Cob Studios and Gallery - an interview with Polly Stenham and Victoria Williams

Cob Studios and Gallery - an interview with Polly Stenham and Victoria Williams

11 February, 2011
by: Tom Jeffreys

It may still look a bit like a building site, but Tom Jeffreys is excited by the potential at Cob Studios and Gallery.

This is not a photograph of Cob Studios and Gallery, award-winning playwright Polly Stenham and Victoria Williams' exciting new multi-purpose arts space opening in Camden this February. But it might as well be.

I'm at the new space exactly a week before the opening night, in order to interview Polly and Victoria, the (very young) brains behind the operation. I'm not entirely sure what I was expecting from a gallery that's not open yet – probably the usual clean white walls, but just with no coat hooks in the toilets yet and the skirting boards in need of a final touch-up – but I certainly wasn't prepared for this.

It's a bomb site – or, more accurately, a building site. Affable eastern European folks in fluorescent jackets are all over the place, threading wires about the place, mixing things, sawing things, and  whatever else it is that builders get up to. It's a mess, and one in which Polly and Victoria look at once in control, and, with their similar elfin crops and dainty ankle boots, remarkably out of place. It doesn't look all that promising, but then what do I know? Clearly this is a new thing for the pair of them too, but apparently it'll all be ready in time for the launch.

The whole project has come about, primarily because, as Polly explains, “I was searching for somewhere to write, somewhere to work with other people around me.” In 2006, Polly's father, businessman Anthony 'Cob' Stenham, died, leaving enough money for Cob Studios to become a possibility. “We found this amazing building,” Polly continues, “got it on the cheap and did it up, and there we go!” Victoria elaborates: “it was only when we saw the space that we realised it had the potential to be something quite big. And that's when the gallery idea came in – running a gallery is something I've always wanted to do, but obviously you don't expect the opportunity to come along quite so quickly!”

And immediately the key elements of the whole concept become apparent. It's based around Polly and Victoria's unshakeable friendship (they both refer to themselves as 'we' fairly frequently), and from there the importance of collaboration as a more far-reaching way of working begins to emerge. Of course there's also the freedom that comes with not having to worry about money too much. But both are refreshingly aware of how lucky they are. As Polly puts it, “We can subsidise spaces, and provide a platform for young and emerging artists. Our greatest strength is that we can do whatever we want here. We're not answerable to anyone. I know how lucky I am to have this space and I want to share that.”

So where does that photograph fit in? Well it's by one of my favourite artists at the moment, Noemie Goudal, and forms part of Cob Studios' first exhibition, Unnatural Nature – inspired by Jean Baudrillard's seminal (over-referenced?) Simulacra and Simulation. But don't let that put you off; this show looks like a little cracker. Exploring the relationship between the real and the virtual, the authentic and the simulated, the exhibition features work by some brilliant artists – including Noemie for a start, as well as Anna Curtis and Katie Paterson.

As part of the show, there's a talk on 24th February, which Paterson has organised with lecturers from the Slade and Nottingham University – apparently it'll be about text, simulation, nature, art and, um, Blade Runner. Then, following Unnatural Nature, there's a wicked-sounding concept shop called Guts for Garters and then a host more cool projects in the pipeline.

Polly and Victoria both have the kind of ambition and drive needed to make Cob Studios work, but there's also a refreshingly open approach. There's no grand, overarching plan – it's simply about doing things they consider to be worthwhile.  As Victoria puts it: “What's great is the freedom – some things might not work out, but we're able to take risks, and do things that other places never could. Basically anything goes,” she says. “Anything.”

Unnatural Nature is at Cob Studios and Gallery from 18th February to 27th February.

Click here to see all London exhibitions.
Click here for things to do in London.

Return to Spoonfed's London Art homepage.

Image credit: Noemie Goudal, Les Amants (Coulee) 2010.

Read Tom's review of Noemie Goudal at SALON (LONDON) presents - Secret

Tom Jeffreys