Premise brings together paintings, on canvas, linen or paper and installations by artists, each notable Royal College of Art alumni, responding to Queen Alexandra’s House (QAH), as a physical space and/or its ethos.
QAH has a remarkable history, the origins trace from the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851. In preparing for this exhibition I examined the plans of the house, house minutes and archives. QAH has remained constant, through zeppelin raids in 1918, flu epidemics in the past and indeed recently in supporting women in their education.
With 7 generations of alumni from every corner of the globe, it still adheres to its principle “For present comfort and for for future good’. The arts can only advance from this kind of consistent support.
Since starting my MA at the RCA, it has been a delight to experience the exterior, entrance hall, staircase and inspirational panels depicting images of western and asian art and musicians. This vision and belief in education, in supporting the arts, continues at QAH to this day where under Principal Siobhen Brown, every conceivable effort is made to ensure residents are cared for and nurtured in an unparalleled way.
Premise presents work being placed in a temporary/fleeting response to QAH. It represents a conversation between the past, the listed wallpaper, the magnificent drawing room and portraits of significant supporters and a diverse collection of artists. These artists (some past residents) are RCA graduates from different decades and parts of the globe but are connected to the vision which inspired QAH. Their work does not seek to change or alter this proud past, but rather scratch the surface of a conversation between then and now and extend the reach.
Henry Moore, an RCA graduate said “To be an artist is to believe in life.” It is a joy to curate this exhibition, the first at QAH in over a 100 years, and testament to belief.
Elva Mulchrone
Curator, Premise
Showing:
Pink prescription I
Acrylic and silkscreen on linen, 46 x 46cm
Pink prescription II
Acrylic and silkscreen on linen, 46 x 46cm
Underground
Inkjet and silkscreen on fabriano, 100 x 70cm