warhol, Picasso, and William Blake. Suddenly there was colour and there was politics. It was about changing Hackney for the better."

The exhibition juxtaposes world famous art with works from local print studios such as the one based at Chats Palace, Homerton. These studios used silkscreen and lithographic techniques to produce posters promoting political movements, protest and community events.

 

 

Cllr Jon Burke, Cabinet Member for Energy, Sustainability and Community Services
This exhibition is a fantastic opportunity to see world famous art, locally, and for free. The exhibition also gives people the chance to learn about the influence that international artists had on Hackney’s politics, creative scene, and the broader community.
Cllr Jon Burke, Cabinet Member for Energy, Sustainability and Community Services

As part of the exhibition the British Museum’s Catherine Daunt will be giving a one-off talk – From Warhol to Wick – supporting the display and reflecting on issues of gender, power and race through movements such as pop art, minimalism and photorealism. The talk takes place at Hackney Museum on Thursday 27 July, 6.30-8pm, entry is free.

There will also be free family pop and play events on Thursday 3 and 10 August 1-3pm. Materials will be provided for children to make their own creations based on artworks in the exhibition.

This display is a British Museum Partnership Exhibition. Generously supported by the Dorset Foundation. The exhibition runs from 11 July – 16 September.

To find out more about the exhibition, how to book onto events or to find out about opening times please visit: www.hackney.gov.uk/museum. You can also follow Hackney Museum on FacebookTwitter and Instagram.