CATCH YOUR BREATH

Catching one's breath can happen if surprised, impressed or even shocked by something, such as an extraordinary object or image stumbled upon that instantaneously changes a familiar viewpoint. It can also be a time to pause or reflect and take stock.

Life in 2022 continues to appear full of uncertainties - After a tumultuous few years with a global pandemic and other crises including the war in Ukraine, and events such as climate change. However, in others ways perhaps we have reached a point of emergence; a tipping point where the potential for possibilities seems real once again.

In St Johns churchyard, Waterloo The London Group and invited artists whose work fits the discipline of sculpture and installation are responding to the theme, whilst Morley Gallery will host a member’s only exhibition.

Work in the newly refurbished Morley Gallery will include a diverse range of media such as painting; drawing; mixed media; photography on lightbox; small-scale sculpture; code-based audiovisual; video; archival digital and woodcut print techniques. Whilst artists respond in the historic Churchyard gardens using wood; steel & wire; site-specific installation; found objects; bamboo canes & plastic foil; tarpaulin; soil, water, clay, straw, sand, and cement; papier mache and paint, and much more.

Themes across both exhibitions are equally diverse: a work that incorporates dust collected from the Saharan desert; a minimalist blue sphere evokes oxygen(breath); reference to the futility and consequences of all wars; NASA images as an ephemeral reminder of our impact on nature; painting about the joy of the moment; 225 bright red pin wheels mounted on red canes, rising and falling over a grass mound; a work that catches the breath of visitors to the exhibition and a piece inspired by a book that starts with the words 'Breathing In' and ends with 'Breathing Out'.

Morley Gallery 61 Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7HT

Weds 20 July - Thurs 28 July

Open: Mon - Fri 12 - 5pm Sat 1pm-5pm

Artist’s Talks: Sat 23 Jul, 3 - 4pm

Nearest tube: Lambeth North or Waterloo

St John's Churchyard St John's Waterloo, 73 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8TY, Sun 3 July – Thurs 30 July

Open: 9am - 10pm

Picnic & Artist’s Talks:

Sat 30 Jul, 1 - 3pm

Nearest tube: Waterloo