Gilbert & George:
The General Jungle or Carrying on SculptingExhibitions
Gilbert & George:
The General Jungle or Carrying on Sculpting
Comprised of twenty-three monumental, multi-panel pieces, The General Jungle or Carrying on Sculpting is one of the earliest manifestations of Gilbert & George’s ‘Art for All’ philosophy, reinforcing their reputation as ‘living sculptures’—an identity and belief maintained by the artists since they met at St Martin’s School of Art, London, fifty years ago this September.
This will be the first exhibition in the United Kingdom to feature this seminal body of work, early charcoal-on-paper ‘sculptures’ by the renowned artist duo, which was first presented at the Sonnabend Gallery, New York, in 1971, as the atmospheric backdrop to one of their most celebrated works, The Singing Sculpture. The sheets describe a day in the life of the artists (from ‘THE COLD MORNING LIGHT’, through to ‘THE CHILL OF EVENING’), as they walk through the leafy parks of London, ruminating on the human condition. Their thoughts range from the philosophical to the mundane, and hem each hanging, to read (in their own words) like ‘huge letters’, addressed with love—and humour—to the viewer. Contrary to the Minimal and Conceptual concerns dominant in art schools at the time, Gilbert & George devoted themselves to emotions rather than intellect, replacing elitist attitudes and practices towards art-making with their own Romantic, figurative idiom; by pairing inner and outer landscapes in this way, they sought to make their art accessible to the masses.
Video
Gilbert & George: The General Jungle or Carrying on Sculpting
October 2, 2017
Selected Press
Hyperallergic | The Quiet Radicalism and Dry Humor of Early Gilbert & George
November 27, 2017
The Culture Trip | The Best Exhibitions to See in London During Frieze Week
October 5, 2017
The Art Newspaper: Frieze Art Fair | Gilbert & George to open London foundation
October 4, 2017
Time Out London | Gilbert & George: The General Jungle or Carrying on Sculpting
September 28, 2017
The Art Newspaper | Gilbert & George take charge of their legacy
September 28, 2017
Financial Times | Critics' Choice: London
September 13, 2017
BBC | Living sculptures: At home with Gilbert & George
September 13, 2017
The Art Newspaper | Gilbert & George Mark Golden Jubilee in Style
September 1, 2017
Financial Times | 'It's G&G! We're a brand!'
September 1, 2017
FAD Magazine | Monumental Gilbert & George Art Work Coming to Lévy Gorvy London
July 27, 2017