Homerton Artist Group

May 14th- 17th 2009

Written Piece by Julia Moore, a member of HAGs, describing ideas behind 'HOMErton House Exhibition'

Homerton Artist Group – or HAGs – present a group show on the theme of ‘Home’. Part verbal play on often-neglected area of Hackney in which the group are based, and part investigation into the resonances and intricate meanings that the notion of ‘Home’ has for us all, the show brings together the work of 20 members of the group.

HAGs was formed by Penny Tristram and Sadie Edginton, two artists living and working in Homerton. Acutely aware of the lack of support for artists such as themselves working alone, they decided an artist’s group would offer a much-needed opportunity to connect with other artists, view and critique each other’s work, develop collaborative ideas and simply socialise.

Their intuitions were well-founded: others responded enthusiastically to the monthly meetings in The Elderfield, a Homerton pub. Only three meetings in, the idea of a group show had been raised to positive response as an ideal way to raise the profile of the HAGs artists and demonstrate the range of work produced locally. Although support was high, the mechanics of finding a suitable venue were complex. An empty shop seemed ideal, but proved hard to source, and Sadie eventually offered her own Homerton home as a venue. While there’s a history of exhibiting in domestic spaces, such ventures normally treat the home as a gallery, clearing all homely trappings and paraphernalia of day-to-day life to replicate the ‘white cube’ of the commercial art space. HAG have selected instead to maintain everything that makes the venue a home; work fits around and into the spaces left by everyday living and the lives of the people living there.

The show explores themes of domesticity and links to home while showcasing a broad range of individual responses and incorporating techniques from painting to live music.

Among others, Jessica Piddock’s paintings exploring missing people investigate ideas of homelessness, while David Bradley’s cast of his own hand finished in bronze recalls ideas of home production and cottage industry. Una Hamilton Helle shows images from her own home – Norway – referencing the subculture of Black Metal and the inherant tensions of its world, darkly violent and misanthropic at the same time as being musically and visually rich.

‘HOMErton’ is the start of a programme of exhibitions and events organised by HAGs and operating outside the gallery context.

Julia Moore May 2009