Alison Goldfrapp who is best known for her elctro-retro-pop music takes the lead in the first Performer as Curator exhibition series presented by The Lowry, Salford, Greater Manchester, UK. Her exhibition of painting, photography, illustration and film is drawn from national and international collections.
Centred strongly on fairy tale imagery and subversive storytelling, the exhibited works will offer unique insight into the her artistic vision. An exhibition curated by the elusive, enigmatic and uncompromisingly glamorous musician and style icon, Alison Goldfrapp will open at The Lowry, Salford Quays on Sat 19 October 2013. The performer will give the public a rare opportunity to explore some of her personal inspirations through the painters, film makers, illustrators and photographers who have shaped her own inimitable artistic vision.
Alison Goldfrapp has enjoyed international acclaim following a string of worldwide hits, including Strict Machine, Ooh La La, Lovely Head and Utopia in a career spanning 14 years. In addition to her critical and commercial success, Goldfrapp’s reputation for spell-binding live performance and original costume designs – coupled with her unwillingness to allow public intrusion into her private life – have cemented her reputation as one of pop music’s most intriguing stars.
This diverse and high profile selection of works will portray the artist’s fascination in the darker side of fairy tales and folklore through traditional and contemporary artworks by internationally renowned artists such as Marcel Dzama, John Stezaker, Leonora Carrington, Jan Pienkowski and Lotte Reiniger. Goldfrapp, who graduated from art school while writing and performing music, also art directs all things visual for the band. The exhibition explores the themes of transformation, metamorphosis and identity that often recur within traditional fairy tales and that have been represented within works of art for centuries.
Launching an annual exhibition series titled Performer as Curator; The Lowry has hand-picked Goldfrapp to be the very first performer to take over the galleries. Aiming to bridge the gap between the performing and visual arts by engaging visitors with the inspirations of successful and critically acclaimed performers, the musician’s trailblazing exhibition will gather pieces of art from collections around the world.
Michael Simpson, Head of Visual Art and Engagement at the Lowry said: “The Lowry is a unique venue that combines major theatres and galleries under one roof, and we value working with dancers, musicians and actors in our galleries, and artists in our theatres. Alison Goldfrapp was a natural first choice for us, given her remarkable synthesis of music and visual imagery. This is an exciting new venture for us and there are more collaborations in the pipeline”.
Performer as Curator: Alison Goldfrapp continues The Lowry’s commitment to exhibitions that demonstrate the relationships between the performing and visual arts. The exhibition follows the success of recent exhibitions, including Developing: Photographs by Mary McCartney, Peter Blake and Pop Music, celebrating the Godfather of Pop Art’s relationship with music, Warhol and the Diva exploring the American artist’s portraits of stage and screen icons and The House of Annie Lennox that offered insight into the image and passions of the singer. The Lowry hosts a year-round programme of exhibitions as well as drama, dance, comedy and music across its three theatres.
Alison Goldfrapp: Performer as Curator Sat 19 October 2013 – Sun 2 March 2014 The Lowry, Salford Quays
FREE