Hello Bella and Caroline!
PLOP sat down with Curator Bella Bonner-Evans and Founder of Studio West Caroline Boseley to discuss their curated month at PLOP.
THE ARTISTS
How would you describe each of Leo and Ki’s practice in 3 words? (3 each)
Ki Yoong: delicate, detailed and divine.
Leo Costelloe: subversive, sentimental and sublime.
Can you tell us a little bit about the choice to curate Ki and Leo together for this residency?
BBE: Caroline Boseley, the Founder of STUDIO WEST, and I worked with both artists for our January exhibition, The Blush Upon Her Cheek. We were so pleased with how their pieces for the show complemented one another’s on many levels. Despite working predominantly in different mediums, there is a sensibility that runs through both practices; a fascination with the precious, a gentleness and an immense attention to detail. The artists seemed to really connect with each other during the course of the show, and it felt like a fertile moment to give them a chance to work in tandem.
Not only do the ideas they explore cross over - identity, gender, embodied experience, sentimentality, beauty - but there is also something similar in their approach to displaying their work. Ki often adorns his paintings with very specific hand-made frames or even pressed flowers and shells, while Leo draws on their background as a florist to create installations that sit together with their work - for example the monumental, sculptural Lily bouquets for their recent film screening at Kupher. These artist’s attention to display, and focus not only on the work but the context in which it is received is both vital and impressive - it unites them beyond the specifics of their work.
Caroline and I are truly excited to hear more about how they have both found the residency, and what new ideas or material avenues of exploration have arisen from their collaboration.
RESIDENCIES
What do you hope artists achieve from a residency programme in the contemporary art landscape?
We think having a strong network is really important as an arts professional, whether one is an artist, gallerist, curator etc. As such, our hope is that the residency, and the open studios, have allowed these artists to connect with each other, and to expand their network through studio visits. It’s exciting to us both that people will come across their work at the open studios, having possibly never seen it before.
In a wider sense, speaking of residencies in general, we think they should be opportunities for artists to really focus on their work in a supportive and enriching environment. The change in surroundings should inspire new thinking and new making.
LONDON
Share your favourite London spots!
Caroline and I straddle East and West London - I live in Dalston, while STUDIO WEST is in Notting Hill and Caroline lives nearby. As such, we will give a few recommendations for each…
East (Bella)
Neven Gallery (a new hotspot for experimental installation work by the ever fabulous Helen Neven) is soon to open a show with Leo…a must see, obviously.
I love Café Cecilia - their food makes me happy every time, and I am a gluten free (sometimes) vegetarian and a fussy eater.
Donlon Books - I never leave without buying something.
The Britannia Leisure Centre - overlooked gym! Their pool looks out over Shoreditch Park (who needs the roof of Shoreditch House when you can have this).
Brunswick East Bakehouse - I used to go there almost everyday when walking my dog - the sweetcorn fritters are fabulous. (@brunswickeastbakehouse)
West (Caroline)
Next to the gallery on Kensington Park Road you can find fabulous coffee and cocktails at Equivalence and delicious rustic Italian cuisine at Essenza with really friendly service.
Books for Cooks sells an amazing selection of publications and it serves great value lunches, trialling new recipes from the publications it sells.
I love the dynamic exhibition programme at The Design Museum in Kensington, led by its CEO Tim Marlow (formerly Artistic Director of The Royal Academy and Director of Exhibitions at White Cube). They are currently presenting a show about the skateboard, and are soon to open a retrospective curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist exploring the life and work of one of the greatest Italian designers of the 20th century, Enzo Mari. In July, they celebrate all things Barbie!
The Goodeye Projects residency in Hammersmith is a wonderful initiative. Co-founded by artist Anna Woodward, it hosts six artists every four months and presents an Open Studios event at the end of each programme.
Holland Park has an incredible mix of wild park and manicured spaces, including my favourite - the Japanese garden.
THE FUTURE
What’s upcoming?
STUDIO WEST will be participating in the inaugural edition of MEGA in April - it’s a new art fair in Milan founded by Marta Orsola Sironi and Mauro Mattei of BeAdvisors Art Department and Mattia Pozzoni Art Advisory. We are super excited for this.
In May, we have a group exhibition at the gallery exploring memory, inspired by Sheila Heti’s recent book Alphabetical Diaries.
Is there anything else you wanted to tell us about?
The Kensington and Chelsea Art Festival launches on the 20th of June. It features an outdoor sculpture trail, a Poetry Open Call and a series of events and exhibitions at cultural and creative spaces throughout the borough. Caroline is passionate about public art, and sits on the Advisory Board of the annual arts festival.