Exploring the symbiotic relationship between the written word and visual world, Between the Lines celebrates the beauty of language and its aesthetic importance as portrayed by some of the greatest contemporary artists of our time. Featuring over 40 evocative works, all of which carry a depth of meaning that go far beyond their appearance, the exhibition highlights the interplay between language and image and the power of words in modern society.
With the onset of the digital age and the emergence of a new language reliant on abbreviations or constrained to 140 characters, the revival of the written word has become a central point in the work of many artists. Harking back to the poetic cut-ups technique that was integral to William Burroughs’ practice in the 1960s, artists such as Harland Miller, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Ed Ruscha have long incorporated and recontextualised phrases, advertising slogans, billboards and book titles to form a new narrative that is as immediate and impactful as colour and texture.
Comprised of a broad range of notable works such as ‘I Want To Be Inside EU‘ by The Connor Brothers and ‘Everybody Is Full Of Shit’ by Mel Bochner, Between the Lines makes a statement about the effect of language and its influence on artistic practice over the past fifty years. The exhibition includes works by Tracey Emin, Christopher Wool, Ed Ruscha, Mel Bochner, Harland Miller, The Connor Brothers, Richard Prince, David Shrigley, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Banksy, Massimo Agostinelli, Grayson Perry, Brendan Murphy, Andy Warhol and Mr Brainwash.