MAGIC UNDER A MOONLESS SKY: an exhibition of new works by Kevin Quigley
WEDNESDAY 10TH JULY – SUNDAY JULY 14TH 2013
BURGH HOUSE
New End Square Hampstead London NW3 1LT
There is still magic in the world…
I have to admit that 6pm is my favourite hour of the day. As it represents the transitive time when all is done, or has been done for the earlier hours which tend to plague us, and all participants of the earthly world are well aware that the redemption of the black night is soon to come to save us. It is the perfect time to sit back, relax, rejoice, sing, eat, dance, laugh, look, observe or just to merely think. 30 minutes before this particular hour, I arrived to the lovely borough of Hampstead with intentions to view a show two days prior to a scheduled private view. How cool!? Ostensibly, this show had been staged in conjunction with the stars. As last night, the 8th of July, featured a sky missing a tired moon. A break well deserved, our dear satellite ! And we embraced your open skies with an assortment of crisps, roses, white and red wines, smiles, clever conversation and of course a fantastic art show and performance!
Serenaded by scents of roses and peaceful conversations on my walk around and to the cozy cottage which is the Burgh House, I could not wait to check out what the Irish born artist Kevin Quigley and his friendly performers had thrown together in lieu of the moonless night! Once through the black gate and plentiful bushes which led my mind to think of secret gardens and meeting places of old friends and comrades, I entered upon a space which catered to all of the dier needs of the senses- as if I was not entranced enough already by the stunning simplicity of sun in London! To my left, a room with hardwood floors and a glistening black piano, to my right, a tall gentlemen preparing the wine for the guests of the evening- I was early- but was loving every minute of the anticipated moments of the chosen company’s arrival. Overwhelmed by blooming bouquets of energy, sun, and images I walked towards the back of the space where Kevin Quigley’s work was said to be hung.
The light, again, was perfect. And my eyes and ears were swivling around poetically and politely making sure to capture all of the right elements of the curation. Quigley’s work is on a somewhat smaller scale but it’s meaningful content spreads for miles. Enamoured by meeting grounds of 7th century spiritual guides and novices, he effectively captures the landmarks of spaces now gone.
As I was taking all the timeless geography in, a black coat fluttered by with a smile and a hello. There for a chat and by all means, offerings of answers to questions of differing shapes and sizes, Quigley was utterly cool, calm, presentable and professional making it easy to believe that he had put the exhibition together by himself! Amongst a few other early participants we questioned him and wondered which place was which. And like constellations painted in the sky, curiously pondered how all of his pieces fit together. Missing one audible element he led me to the record player where he told me I could pick a tune to play. What a clever idea and the music was just as tantalizing and soothing as his works- the perfect complimentary sonnet.
And then, a new friend! Meeting her again in such a spiritual place- we had to catch up in the garden amidst her colleagues and partners. I knew there was to be a performance @7, but I was early and time, for once, could wait! Glowing in the garden we all related, laughed, and collectively waited for the rest of the evening to unfold. Soon, we went in for the performance, thinking it was in the room with the glistening piano where we could view together, we soon uncovered that the performance could only be viewed one at a time, and the proper gesture to perform on our behalf was to collectively consturct a line near the book shelves. Hmmm, interesting idea one of which, of course seduced us to go deeper. Learning from the Brits that politeness is the best policy, I thought it best for my new friends to go first, and decided to seize the other delightful opportunities of continuing to socialize amongst the freshly arrived moonlit guests. As you might have already read from my previous reviews on private views, I believe that part of what makes the show, or exhibition, are the people who fill the room. Primarily because it takes a certain kind of breed to venture closer towards the walls of the unknown and even more so, to continue to stay there! So naturally, like the ‘art works’ in the room, I have to know the human participants through and through.
Bubbling with laughter amongst new and old faces, conversations and accents were stewing in and around the rose filled garden, so this was the place where I remained. Immersed within an eloquently painted scene transposed of venerable artists of the art world game and new creative characters on the rise, I am sure you can only imagine the curious webs of art speak interlaced with boisterous jokes which were impossible to miss. Good times! So splendid in fact that I missed my chance to view the performance! Only for an hour did it go on and as much as I usually revel in the romantic late afternoon hour of 6pm, it seemed that 7pm rose up and stole my heart. But, all was well however! As I quickly recovered and went for late night pizza with the main performer, deciding instead that I would review the show through his most trusted observations and accusations of the night’s earlier performed scenes. He informed me how much he admired and respected Kevin as both an artist and a friend, and despite his busy schedule promised to put on a thoughtful piece to compliment his moonless night and preview!
So the performers perspective of the performance:
Titled: Reflections and Whispers from the Shadow; his name is John Dunning, and his South African swagger, charm, and charisma will undeniabley win every listener over so I could not even conceptualize what hypnotic spells viewers must have been put under during his performance. And, he had a crew! He put on the show with two other allies, Warren Conlon and Pol Mclernon who are all collaboratively part of a performance group entitled LORE. But there was a twist on this crazy night when our beloved moon was wise enough to stay in! Although seemingly simply written and performed, in a room where only four chairs sat, the story is individually chosen for the spectator in all of the most organic ways.Once the lone participant had entered the room, the three gents spied on you from a peep hole. Depending on which chair you picked, the story teller would then pick you. Armed with a collection of stories that had been written the week before, it was up to the performer which story they would share based on a variety of circumstances- mostly just the energy or aura they surveyed upon your entrance.How cool!?
I could go on and on of how much our performance lasted amongst the Italian wood fired ovens, but I won’t bore you as the moonless night is now sadly gone. Next month it will indeed forget to show it’s face, but I am not sure if this show last night could be topped!?
What do you like to do on moonless nights, or do you even notice it’s missing?
Make sure to catch the PRIVATE VIEW THIS:
WEDNESDAY 10TH JULY – SUNDAY JULY 14TH 2013
BURGH HOUSE
New End Square
Hampstead
London NW3 1LT
On this particular evening there will also be accompanied by Bjorn Hatleskog’s Sound installation DVMA with installations by live musicians Jussi Brightmore and Colin Webster.
Make sure to check out Kevin Quigley’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com
Do you like Comics!? Watch this video from John Harris Dunning where he discusses his project Salem Brownstone
Also, read this cool article for more info on LORE and the other performers:
