Here’s a few shots of the Worshipful Company of Joiners and Ceilers show at the Guildhall Art Gallery. Not only is the historical content really fascinating, the subject matter remains very contemporary: joinery and carving techniques have proved so robust and enduring, for centuries there’s been no need to change them. If you tune your eye in (as I have since working on this show) you start to see joinery everywhere – look around the room you’re sitting in and doubtless there it’ll be. Door frames, doors, windows, stairs … it’s like it’s coming out of the woodwork. (Boom, boom.)
A real bonus of this show is that the wall-mounted showcases, joinery samples, some frames and the leaflet dispenser were made by master joiners... this is art and craft in action! I do recommend it. And yes, that is bubble-wrap on the chairs - that particular shot was taken during install shortly after the 1754 Master’s Chair (on the left) was brought from the V&A. The chair on the right was made especially for the 450th anniversary which, in a touch of wit, has the dates 1571-2021 embedded in its very structure. The chair is 1571mm high and the lumbar rail is 20.21 inches wide. Clever stuff.
Show runs until 18 July 2021
p.s. If you’re wondering what a ‘ceiler’ is, it’s derived from Latin and relates to wood carving.
In other news, I completed an illustration project for the Horniman Museum several weeks back. Also recently designed a metal door bell panel for my studio building, plus I’ve started work on a brand new (and very exciting) Agatha Christie exhibition. It’s all go in the studio! More on all those projects soon.
(post by Tanya)