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Summer Exhibition 2003
Sponsored by AT Kearney an EDS company
2 June – 10 August
THE Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition is the largest open contempory art exhibition in the world and has been held annually since 1768. the Summer Exhibition 2003, sponsored for the fifth consecutive year by A.T. Kearney, draws together a wide range of new work by living artists, and features painting, sculpture, printmaking, drawing as well as architectural models. The exhibition includes over 1200 works, the majority of which are for sale, and highlights the key components by separating them into distinct areas: invited artists, Royal Academicians and open submissions. This year architecture takes a prominent role for the first time, following the exhibition’s special focus on sculpture last year, with a unique display focused on tall buildings curated by Royal Academician, Norman Foster. Highlights also include a gallery showcasing work by the cream of young artists from four major London art colleges, one room devoted to the work of the late Spanish sculptor, Edeuardo Chillida, and a spectacular sculpture by David Mach in the RA Annenberg Courtyard.
The Summer Exhibition 2003 features a gallery dedicated to the design and construction of tall buildings. Curated by internationally renowned arcitect, Norman Foster, this dramatic display, Sky High:- Vertical Arcitecture – presents both early high riser buildings and some of the most innovative skyscrapers currently being designed worldwide, through the use of models, videos and interactive programmes. This display offers visitors a fascinating glimpse into the future of vertical architecture, by exploring the most recent technical innovations powering the race for the clouds.
In another innovative new development, initiated by this year’s Senior Hanger, the renowned painter Fred Cuming, some of the most talented young artists studying and working in London have been invited to submit work to the Summer exhibition 2003. in a unique collaboration between four London art schools – the RA Schools, the Royal College of Art, Goldsmiths College and the Slade School of Fine Art – work by students and recent graduates from all four colleges is displayed side by side, enabling visitors to see and buy work by some of the future stars of the art world.
Visitors to the Summer Exhibition 2003 will be greeted by a spectacular sculpture of a fire-eater by David Mach RA. Entitled Hell Bent , the 10’ high sculpture positioned on a plinth, high above visitors, breathes giant balls of fire across the recently transformed Annenberg Courtyard at regular intervals. This is the sixth year of the free sculpture programme in the Courtyard, which has previously featured work by Antony Gormley, Edurdo Paolozzi, Tony Cragg and Gary Hume.
The first two galleries of the Summer Exhibition 2003 are for the first time dedicated almost entirely to sculpture. Gallery 1 is dominated by the presence of colourful works, from the John Wragg’s two dimensional reliefs to David Mach’s huge photomontages. In contrast the sculpture displayed in Gallery II is predominately monochrome, and features Nigel Hall’s Beautifully crafted wall sculpture, three bronze sculptures by the late Lynn Chadwick, plus two new sculptures by Jake and Dinos Chapman. The Large Weston Room, predominately hung with a wide variety of prints, also includes David Nash’s huge floor sculpture Husk created from Charred Oak.
The Summer Exhibition 2003 traditionally includes special displays of works by Ras and honorary Ras who have died during the previous year. The exhibition therefore pays tribute to two Honorary Ras, the Chilean Surrealist painter Matta (1911 – 2003), with a display of his huge energetic paintings in Gallery III, and the Spanish sculptor Eduardo Chillida (1924 – 2002) in the Wohl Central Hall. The Central Hall is entirely devoted to Chillida’s work, with elegant architectural sculptures and monochrome etchings displayed in a minimal setting.
In addition to Lord Foster’s spectacular display of skyscrapers in the Lecture Room, Gallery IX features the traditional varied display of architectural models, drawings and prints by some of the world’s leading architectural practices, including Will Alsop’s architectural vision of the future All that Barnsley Might Dream. Norman Foster’s display, Sky High:- Vertyical Architecture, presents architectural models as works of art, in a dramatic installation. By situating the display next to the Chillida gallery, with a clear view through to the imposing works by Matta, the Summer Exhibition explores the associations between painting, sculpture and architecture.
Anthony Green RA, one of Britain’s most original artists, is this year’s featured Royal Academician. Gallery X is dominated by his extraordinary work
Ressurection,
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part sculpture, part painting, part installation, which features a ticking clock, glass chandelier and everlasting flowers. A deeply personal celebration of the artist’s life and faith, this huge work brings together the stories of various members of the Green family, both living and dead, each of whom is at a different stage of a journey to heaven. The sculpture, which toured cathedrals across the UK in 2000, is complemented at the RA by a series of related paintings, drawings and prints.
This year over £70,000 of prize money will be awarded to artists of exceptional merit donated by commercial and industrial sponsors as well as by generous individuals. The RA Charles Wollaston Award is, at £25,000, one of the largest and most prestigious art prizes in Britain. The Summer Exhibition 2003 sees the addition of substantial new prizes. The largest new award is the Winsor & Newton Turner Watercolour Award for £5000. the British Institution Awards have been given out for the first time in the Summer Exhibition 2003, with four prizes of £1000 awarded to students in the catergories of painting, sculpture, architecture and works on paper.
The President of the Royal Academy – sculptor Professor Phillip King – traditionally chairs the Summer Exhibition Selection Committee. Also on the Committee for 2003 , drawn from the Council of the RA are Fred
Cuming, Senior Hanger, Ann Christopher, Bill Woodrow, John Wragg, (Sculptors), Gus Cummins, Ken Howard, John
Hoyland, Mick Moon, Brendan Neiland, Anthony Winshaw, (Painters), Eileen Cooper (Printmaker), Edward Cullinan and Norman Foster (Architects).
EVENTS PROGRAMME
The Summer Exhibition 2003 is complemented by a diverse programme of special events, evening lectures and gallery talks. The programme includes a series of high profile lectures by leading architects including the RA Annual Architecture Lecture, given this year by renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano.
For families there are specific gallery talks, plus family workshops. For children aged between 8 and 13 there is a free printed guide sheet to the exhibition. Activity trays, including art materials, will be available for younger visitors to create their own works of art. There will also be music workshops given in the summer Exhibition by musicians from the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
PUBLICATIONS
In addition to the Summer Exhibition Illustrated, which this year has been edited by art critic and writer, Frank
Whitford, RA Publications have produced a dedicated book on tall buildings to accompany Sky High:- Vertical Architecture.
SPONSORSHIP
Global Management consultancy A.T.Kearney continue their long running sponsorship of the Summer Exhibition – 2003 is the fifth year. The firm has a history of commitment to art and artists, holding annual exhibitions at its offices in London and initiating the ‘Portraits of Business’ programme – this latter initiative was first introduced four years ago to create dialogue between the arts and business communities. Each year A.T.Kearney commissions Royal Academicians to create visual impressions of well known businesses – companies involved in the past have included Ford,
Unilever, Cadbury Schwepes and Rolls-Royce. This year, Chris Orr RA is working with
HSBC.
A.T.Kearney’s UK Manageing Director, Carl Hanson says:-
“Our involvement in one of the UK’s most important annual art exhibitions is a great source of pride, not just for
A.T.Kearney, but also for our clients and partners across the globe who view this as a tangible example of our commitment to the arts.”
A.T Kearney (www.atkearney.com) is one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing management consulting firms. With a global presence that includes more than 60 offices in 37 countries, spanning major and emerging markets, A.T.Kearney provides strategic, operational, organisational and technology consulting and executive search services to the world’s leading companies.
A.T. Kearney is the high-value management consulting subsidiary of global services leader EDS.
DATES AND OPENING HOURS
Monday 2 June – Sunday 10 August 2003 (closed from 2pm on 26 June)
Late night opening:- Fridays until 10pm (last admission 9.30pm)
ADMISSION
£7.00 full price, £6.00 60 years+ and registered disabled;
£5.00 NUS;
£3.00 12 –18 years and Income Support;
£2.00 9 – 11 years.
TICKETS
Tickets are available daily at the RA. To book tickets in advance please
tel:-
0870 848 8484 or 0870 830 0201 or www.royalacademy.org.uk
Groups of 10+ are asked to book in advance. Please tel:- 020 7300 5995, fax:-
020 7300 5781
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