Chiswick House Artist Features In Prestigious 'Sixties' Exhibition

Barry Martin's work is in the Victoria and Albert Museum

The artist-in-residence at Chiswick House, Barry Martin, has his work included in the major exhibition now showing at the Victoria and Albert Museum, entitled,' You Say You Want Revolution, Records and Rebels, 1966-1970'.

Barry Martin became the most versatile and prolific British exponent of Kinetic Art in London in the Swinging Sixties and early 190s. Kinetic Art offered a European alternative to the Anglo-American options of Pop Art, Abstract Expressionism and Minimalism.

Barry is based at a studio in the South Lodge, Chiswick House, which he restored over a period of years in the late 1980s,

Barry Martin outside Chiswick House

The title of Barry's work, is ' You will, you are, you have', The exhibition in the V & A explores the era through some of the greatest music and performances of the 20th century, alongside fashion, film, design and political activism. The exhibition runs until the end of February, 2017, and then travels world-wide until 2020.

Says Barry: "The work in the show is about movement under certain conditions involving sensory deprivation which I made in 1966 at St. Martin's School of Art, involving fellow students and staff including Richard Long, George Pasmore,( Gilbert and George), and others. The film inspired 12 Dutch artists to organise an exhibition in Amsterdam in the W139 Gallery last year, entitled 'Wilful Blindness' and using 60 tons of clay!

"The exhibition proved very successful and the Dutch press were very enthusiastic. Tate Britain also showed it in one of their BP displays two years ago, albeit on a small screen.

"At the V&A the film is shown along with 9 other short films in a film booth and large screen. Other films from the 1966-1970 period include John Lennon and Yoko Ono in bed for Peace in New York, and other noteworthy events that were filmed and have become icons of the period."

The two black and white images are of the period, i.e late sixties kinetic works, and the coloured worked is a more recent picture about movement and space, since a lot of Barry's work has been about movement and its effects .

The exhibition as a whole is very well subscribed to and any one wishing to go needs to book in advance.

October 16, 2016