The MARY MARY exhibition at the Artist’s Garden features nine prominent women artists, presenting a transformative exploration of female representation in public art.
Major Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition “MARY MARY” Debuts in Central London Showcasing Nine Women Artists
London, UK – 3 October 2024 – A significant addition to the cultural landscape of central London, theMARY MARY exhibition has opened its doors at the Artist’s Garden, situated on a vast half-acre roof terrace atop Temple tube station. This public, outdoor sculpture exhibition displays works by nine prominent women artists and is orchestrated by theCOLAB along with the Artist’s Garden.
The exhibition features a combination of commissioned pieces and adapted works from artists such as Rong Bao, Candida Powell-Williams, Alice Wilson, Lucy Gregory, L R Vandy, Olivia Bax, Frances Richardson, Holly Stevenson, and Virginia Overton. Displayed in what is now the world’s first sculpture garden dedicated exclusively to the work of female artists, MARY MARY seeks to subvert traditional narratives and propose new sculptural languages for public spaces.
Engaging with the Legacy of Historical Sites
The Artist’s Garden is historically significant, believed to partially overlay the 17th-century formal garden of Lord and Lady Arundel, the site where England’s first classical sculpture collection was amassed and showcased. The garden’s transformation into a modern-day platform for contemporary women’s sculpture is a result of the efforts of theCOLAB and Westminster City Council, supported by various private philanthropists and the British Council’s Connections Through Culture grant.
Exploring Themes Rooted in British Consciousness
MARY MARY challenges traditional characterizations of women and explores themes deeply rooted in British culture, such as gardens and nursery rhymes. This collection exhibits a large-scale reclamation of urban space by women artists, both physically throughout the city’s fabric and conceptually within the traditionally male-dominated art historical narrative.
Highlights of the Exhibition
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Rong Bao’s “Yellow Path” (2024) features an extensive “infinite pathway” inspired by tactile paving for the visually impaired, critiquing urban developments and offering an invitation to experience art through touch and voice.
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Olivia Bax’s “Cartouche” (2023), a humorous take on fulfilling a commission on a tight budget, reuses the shipping crate as a sculpture itself, emphasizing resourcefulness and versatility.
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Lucy Gregory’s “It’s All Kicking Off” (2024) reimagines her earlier work “Images Have Legs” into a kinetic sculptural collage that incorporates viewer interaction, bridging two-dimensional and three-dimensional artistic expressions.
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Virginia Overton’s “Untitled (chime for Caro)” (2022), a large kinetic sculpture, combines old steel remnants with new materials, creating an interplay of heaviness and lightness.
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Candida Powell-Williams’ “Auguries through the Mist” (2024), a functioning fountain, melds classical garden architecture with modern materials, offering a philosophical challenge to historical narratives of paradise.
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Frances Richardson’s “Performed object fig. 09130123, indolentia” transforms an early 20th-century bench into an interactive piece that invites public engagement.
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Holly Stevenson’s “Another Mother” (2022) celebrates the often-overlooked contributions of women, using a lost baluster as a metaphor for women’s indispensable support roles.
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L R Vandy’s “Superhero Cog-Woman” (2019-2024), celebrates women’s industriousness, and “Dancing in Time: The Ties that Bind Us” (2023) highlights the cultural bonds maintained by Black women through dance and tradition.
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Alice Wilson’s “Savoy” (2024), combines construction timbers and architectural elements to explore themes of material hierarchy and space.
Collaborative Effort and Future Aspirations
The exhibition is supported by Westminster City Council, private philanthropists, and organisations such as Frieze 91 and Mezcal Reina. Council Member Ryan Jude expressed delight in supporting the exhibition as part of Westminster’s commitment to creating inclusive cultural spaces, reinforcing the council’s dedication to diversity in the arts.
About the Artists
The artists featured in MARY MARY represent a broad spectrum of backgrounds and accolades in the art world, with works held in prestigious collections and having exhibited internationally. From established names like Virginia Overton and Candida Powell-Williams to emerging talents like Rong Bao and Lucy Gregory, their diverse portfolios contribute richly to the exhibition’s dialogue on women’s roles in art and society.
Visiting Details
MARY MARY will be on view at the Artist’s Garden, Temple Place, London WC2R 2PH, from 3 October 2024 through to September 2025. The private view is scheduled for 2 October 2024 from 5–7pm.
Throughout the exhibition, the combination of historical references, contemporary critique, and innovative artistic expression aims to leave a lasting impression on the visitors, showcasing the transformative power of women in the public art sphere.
Source: Noah Wire Services