Leading sculpture gallery Pangolin London has announced details of two prestigious exhibitions, by Scottish land artist Julie Brook, and artist in residence Peter Oloya.
‘What is it That Will Last?’ offers an insight into the extraordinary work of Scottish land artist Julie Brook. Capturing the sculptures she creates in wild and inaccessible locations around the globe through film, photography and drawing, this exhibition explores Brook’s deep and immersive relationship with each landscape and the natural materials she uses.
Originally trained as a painter and often working outside in the landscape, Brook’s practice led her to Hoy, Orkney where she studied the captivating cliffs. She subsequently moved to Glasgow, and a couple of years later she discovered a cliff arch on the west coast of Jura, where she lived in solitude over a period of three and a half years observing the daily rhythms and forces of nature. It was here that she had the idea to bring together nature’s four classical elements – air, earth, water and fire – together in one artwork. Thus, the inception of the celebrated ‘Firestack’ series unfolded, a testament to Brook’s artistic ingenuity. Recently revisiting this series, she has experimented with firings, exploring the interplay between her work and the various seasons and weather conditions that envelop her surroundings.
Profound
Brook uses film, photography, and drawing to convey profound themes, making her work accessible to a wider audience. Offering a unique insight into her practice, this exhibition prompts us to rekindle our primal connection with the landscape and ponder the enduring question, ‘What is it That Will Last?’
This exhibition coincides with the opening of Kings Place ‘Scotland Unwrapped’, and celebrates the launch of a new book about Julie Brook published by Lund Humphries which is available from Pangolin London.
JULIE BROOK
What is it That Will Last?
13th January – 30th June 2024
EVENTS
Friday 12th January 5.45 pm – VIP tour of the exhibition with Julie Brook and drinks reception.
Saturday 13th January 5.30pm – Tour of the exhibition with Julie Brook & book signing.
Sunday 14th January 4.00pm – ‘Julie Brook: What is it That Will Last?’ An illustrated talk and film
screening. Please note this is a ticketed event – book here.
Unbroken
Born in Uganda in 1979, Peter Oloya was abducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army as a child where he endured the horrors of being a ‘boy soldier’. Despite this harrowing experience, Oloya’s spirit remained unbroken, and he managed to escape after being wounded in a fierce battle.
Returning to his forever-changed hometown, Oloya turned to the wisdom imparted by his grandmother who was a potter. With unwavering determination, he embraced art as a means of self-education and emotional healing. From making and selling toy cars as a child to working as a DJ, he earned the funds necessary to pursue his education, ultimately graduating from Makerere University in Fine Art.
Beyond his artistic pursuits, Peter has also set up a charity supporting former child soldiers and abducted girls through drawing and sculpture. Oloya’s creative prowess spans both painting and sculpture, and he has gained acclaim through prestigious commissions and residencies. Notable among these is his sculpture Crane, presented by the people of Uganda to Queen Elizabeth II at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in 2007. He also designed the ‘African Footballer of the Year’ BBC award trophy. In 2019, Oloya received the PJLF Pangolin London Sculpture Prize, allowing him to explore a new body of work delving into the modern African cultural experience. In an era marked by the waning of traditional activities in Africa, Oloya’s art articulates the complex and rapidly evolving cultural responses to contemporary issues.
Peter Oloya’s exhibition opens in January 2024, with prices ranging from £500-£15,000. The show promises to be a visual and emotional journey, and offers a unique perspective on the vibrancy and diversity of Oloya’s artistic expression.
Pangolin London would like to thank the PJLF Arts Fund and the Ruwenzori Sculpture Foundation for their unwavering support, playing an integral part in bringing this exhibition to life.
PETER OLOYA
A Journey from Adversity to Artistry
17th January – 2nd March 2024
PANGOLIN LONDON, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9AG T: 020 7520 1480
www.pangolinlondon.com
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