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An English Interior by John Kindness at the Foundling Museum, London. Until 31 December 2008

From:     
Category: Exhibitions
Date:     13 November 2008
Time:     11:29 AM

Review:

With the  title "An English Interior" and based at the Foundling Museum, which contains a wealth of 
18th century British art, you would expect this exhibition to be a traditional historic reconstruction. Not 
a bit of it. This installation by contemporary artist, John Kindness, is a piece of opposites beautifully 
brought together to create the most amusing and intelligent equilibrium.  Kindness has taken 
inspiration from William Hogarth's famous satirical etchings and Dudley Watkins' much loved comic 
book hero Desperate Dan in his narrative images. These pictures are displayed as if part of a 
medieval freeze or tapestry with a reminiscance of a renaissance fresco cycle. The pictures are 
divided by boarders in 18th century tradition yet the decorative motifs, on closer inspection, contain 
innovative and original patterns inspired by lace and rubbish tips close to John's home in Hackney. 
Some of the primary sources for John's designs are displayed in original wooden cases and some 
original Dandy artwork by Watkins are hung outside the gallery which Hogarth's etchings are part of 
the permanent display in the Museum. The rendering of the figures uses simple, bold strokes of paint 
to give volume and form, suggesting Ferdinand Leger and the rounded, near featureless faces hint at 
Georgio De Chirico's manikins.  Mute tones of light browns and soft blues create an environment of 
calm which complements the chaos John celebrates in the compositional qualities of both Hogarth 
and Watkins, his starting point for placing them together in this work. Working on tea-stained paper 
using Indian Kalighat paint techniques Kindness has used an extraordinary diverse range of 
influences yet this exhibition is accessible and above all, fun.
www.foundlingmuseum.org.uk


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