Gilbert & George RA
Festival of Ideas
Friday 7 September 2018 7 - 8pm
The Benjamin West Lecture Theatre, Burlington Gardens, Royal Academy of Arts
£20, £12 concessions.
Gilbert & George RA discuss creative process, partnership and their artistic practice with the RA’s Artistic Director, Tim Marlow.
Gilbert & George RA began creating art together in 1967, when they met at St Martin’s School of Art in London. They believe that everything is potential subject matter for their art and have always addressed social issues, challenged taboos and tested artistic conventions. The backdrop and inspiration for much of Gilbert & George’s art is the East End of London, where they have lived and created art for nearly 50 years. From street signs to vistas of urban grandeur and decay, their work is both an ongoing portrait of a city and a reflection on the human condition.
Together they have participated in many important group and solo exhibitions including the 51st International Venice Biennale (2005), Turner Prize (1984) and Carnegie International (1985). They have also had extensive solo exhibitions, including Whitechapel Gallery (1971-1972), Guggenheim Museum, New York (1985), National Gallery, Beijing (1993), Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris (1998), Serpentine Gallery, London (2002), Tate Modern, London (2007), Brooklyn Museum of Art, New York (2008), Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) and Tasmania (2015-6).
In this event, Gilbert & George discuss how their collaborative partnership defines their creative process.
Book signing following the event
Gilbert & George will be signing books in the Burlington Gardens Wohl Entrance Hall, outside Pace Gallery, from 8–8.45pm on the day of the event, Friday 7 September. Free, no need to book.
DJ performance: Joshua James
Free
Every Friday and Saturday evening throughout our Festival of Ideas we’ve invited some of our favourite DJs to takeover the Royal Academy, performing eclectic sets of dance, house, disco and electronica in Burlington Gardens' Wohl Entrance Hall.
Having featured as part of The Black Madonna’s We Still Believe residency in 2017, Joshua James is Resident DJ at XOYO, hosts a regular Rinse FM show, plays for underground queer party Savage at Metropolis in East London, and this summer takes over Room 3 at the regular Glitterbox night in Ibiza.