words Leanne Rae Wierzba
Whisper is a new art gallery in central London aimed at expanding the definition and relevance of contemporary printmaking with a focussed printmaking gallery. There are loads of contemporary galleries in London but it’s very rare to visit one dedicated to contemporary printmaking.
According to Whisper gallery director Jamie Wood ‘there are a vast amount of techniques within the practice of printing. We aim to explore them with our artists and give people the chance to see prints. This is as a starting point for an art collection, but as important works to continue to collect and enjoy. We aim to show the process of print in all its forms and push the limits of what people except from printmaking today.’ They wnat to show us the work of printmaking artists today.
Whisper will work with contemporary printmaker artists as well as artists whose primary medium is not print. The launch exhibition will feature printed light boxes and photography by Marco Bettoni. The also have etching and screen prints by Pakpoom Silaphan, Sarah Woodfine and Mark Hayward, alongside original paintings by Nick Gentry. Bruce French, whose painting and sculpture solo show at sister gallery Scream will run until 25 June, has produced a series of screen printed Perspex sculptures and prints on paper. French concedes that ‘printmaking has become a crucial part of how I realise my work which is transformed by the infinite ways in which it can be reproduced.’
Whisper opens on June 9, 2011 at 27/28 Eastcastle Street, London, W1W 8DH. It features new and famous printmakers artists as well as the kind of contemporary printmaking artist that breaks new ground in the field. Mon-Fri 11am-6pm or by appointment.
