Summer of Art (Events - Exhibitions)
(Above) Iliana Boyiakis, ‘Untitled’, The Arts Institute at Bournemouth
Billed as Europe’s largest graduate art and design show, the ninth annual Free Range exhibition takes place this summer at The Old Truman Brewery. Abigail Parkin (4 Mar'09)
Over 400,000 square foot of exhibition space will give access to the UK’s freshest new art and design ideas in the creative hub of East London. The scale of the exhibition sees Free Range presenting the work of over 3,000 graduates from 40 prestigious UK art and design colleges.
The event is free
of charge to art experts and novices alike consistent with Free Range's
distinguishing quality of being socially all-embracing.
Young talent from the disciplines of art, photography, design and
interiors has been drawn from universities such as Central St Martins,
Oxford Brookes, Goldsmiths, Nottingham Trent and Falmouth. Free
Range takes place over eight weeks. The first fortnight is
dedicated to design, followed by two separate weeks of photography, two
weeks of fine art, one week of interiors (including product and
furniture design) and finally a mixed media week.
"Lido 2008", Andrew Prentice, City of Westminster College
“As the name suggests, the event presents artwork that is original and organic, that goes against the homogenous grain," says Free Range director, Tamsin O’Hanlon. "It is also a chance for young people to display their work in a professional environment - the public has direct access to both the exhibits and the exhibitors, something that is rare for both the creators and the viewers.”
Free Range’s success has seen its
popularity grow annually among collectors, students, media and
industry luminaries. Last year the event attracted a record 170,000
visitors.
The
Old Truman Brewery on Brick Lane is a natural backdrop for the event
with its historical vintage and outlook on the future. Its numerous
cafés, bars
and restaurants and the surrounding area provide ample space to unwind between shows.
Together
with its partners, London Graphic Centre, theprintspace, Dazed &
Confused, Grafik and British Journal of Photography, Free Range provides
abundant support for a new generation of artists and designers and allows the public to buy debut work.
Ben Aslett, ’Forbidden Zone’, University of Plymouth
Free Range : 29 May -20 July, The Old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, London