On Saturday I painted myself for a new show of self-portraits that's opened at Indo on Whitechapel Road.
It's a group show mainly of the artistic bunch who drink in the bar and it's a great exhibition. My favourite pieces are Scott Keenan's antler-head portrait, and a sculpture of a man coming out of the wall. I also liked the self-portrait within the top of a bar-stool. There's probably about 60 artists showing, and the exhibition is of such quality that it deserves to be widely seen, but knowing those self-effacing Indo boys as I do they've probably not sent out any press releases nor had postcards printed. I may go back next week with a proper camera to record it.
You can tell when they've hung a cracker in Indo: people get up and actually leave thier pint to look at the art. This doesn't happen often, but is very much the case with this show. It was interesting seeing so many self-portraits of people we know, even if only by sight in the bar. It's always interesting seeing how other people view themselves, and some of these portraits are completely off the scale. Keith is showing a photograph of a sculpture of an egg in danger of being crushed by two metal clamps either side, which is shocking when you remember that this is a show of self-portraits. Richard the landlord's drawing in almost painfully intense and doesn't fit at all with the easy-going gentle guy I know. I also enjoyed a small line-drawing on a mirror. The artist must have traced himself quite quickly and simply and he's caught a great line. It's looks like a punchy little Cocteau. I might buy it.
My piece was a bit last minute, as I've been so busy finishing work for 'Images of Lost Content' as well as holding down a Job du Jour... It took about two hours on saturday morning and I was down at Indo with a dry portrait in my hands by opening time.
I enjoyed making a painting of myself as I am now for a change, as my work at the moment is all about my childhood and so I'm only ever working with younger views of myself.
The self-portrait, which I forgot to photograph, is very much in an earlier style of working and I enjoyed revisiting an old motif (staring eyes, shirt and tie and surrounded by hellfire), but realised how much the work has moved on in the last couple of years.
Last nite Crazy G, Wendy Retro and I went to the American Bar at the Savoy. It's my new favourite place... but given that the Martinis are £12 and the fags £7.50 a pack it's a once a month treat at most. Rock and Roll Malcolm joined us for one later, but by then I could barely speak. Those Gin Martinis are lethal. I barely remember getting home. Today I wanted to finish the work for my show next month but I only managed about three hours painting. I may actually need a new liver...
Tomorrow we are off to Berlin for four days of beer, galleries and currywurst. Last time we were there was a couple of years ago but in February... which was disablingly cold. December probably won't be much warmer but I can't wait to see the Christmas markets. Gutted yesterday as I've just found out that Throbbing Gristle are playing there on New Years Eve, but G assures me they'll be doing other dates for their new album early next year so I'm not too upset.