A powerful array of paintings, sculptures and installations inspired by the idea of revolution has transformed a hidden gallery space into a labyrinth of enthralling art.
The Art of Revolution, which is in The Undercroft behind Norwich Market until Saturday, was the idea of Russian artist Gennadiy Ivanov and features more than 150 works by 29 different artists. Mr Ivanov, who has a studio in Upper St Giles, said the inspiration for the show came from the 100th anniversary of the Russian Revolution but that the exhibition also explored revolution in the broadest possible terms.
He said: 'It's dedicated to the Russian Revolution which happened in 1917. It is [also] an exhibition about different types of revolutions which have happened in 100 years like digital revolution, like art revolution, movie, fashion, design, industrial revolution, sexual revolution, so we have a very wide theme. I was interested to understand how local artists can think about it, what they want to show, what inspired them, because in Russia 100 years ago an art revolution happened which gave to the world lots of new ideas, new themes, lots of people know Malevich, Kandinsky, Chagall, famous Russian artists who were a great inspiration for modern artists.'
Mr Ivanov has about 50 of his own works in the show, including some focussing on the Russian Revolution, some that are portraits of a wide mix of revolutionary heroes such as Che Guevara, John Lennon and Frida Kahlo, and a mixed media installation called Transformation which looks at the Industrial Revolution and climate change.
Work by other artists includes: Linda Johnson's installation Jarrow, a 20m spiral of charcoal-drawn figures and real boots representing those who took part in the 1930s Jarrow Crusade against unemployment and poverty in the Tyneside town of Jarrow; Monika Wesselmann's mixed media sculpture Unaufhaltsam - Once It Started about the fall of the Berlin Wall; and Tanya Goddard's mixed media 'Repentence' Tsar Nicolas II and family 1917.
There is also a Revolution Library and visitors are encouraged to make their own statements on a podium emblazoned with the slogans 'art is your human right' and 'join the revolution.'
The Art of Revolution runs until Saturday. It is open daily 11am-5pm. Free entry.
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