A major exhibition bringing together early and recent work by some of the most significant British artists of our time opens this March in the vast subterranean gallery of Ambika P3 in London. Curated by the hugely influential teacher Peter Kardia, From Floor to Sky runs from 5 March until 4 April 2010. Peter Kardia is widely recognised for his work as a radical and pioneering teacher at both Saint Martins and the Royal College of Art during the 60s and 70s. All 28 artists in this exhibition are former students and each has lent works for this show in celebration of Peter Kardia’s work, as he continues to exert a major influence on British sculpture today.
Richard Deacon – Siamese Metal 2, 2008
Each artist is contributing two pieces of work, one from the earliest period of their career and one contemporary piece. The show, which includes sculpture, painting, film and performance, bridging up to 30 years, will provide a crucial assessment of contemporary British sculpture and give a unique insight into the development of each artist’s work.
Peter Kardia studied for three years in the Sculpture School at the Slade under Professor Gerrard during the 1950s. In this period he met Henry Moore who made periodic visits to the School. When he completed his course he was invited by Moore to work as a studio assistant at Perry Green, near Much Hadham in Essex. In the group of four assistants he met Anthony Caro and it was this contact which led to the period of teaching he undertook at St Martin’s Sculpture Department.
Peter Kardia taught at St Martin’s and at the Royal College of Art simultaneously from 1960 and set up the radical ‘A’ Course and the experimental ‘Locked Room’ course at St Martin’s in the late sixties before leaving St Martin’s to set up the Environmental Media Department at the Royal College in 1973. He took early retirement in 1986.
Ambika P3, formerly known as P3, is a 14,000 square foot triple height subterranean space in central London, converted from the vast former concrete construction hall for the University of Westminster’s School of Engineering. Built in the 1960s, its dramatic and impressive scale and its many retained industrial features, offer opportunities for a range of creative activities and provides an inspiring venue for the exhibition of art.
The Ambika P3 programme is dedicated to innovation, experimentation and learning and, supported by the Ambika Paul Foundation, has been conceived as a laboratory and meeting place for practitioners, industry and academia, aimed at both specialist and general public enthusiasm for architecture, design, media, fashion and visual and performing arts.
Artists in From Floor to Sky
Alison Wilding – Bill Woodrow – Boyd Webb – Richard Deacon – Richard Wentworth – Roger Ackling – Nigel Slight – Roderick Coyne – John Panting – Carolyne Kardia – Carl Plackman – Ismail Saray – Jean Mathee – Terry New – Martin Ive – Hamish Fulton – Gillian Cook – Brian Catling- Guy Martin – Peter Venn – Nina Danino – Paul Etienne Lincoln – Katharine Meynell – Roger Ackling – John Hilliard – Ian Kirkwood – Keith Brown – Frances Earnshore
www.p3exhibitions.com