WW Gallery presents We Love 77, an exhibition of 77 paintings by artist duo Sardine & Tobleroni, chronicling the evolution of punk rock, with special appearances from the legendary Don Letts and punk rock icon Poly Styrene of X-ray Spex, plus screenings of major punk documentaries, surprise gigs and many of the featured musicians in attendance at the London launch.
Sardine & Tobleroni, Blondie. © Sardine & Tobleroni and WW Gallery 2010
This is the first major UK solo exhibition for Sardine & Tobleroni, who describe their practice as ‘Conceptual Art Brut’. Sardine & Tobleroni were inspired to embark on their series in 2005 when Mojo ran a special Punk Issue called 77 Punk Smashers. The paintings include The Clash, X-ray Spex, Sex Pistols, Ramones, Buzzocks, MC5, The Stooges, Patti Smith, New York Dolls, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Sham 69, The Damned, Joy Division and Black Flag, to name a few.
For many 1977 was the definitive year of Punk, but this exhibition also features influential bands from the early American precursors like the Stooges, to contemporary bands like the Libertines. The result is the first art exhibition of its kind and a monumental tribute by the artists to one of the most exciting eras in the history of popular culture.
To launch the exhibition, British film director and musician Don Letts – original house DJ at the Roxy, where the first Punks congregated – will play a set, and Poly Styrene, often described as the voice of 77, will be introducing her film X-ray Spex Live at the Roundhouse 2008. To give further context to the paintings, there will be a series of documentary screenings, including The History of the Clash, Don Letts’ PUNK: attitude, Zillah Minx’s She’s a Punk Rocker UK and much more.
For further information, please contact Chiara Williams or Debra Wilson at [email protected] or 07531342128 or visit http://www.wilsonwilliamsgallery.com
Attendance to the launch on Fri 19 Feb is by RSVP only, to [email protected]
