London Architecture by Pablo Bronstein, Adam Dant and Aleksandra Mir

11 June – 19 July 2014

Study Display

This display brings together the work of three artists who employ varied drawing modes in response to London’s  architecture. The artists will be in conversation on Saturday 28 June at 4pm, more info here.

Pablo Bronstein was born in Buenos Aires, and lives and works in London.  He uses drawing, sculpture, installation and performance to explore the role of urban architecture in influencing our behaviour, movements and social customs.  Bronstein has published numerous books including A is Building B is Architecture; Ornamental Design for the Framing of Doors; Gilded Keyholes, and A Guide to Postmodern Architecture in London – from which the drawings in our display are taken.  He has exhibited internationally, most recently at REDCAT, Los Angeles, and Centre d’Art Contemporain, Geneva, and his works are held in the collections of Tate and MoMA New York, amongst others.

Adam Dant was born in Cambridge, and lives and works in London.  He uses drawing to create highly detailed and elaborate maps, guides, and printed ephemera that layer fictional histories with real city locations and events.  His five year daily newspaper Donald Parsnips’ Daily Journal, freely distributed and published under a pseudonym, has become an important document of the 1990s London scene.  Dant was included in ‘Rude Britannia’ at Tate Britain in 2010 and also had a solo exhibition at The New Art Gallery, Walsall and The Neuberger Museum of Art, New York, in the same year.  His works are held in the collections of the V&A and MoMa New York, amongst others.  Our display includes original drawings from his latest publication Bibliopolis: Imaginary Libraries In The City Of London. 

Aleksandra Mir lives in London.  Our Study display coincides with Drawing Room, a project by Mir that responds to the exploding energy of the fast-developing London skyline and explores drawing as a collective activity. Mir has been using ‘Sharpie’ pens to create large scale drawings for many years and our display includes some of her published works including Church of Sharpie; The Space Age Poster Book; and Switzerland and Other Islands.  She has exhibited internationally, and most recently at Museum Leuven, Belgium, Mercer Union, Toronto and Whitney Museum, New York. Her works are held in the collections of Tate and MoMA New York.

Our display begins on the table with Aleksandra Mir's published Sharpie drawings.  Included here are Church of Sharpie (2005) poster book; the political map Switzerland and Other Islands (2006, edition of 1500); and the book Living & Loving: No 3, The Biography of Mitchell Wright (2006, edition of 5,000).

The display continues in the plan chest with works by Adam Dant, including Bibliography of Imaginary Libraries of the City of London, 2013 (sepia ink on paper, 66 x 51 cm); Infernal Tomery, 2013 (sepia ink on paper, 66 x 51 cm); Library on a Pole, 2013 (sepia ink on paper, 66 x 51 cm); and Head of Bibliotheque, 2013 (sepia ink on paper, 66 x 51 cm).  All works have been loaned by the artist.

The wall display of Pablo Bronstein's ink drawings completes this collection.  Included are Four Seasons Hotel, 2007 (ink on paper, 37.5 x 30.5 cm); Alban Gate, 2007 (ink on paper, 37.5 x 30.5 cm); No. 1 Poultry, 2007 (ink on paper, 37.5 x 30.5 cm); and Janet Street Porter’s House, 2007 (ink on paper.  37.5 x 30.5 cm).  All works from the collection of Charles Asprey, London, and courtesy Herald St., London.