Hoxton's not dead yet: the newly opened Hoxton Art Gallery looks like one to keep an eye on.
A brand new commercial art gallery has just opened in Hoxton. The aptly named Hoxton Art Gallery is located on Charlotte Road and plans to focus on “fostering ongoing relationships with new contemporaries through a strong curatorial programme consisting of group and solo exhibitions, as well as projects beyond the gallery walls.”
Conceived by Director Matthew Nickerson, and supported by Head of Gallery, Lydia Cowpertwait, and Head of Projects, Fiona Neil, the gallery is part of a new wave of commercial art galleries popping up in Shoreditch – a wave that includes the likes of EB&Flow, just round the corner on Leonard Street.
The opening show for any new gallery is always important, and in the case of Hoxton Art Gallery, theirs is a strong statement of intent. Symbiosis features work by six London-based contemporary artists, all still at a relatively early stage in their careers but already garnering praise and recognition – from the likes of Tate Britain, Saatchi Gallery, the Catlin Prize and Bloomberg New Contemporaries. This suggests a gallery with both solid commercial acumen and the confidence and passion to take the odd risk.
The exhibition features some really strong work. Spoonfed readers will know already of our admiration for Noemie Goudal, but the other artists involved all show promise too. Katie Sims combines a kind of brushwork reminiscent of Nadine Feinson with the sort of occult nods seen in the works of Ryan Leigh; Lucy Wilson presents subtly manipulated digital photography and a gently humming sound work; Kentaro Yamada is showing a strange and visually compelling video piece, viewed through perspex; and Ellie Davies has produced a series of eerily constructed forest photography – they look a bit like what you'd get if Andy Goldsworthy was setting up scenes for Annabel Elgar.
Importantly, the whole exhibition hangs together well – there's a clear curatorial thread, and a refreshing absence of artspeak nonsense. It's a very impressive début for a gallery that's definitely worth keeping an eye on. Hoxton's not dead yet.
Symbiosis is at Hoxton Art Gallery until 17th June 2011.
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Image credit: Noemie Goudal, Les Amants (Jetee) c-type print on aluminium, 2010.
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