Hasta La Ideas

Splendidhand’s print contribution to Power in Numbers

Coming soon to a humble print gallery near you (if the bohemian quarter of Brick Lane is your stomping ground) is Power in Numbers, writes Charley Helfet. The print exhibition opens with a private view at the Bodhi Gallery on 7 May and is set to continue until 27 May, showcasing the work of 50 up-and-coming print artists…

Claudia Boldt

The exhibition, curated by James Hurst (of Cure Studio) and Fred Higginson (of Print Club London), is unique because its curators selected work from an open call of submissions, rather than simply approaching a few already-established usual suspects.

Damien Frost

“We had an open call for submissions which we put out to the illustrator community at large – we also approached a few key people directly who we knew would produce something amazing,” enthuses Hurst. “Out of the open call we received over 400 submissions from all over the world… it’s very sad we could only print up 50 of them!” The two enterprising curators have chosen work by artists from Pakistan, Germany, Israel, France, Norway and the UK for the show.

Jake Blanchard

As well as selection duties, Hurst and Higginson’s responsibilities include the final printing of the exhibits, a laborious job which entails printing 50 copies of each of the 50 works – or rather, printing onto 2,500 separate sheets of paper in the space of seven days – no pressure then. This record-breaking workaholism, having dubbed itself a “print marathon,” can be viewed on vimeo.com/curestudio where its daily progress is currently being recorded.

Luke James

Despite the constraints of being limited to a single colour per print, Power in Numbers’ entrants cover an eclectic range of styles, from the naïve (Claudia Bolt) to the representational (Damien Frost), the cartoon-like (Splendidhand) to the painterly (Owen P), and from juxtapositions to coherent visual narrative, all in a range of hues.

Owen P

The Bodhi Gallery will also be hosting a calendar of events including live music, and printing and industry meet and greet nights to coincide with the exhibit.

The full list of artists showing at Power in Numbers is as follows:
Alain Magallon / Alice Stallard / Camelia Dobrin / One Side Zero / Charlotte Smith / Chris Floyd / Claudia Boldt / Dan Speight / David Gibbons/ Damien Frost / Emma Vorster / Emmi / Haruka Shinji / Heejohng Chae / Ivan Mayorquin / I Will Create / Jake Blanchard / Jez Burrows / Jim Smith / Josephine Spencer / Luke James / Marc Stewart / Mark McClure / Maxwell Harrison / Naíma Almeida / Ornamental Conifer / Owen P / Partly Civil / Peter James Field / Peter Stitson / Raymond Wong / Rose Stallard / Royal Glamsters / Sara Nesteruk / Sichi / Splendidhand / Stephen Chan / Steve Price / Steven Emmanuel / Stuart Chatman / Tom Baxter / Trisha McNally / Wayne Chisnall / Yann Brien / Austin from New / Random Boy / Ministry of Love / Baldrick Buckle

All of the prints will be 50cm x 50cm and will cost £20. To keep in touch go to curestudio.com, twitter.com/curestudio or info@curestudio.com

Power in Numbers, 7 May – 27 May at the Bodhi Gallery, 214 Brick Lane, London, E1 6SA‎ – 07771 765 225‎