Aston Hall, the beautiful Jacobean mansion house that sits in pretty gardens in the North of Birmingham, has some mighty fine new additions. They may only be there on a temporary basis but visitors to the Hall will get to see some contemporary pieces amongst the centuries old exhibits.
Sympathetically displayed this intervention of works is a response to the space they find themselves in. Taken from the Art Council’s vast collection the pieces, that include painting, photography, installation, video and sound pieces, are positioned to be ‘found’ by visitors rather than being forced upon them – although that is not true of two if the pieces: Laura Ford’s 15ft Giraffe (1990), an imposing patchwork model that found in the ‘Green Library‘ of the Hall, sits in place of of natural history exhibits (including a rhinoceros and animal heads). While Toby Ziegler’s ‘Portrait of C.L.’ (2006) can hardly be missed either; a 2 meter tall pineapple made of plywood looks impressive in the Long Gallery.
Meanwhile, also in the Long Gallery, Maud Sulter’s large scale formally posed portraits are a fitting addition to the space which would have once be given over to the display of family portraits.
A favourite piece is one of the first visitor’s will see in ‘The Saloon’. Toby Ziegler’s ‘Je t’adore, baby’ (2003-2004) painting is a subtle addition to the room that brightens the space with a graphic depiction of trees in white.
Dates: 30 June – 9 September 2012
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Sunday 12.00pm – 4.00pm
Location: Aston Hall, Trinity Road, Aston, Birmingham, B6 6JD
Web: http://www.bmag.org.uk/events?id=1945
Tickets: Free to Aston Hall ticket holders
