Brooklyn vs London

Something In The Attic's Brooklyn vs London is an exciting collage group exhibition exploring the themes of perception and identity through 44 original works created by 14 artists: 7 Brooklyn-based and 7 London-based alongside a commissioned soundtrack. The show aims to unite an existing community: the Brooklyn Collage Collective with a group of carefully selected London artists. Using the medium of collage, the artists create diverse works, yet share the desire to create something new and different from the existing.

Brooklyn Artists: Mike DeSutter, Lizzie Gill, Daniel Greer, Morgan Lappin, Kieran Madden, Jay Riggio and Sajjad. London Artists: Anthony Gerace, Adam Hale, Gareth Halliday, Flynn Cameron Jones, Anna Bu Kliewer, Claire Pestaille and Michelle Thompson

Developing the notion of collage beyond visual art, a series of events will take place during the 2-week exhibition: Collage & Music, in which music collective ReviveHER invite guest DJs to create a sound collage based on New York and London. Collage & Dining, in which Michelin star chef, Omar Romero creates a 6 course meal inspired by New York and London.

We've been given exclusive access to the works of some of the artists featured, a behind the scenes insight into how the collaboration came together and a sneak peek of the soundtrack that defines New York and London.

How did the idea of this collaborative exhibition come about? Why Brooklyn vs London? I’ve known Lizzie Gill of the Brooklyn Collage Collective for over 10 years, last year we discussed the idea of a group show in London. Rather than solely bring the Brooklyn artists over we spent time seeking out and meeting London-based collage artists to work with. We were originally going to work with 10 artists, five from each region, however we found a space large enough to accommodate and had additional artists we were excited about working with. Cedric Bardawil (Founder of Something in the Attic)

Tell us more about the layers of the exhibition - the different backgrounds of the artists (from RCA graduates to postman), the whole interactive experience combining the visual art with the soundtrack and cuisine of both regions? We selected the London artists based on merit and medium rather than their background, in doing so some interesting things emerged. One of artists, Gareth Halliday works as a daytime postman providing him the stability to explore collage. Adam Hale, has a graphic design background but only fully immersed himself in collage this year, building a following overnight via his Instagram channel The Daily Splice.

When I started Something in the Attic in 2012, the concept was to bring together my interests in visual art and music. At the time I was also studying for an MA in Contemporary Art for which I wrote my dissertation on the interface of visual art and sound. I partnered up with Nick Hadfield, one of the guys behind music collective ReviveHER and we developed the idea further: curating the sound to work with the art in a given space became critical to us.

The food collaboration is a new concept to us, it was an opportunity presented by the team at Carousel, the space we’re using for the exhibition. We sat down and discussed ideas, it came together easily as the chef Omar Romero currently doing a residency at Carousel was passionate about our vision. Whilst Collage & Dining is a one-off event, the dessert on their regular menu was inspired by the Brooklyn vs. London exhibition. Join the dinner here

Collage art has made a comeback in recent years. Describe the reasons behind this resurgence? "Though its popularity has never really waned since inception with the Dadaists straight through to punk, collage is definitely having a moment right now. I think the current resurgence in the popularity is due to the collision of image oversaturation in our digital age and a direct rejection of the banal ‘photo- shopped’ realities it has spawned. Instead of the meme being the message, these singular handcrafted pieces have added impact due to the ephemeral nature of works on paper.”
Kieran Madden (Brooklyn Artist)

“I started to make collage art in 2007, when I began to show my work in Manhattan and Brooklyn I was usually the only collage artist at group shows. I thought I was some sort of freak, maybe more of a freak rebel, but It was the positive energy that I received from everyone that gave me the push to continue. I became obsessed with seeking out other collage artists wherever I could find them. Throughout the years I saw a huge surge in the amount of collage artists all over the world, not just locally. Since then pace has continued to gain speed. I can safely say collage still has a little way to go to grab the same respect other art forms receive. There are times when I look to join art web sites or sign up for shows, and "collage" is still missing from a lot of the art medium selection lists. This is part of why I started Brooklyn Collage Collective in 2013. I believe in this art form and its the one I personally love the most, its what fits my personality, its the only form I use to share my view of reality. Since then we inspired a collage community to take form earlier this year in Sydney, Australia after our show at the M2 Gallery. We're now connecting with other areas such as the UK, Toronto, and California and we're not looking to slowdown.” Morgan Lappin (Founder of Brooklyn Collage Collective)

"I believe traditional cut-and-paste collage art has made a resurgence in recent years as a reaction to the prevalence of digital art over the last decade. For example the Adobe Creative Suite saw the emergence of vector-based graphics and the ability to easily 'photoshop' your way out of a problem, something that cannot be done with collage. I think it's the uncertainty and lack of control that appeals to a generation that have always found it easy to create." Adam Hale (London artist)

“Like a satellite in an elliptical orbit around planet ‘COOL’. Sometimes it comes close to being cool, but then it swings way out to the farthest edges of the creative universe ... but it never goes away ... and before long its back on the designer’s radar and suddenly you're popular again, but while it was travelling out into the less-fashionable reaches of outer space it develops and evolves, so that by the time it comes back into a closer orbit it has been transformed ready for its next phase in the sun. When I left college in ‘96 my collage was textural flat areas of colour with very few figurative or representative elements - and it was all hand made, analogue, no computers. And I was very IN for a few years. My work adapted to suit the market as it evolved and I started adding bits of graphic and type, then photos and images. I started using a computer and Photoshop. I left London. I got a Canadian agent. I got Handsome Frank. I started making my own work and selling through galleries. So now that collage has journeyed back from outer space, passing close to planet COOL again, my work is quite different to when I started. Consequently I get different kinds of jobs - less book jackets, record covers and packaging. More annual reports, editorial, POS, etc.” Michelle Thompson (London artist)

Describe the soundtrack that defines New York and London? We commissioned British music producer Ruf Dug to create a sample-based soundtrack that defines New York and London musically to play during the exhibition. An obvious example of the cultural cross-pollination between both cities is Buffalo Gals (1982) by London producer Malcolm McLaren. The track was inspired by him seeing Afrika Bambaataa play at a Block Party in New York. The musical crossover is endless, we’re hosting an event at the space this Sunday playing strictly New York and London produced records, you can expect anything from Spiritual Jazz to New Wave to Disco. Join the event here

Artist credits: Images 2-4 Adam Hale | 5-7 Morgan Lappin | 8-10 Kieran Madden | 11-13 Michelle Thompson

EXHIBITION OPEN Fri 12th June – Sat 27th June 2015 Mon – Sat, 10am – 7pm By appointment only Carousel, 1st Floor 71 Blandford Street London, W1U 8AB.

For more information or to discuss these works please contact: Cedric Bardawil +44 (0)7770 692 414 [email protected]