Gilbert and George
Encyclopedia
Gilbert & George are two artists who work together as a collaborative duo. Gilbert Proesch (San Martin de Tor
, Italy
, 17 September 1943) and George Passmore (Plymouth
, United Kingdom
, 8 January 1942) have become famous for their distinctive, highly formal appearance and manner and their brightly coloured graphic-style photo-based artworks.
in Italy
, his mother tongue being Ladin
rather than Italian
. He studied art at the Wolkenstein School of Art and Hallein School of Art in Austria and the Akademie der Kunst, Munich
, before moving to England. George Passmore was born in Plymouth
in the United Kingdom
, to a single mother in a poor household. He studied art at the Dartington College of Arts
and the Oxford School of Art, then part of the Oxford College of Technology, which eventually became Oxford Brookes University
.
The two first met on 25 September 1967 while studying sculpture at St Martins School of Art, now Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design
, one of six colleges in the University of the Arts, London. The two claim they came together because George was the only person who could understand Gilbert's rather poorly spoken English
. In a 2002 interview with Daily Telegraph, they said of their meeting: "it was love at first sight". They have claimed that they married in 2008.
For many years, Gilbert & George have been residents of Fournier Street
, Spitalfields
, East London. Their entire body of work has been created in, and focused on, London's East End, which they see as a microcosm. According to George, "Nothing happens in the world that doesn't happen in the East End".
in 1970. For this performance they covered their heads and hands in multi-coloured metalised powders, stood on a table, and sang along and moved to a recording of Flanagan and Allen
's song "Underneath the Arches
", sometimes for a day at a time. The suits they wore for this became a sort of uniform for them. They rarely appear in public without wearing them. It is also unusual for one of the pair to be seen without the other. The pair regard themselves as "living sculptures". They refuse to disassociate their art from their everyday lives, insisting that everything they do is art.
In 1986, Gilbert and George were criticized for a series of pictures seemingly glamourizing 'rough types' of London's East End such as skinhead
s, while a picture of an Asian man bore the title "Paki". Some of their work has attracted media attention because of the inclusion of (potentially) shocking imagery, such as nudity
, depictions of sexual acts
, and bodily fluids (faeces, urine
and semen
). The titles of these works, such as "Naked Shit Pictures" (1994) and "Sonofagod Pictures" (2005), also contributed to the attention.
A book, The Complete Pictures, 1971–2005, published in 2007 by Tate Modern
, includes over a thousand examples of their art.
In May 2007, Gilbert and George were the subject of the BBC
documentary Imagine, presented by Alan Yentob
. At the end of the programme a picture entitled 'Planed' was made available as a free file download from the BBC
and The Guardian
websites for 48 hours. People who downloaded the files could then print and assemble the piece, and thus own an original Gilbert and George picture for free.
In 2000, they moved galleries to be represented by White Cube
and since 2009 by ARNDT in Berlin.
“the Jack Freak Pictures are among the most iconic, philosophically astute and visually violent works that Gilbert & George have ever created.” The Union Jack and Gilbert & George are the two dominant pictorial images - appearing contorted, abstracted, and sometimes complete. The entire series is set in the East End of London indicated by flags, maps, street signs, graffiti and other less obvious motifs such as brickwork and foliage that can be found there.
After showing at White Cube’s Hoxton and Mason Yard galleries the exhibition travelled to the Croatian Museum of Contemporary Art, Zagreb
; The Kröller-Müller Museum
, the Netherlands; Centro de Arte Contemporaneo de Malaga, Spain; Arndt & Partner
gallery, Berlin; the Baronian Francey Gallery, Brussels; and the Bozar Center for Fine Arts, Brussels.
, in 1989 the Special International Award (Los Angeles), in 2007 they won the South Bank
Award, as well as the Lorenzo il Magnifico Award (Florence).
In 2005, they represented the UK at the Venice Biennale
. Their 2007 retrospective at Tate Modern
was the largest of any of the artists who have had retrospectives there.
In December 2008, Gilbert & George were awarded Honorary Doctorates by London Metropolitan University
.
In October 2010, Gilbert & George were awarded the honorary title "Magister Artium Gandensis" by University College Ghent
.
In November 2010, Gilbert & George were conferred with Honorary Doctorates by the University of East London
. George claims never to have been anti-establishment: "you're not allowed to be Conservative in the art world, of course," he says. "Left equals good. Art equals Left. Pop stars and artists are meant to be so original. So how come everyone has the same opinion? ... We admire Margaret Thatcher greatly. She did a lot for art. Socialism wants everyone to be equal. We want to be different." The duo are monarchists, and have said of the Prince of Wales
: "We're also fond of the Prince of Wales: he's a gentleman."
Gilbert & George are two artists who work together as a collaborative duo. Gilbert Proesch (San Martin de Tor
, Italy
, 17 September 1943) and George Passmore (Plymouth
, United Kingdom
, 8 January 1942) have become famous for their distinctive, highly formal appearance and manner and their brightly coloured graphic-style photo-based artworks.
in Italy
, his mother tongue being Ladin
rather than Italian
. He studied art at the Wolkenstein School of Art and Hallein School of Art in Austria and the Akademie der Kunst, Munich
, before moving to England. George Passmore was born in Plymouth
in the United Kingdom
, to a single mother in a poor household. He studied art at the Dartington College of Arts
and the Oxford School of Art, then part of the Oxford College of Technology, which eventually became Oxford Brookes University
.
The two first met on 25 September 1967 while studying sculpture at St Martins School of Art, now Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design
, one of six colleges in the University of the Arts, London. The two claim they came together because George was the only person who could understand Gilbert's rather poorly spoken English
. In a 2002 interview with Daily Telegraph, they said of their meeting: "it was love at first sight". They have claimed that they married in 2008.
For many years, Gilbert & George have been residents of Fournier Street
, Spitalfields
, East London. Their entire body of work has been created in, and focused on, London's East End, which they see as a microcosm. According to George, "Nothing happens in the world that doesn't happen in the East End".
in 1970. For this performance they covered their heads and hands in multi-coloured metalised powders, stood on a table, and sang along and moved to a recording of Flanagan and Allen
's song "Underneath the Arches
", sometimes for a day at a time. The suits they wore for this became a sort of uniform for them. They rarely appear in public without wearing them. It is also unusual for one of the pair to be seen without the other. The pair regard themselves as "living sculptures". They refuse to disassociate their art from their everyday lives, insisting that everything they do is art.
In 1986, Gilbert and George were criticized for a series of pictures seemingly glamourizing 'rough types' of London's East End such as skinhead
s, while a picture of an Asian man bore the title "Paki". Some of their work has attracted media attention because of the inclusion of (potentially) shocking imagery, such as nudity
, depictions of sexual acts
, and bodily fluids (faeces, urine
and semen
). The titles of these works, such as "Naked Shit Pictures" (1994) and "Sonofagod Pictures" (2005), also contributed to the attention.
A book, The Complete Pictures, 1971–2005, published in 2007 by Tate Modern
, includes over a thousand examples of their art.
In May 2007, Gilbert and George were the subject of the BBC
documentary Imagine, presented by Alan Yentob
. At the end of the programme a picture entitled 'Planed' was made available as a free file download from the BBC
and The Guardian
websites for 48 hours. People who downloaded the files could then print and assemble the piece, and thus own an original Gilbert and George picture for free.
In 2000, they moved galleries to be represented by White Cube
and since 2009 by ARNDT in Berlin.
“the Jack Freak Pictures are among the most iconic, philosophically astute and visually violent works that Gilbert & George have ever created.” The Union Jack and Gilbert & George are the two dominant pictorial images - appearing contorted, abstracted, and sometimes complete. The entire series is set in the East End of London indicated by flags, maps, street signs, graffiti and other less obvious motifs such as brickwork and foliage that can be found there.
After showing at White Cube’s Hoxton and Mason Yard galleries the exhibition travelled to the Croatian Museum of Contemporary Art, Zagreb
; The Kröller-Müller Museum
, the Netherlands; Centro de Arte Contemporaneo de Malaga, Spain; Arndt & Partner
gallery, Berlin; the Baronian Francey Gallery, Brussels; and the Bozar Center for Fine Arts, Brussels.
, in 1989 the Special International Award (Los Angeles), in 2007 they won the South Bank
Award, as well as the Lorenzo il Magnifico Award (Florence).
In 2005, they represented the UK at the Venice Biennale
. Their 2007 retrospective at Tate Modern
was the largest of any of the artists who have had retrospectives there.
In December 2008, Gilbert & George were awarded Honorary Doctorates by London Metropolitan University
.
In October 2010, Gilbert & George were awarded the honorary title "Magister Artium Gandensis" by University College Ghent
.
In November 2010, Gilbert & George were conferred with Honorary Doctorates by the University of East London
. George claims never to have been anti-establishment: "you're not allowed to be Conservative in the art world, of course," he says. "Left equals good. Art equals Left. Pop stars and artists are meant to be so original. So how come everyone has the same opinion? ... We admire Margaret Thatcher greatly. She did a lot for art. Socialism wants everyone to be equal. We want to be different." The duo are monarchists, and have said of the Prince of Wales
: "We're also fond of the Prince of Wales: he's a gentleman."
Gilbert & George are two artists who work together as a collaborative duo. Gilbert Proesch (San Martin de Tor
, Italy
, 17 September 1943) and George Passmore (Plymouth
, United Kingdom
, 8 January 1942) have become famous for their distinctive, highly formal appearance and manner and their brightly coloured graphic-style photo-based artworks.
in Italy
, his mother tongue being Ladin
rather than Italian
. He studied art at the Wolkenstein School of Art and Hallein School of Art in Austria and the Akademie der Kunst, Munich
, before moving to England. George Passmore was born in Plymouth
in the United Kingdom
, to a single mother in a poor household. He studied art at the Dartington College of Arts
and the Oxford School of Art, then part of the Oxford College of Technology, which eventually became Oxford Brookes University
.
The two first met on 25 September 1967 while studying sculpture at St Martins School of Art, now Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design
, one of six colleges in the University of the Arts, London. The two claim they came together because George was the only person who could understand Gilbert's rather poorly spoken English
. In a 2002 interview with Daily Telegraph, they said of their meeting: "it was love at first sight". They have claimed that they married in 2008.
For many years, Gilbert & George have been residents of Fournier Street
, Spitalfields
, East London. Their entire body of work has been created in, and focused on, London's East End, which they see as a microcosm. According to George, "Nothing happens in the world that doesn't happen in the East End".
in 1970. For this performance they covered their heads and hands in multi-coloured metalised powders, stood on a table, and sang along and moved to a recording of Flanagan and Allen
's song "Underneath the Arches
", sometimes for a day at a time. The suits they wore for this became a sort of uniform for them. They rarely appear in public without wearing them. It is also unusual for one of the pair to be seen without the other. The pair regard themselves as "living sculptures". They refuse to disassociate their art from their everyday lives, insisting that everything they do is art.
In 1986, Gilbert and George were criticized for a series of pictures seemingly glamourizing 'rough types' of London's East End such as skinhead
s, while a picture of an Asian man bore the title "Paki". Some of their work has attracted media attention because of the inclusion of (potentially) shocking imagery, such as nudity
, depictions of sexual acts
, and bodily fluids (faeces, urine
and semen
). The titles of these works, such as "Naked Shit Pictures" (1994) and "Sonofagod Pictures" (2005), also contributed to the attention.
A book, The Complete Pictures, 1971–2005, published in 2007 by Tate Modern
, includes over a thousand examples of their art.
In May 2007, Gilbert and George were the subject of the BBC
documentary Imagine, presented by Alan Yentob
. At the end of the programme a picture entitled 'Planed' was made available as a free file download from the BBC
and The Guardian
websites for 48 hours. People who downloaded the files could then print and assemble the piece, and thus own an original Gilbert and George picture for free.
In 2000, they moved galleries to be represented by White Cube
and since 2009 by ARNDT in Berlin.
“the Jack Freak Pictures are among the most iconic, philosophically astute and visually violent works that Gilbert & George have ever created.” The Union Jack and Gilbert & George are the two dominant pictorial images - appearing contorted, abstracted, and sometimes complete. The entire series is set in the East End of London indicated by flags, maps, street signs, graffiti and other less obvious motifs such as brickwork and foliage that can be found there.
After showing at White Cube’s Hoxton and Mason Yard galleries the exhibition travelled to the Croatian Museum of Contemporary Art, Zagreb
; The Kröller-Müller Museum
, the Netherlands; Centro de Arte Contemporaneo de Malaga, Spain; Arndt & Partner
gallery, Berlin; the Baronian Francey Gallery, Brussels; and the Bozar Center for Fine Arts, Brussels.
, in 1989 the Special International Award (Los Angeles), in 2007 they won the South Bank
Award, as well as the Lorenzo il Magnifico Award (Florence).
In 2005, they represented the UK at the Venice Biennale
. Their 2007 retrospective at Tate Modern
was the largest of any of the artists who have had retrospectives there.
In December 2008, Gilbert & George were awarded Honorary Doctorates by London Metropolitan University
.
In October 2010, Gilbert & George were awarded the honorary title "Magister Artium Gandensis" by University College Ghent
.
In November 2010, Gilbert & George were conferred with Honorary Doctorates by the University of East London
. George claims never to have been anti-establishment: "you're not allowed to be Conservative in the art world, of course," he says. "Left equals good. Art equals Left. Pop stars and artists are meant to be so original. So how come everyone has the same opinion? ... We admire Margaret Thatcher greatly. She did a lot for art. Socialism wants everyone to be equal. We want to be different." The duo are monarchists, and have said of the Prince of Wales
: "We're also fond of the Prince of Wales: he's a gentleman."
San Martin de Tor
San Martin de Tor is a comune in South Tyrol in the Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located about 90 km northeast of the city of Trento and about 45 km northeast of the city of Bolzano .-Geography:...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, 17 September 1943) and George Passmore (Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, 8 January 1942) have become famous for their distinctive, highly formal appearance and manner and their brightly coloured graphic-style photo-based artworks.
Early life
Gilbert Proesch was born in San Martin de TorSan Martin de Tor
San Martin de Tor is a comune in South Tyrol in the Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located about 90 km northeast of the city of Trento and about 45 km northeast of the city of Bolzano .-Geography:...
in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, his mother tongue being Ladin
Ladin
Ladin is a language consisting of a group of dialects spoken in the Dolomite Mountains in Northern Italy in the border regions of the provinces Trentino, South Tyrol and Belluno...
rather than Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
. He studied art at the Wolkenstein School of Art and Hallein School of Art in Austria and the Akademie der Kunst, Munich
Academy of Fine Arts, Munich
The Academy of Fine Arts, Munich was founded 1808 by Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria in Munich as the "Royal Academy of Fine Arts" and is one of the oldest and most significant art academies in Germany...
, before moving to England. George Passmore was born in Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, to a single mother in a poor household. He studied art at the Dartington College of Arts
Dartington College of Arts
Dartington College of Arts was a specialist arts institution near Totnes, Devon, South West England, it specialized in post-dramatic theatre, music, choreography, Performance Writing and visual performance, focusing on a performative and multi-disciplinary approach to the arts. In addition to this,...
and the Oxford School of Art, then part of the Oxford College of Technology, which eventually became Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University is a new university in Oxford, England. It was named to honour the school's founding principal, John Brookes. It has been ranked as the best new university by the Sunday Times University Guide 10 years in a row...
.
The two first met on 25 September 1967 while studying sculpture at St Martins School of Art, now Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design
Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design
Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design is a constituent college of the University of the Arts London. The school has an outstanding international reputation, and is considered one of the world's leading art and design institutions...
, one of six colleges in the University of the Arts, London. The two claim they came together because George was the only person who could understand Gilbert's rather poorly spoken English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. In a 2002 interview with Daily Telegraph, they said of their meeting: "it was love at first sight". They have claimed that they married in 2008.
For many years, Gilbert & George have been residents of Fournier Street
Fournier Street
Fournier Street, formerly Church Street, is a street of 18th century houses in Spitalfields, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It runs between Commercial Street and Brick Lane....
, Spitalfields
Spitalfields
Spitalfields is a former parish in the borough of Tower Hamlets, in the East End of London, near to Liverpool Street station and Brick Lane. The area straddles Commercial Street and is home to many markets, including the historic Old Spitalfields Market, founded in the 17th century, Sunday...
, East London. Their entire body of work has been created in, and focused on, London's East End, which they see as a microcosm. According to George, "Nothing happens in the world that doesn't happen in the East End".
Singing and living sculptures
Whilst still students Gilbert & George made The Singing Sculpture, which was first performed at Nigel Greenwood GalleryNigel Greenwood (art dealer)
Nigel Palin Greenwood was an erudite and independent-minded art dealer.-Early career:Nigel Greenwood was educated at Christ Church, Oxford and at the Courtauld Institute . He started his career in the art world at the Axiom Gallery in London...
in 1970. For this performance they covered their heads and hands in multi-coloured metalised powders, stood on a table, and sang along and moved to a recording of Flanagan and Allen
Flanagan and Allen
Flanagan and Allen were a British singing and comedy double act popular during World War II. Its members were Bud Flanagan and Chesney Allen...
's song "Underneath the Arches
Underneath the Arches (song)
"Underneath the Arches" is a 1931 popular song with words and music by Bud Flanagan, and additional lyrics by Reg Connelly. It was one of the most famous songs of the duo Flanagan and Allen....
", sometimes for a day at a time. The suits they wore for this became a sort of uniform for them. They rarely appear in public without wearing them. It is also unusual for one of the pair to be seen without the other. The pair regard themselves as "living sculptures". They refuse to disassociate their art from their everyday lives, insisting that everything they do is art.
The Pictures
The pair are perhaps best known for their large scale photo works, known as The Pictures. The early work in this style is in black and white, later with hand-painted red and yellow touches. They proceeded to use a range of bolder colours, sometimes backlit, and overlaid with black grids. The artists themselves frequently feature in these works, along with flowers, youths, friends, and Christian symbolism.In 1986, Gilbert and George were criticized for a series of pictures seemingly glamourizing 'rough types' of London's East End such as skinhead
Skinhead
A skinhead is a member of a subculture that originated among working class youths in the United Kingdom in the 1960s, and then spread to other parts of the world. Named for their close-cropped or shaven heads, the first skinheads were greatly influenced by West Indian rude boys and British mods,...
s, while a picture of an Asian man bore the title "Paki". Some of their work has attracted media attention because of the inclusion of (potentially) shocking imagery, such as nudity
Nudity
Nudity is the state of wearing no clothing. The wearing of clothing is exclusively a human characteristic. The amount of clothing worn depends on functional considerations and social considerations...
, depictions of sexual acts
Sexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse, also known as copulation or coitus, commonly refers to the act in which a male's penis enters a female's vagina for the purposes of sexual pleasure or reproduction. The entities may be of opposite sexes, or they may be hermaphroditic, as is the case with snails...
, and bodily fluids (faeces, urine
Urine
Urine is a typically sterile liquid by-product of the body that is secreted by the kidneys through a process called urination and excreted through the urethra. Cellular metabolism generates numerous by-products, many rich in nitrogen, that require elimination from the bloodstream...
and semen
Semen
Semen is an organic fluid, also known as seminal fluid, that may contain spermatozoa. It is secreted by the gonads and other sexual organs of male or hermaphroditic animals and can fertilize female ova...
). The titles of these works, such as "Naked Shit Pictures" (1994) and "Sonofagod Pictures" (2005), also contributed to the attention.
A book, The Complete Pictures, 1971–2005, published in 2007 by Tate Modern
Tate Modern
Tate Modern is a modern art gallery located in London, England. It is Britain's national gallery of international modern art and forms part of the Tate group . It is the most-visited modern art gallery in the world, with around 4.7 million visitors per year...
, includes over a thousand examples of their art.
In May 2007, Gilbert and George were the subject of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
documentary Imagine, presented by Alan Yentob
Alan Yentob
Alan Yentob is a British television executive and presenter who has worked throughout his career at the BBC.-Early life:...
. At the end of the programme a picture entitled 'Planed' was made available as a free file download from the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
websites for 48 hours. People who downloaded the files could then print and assemble the piece, and thus own an original Gilbert and George picture for free.
In 2000, they moved galleries to be represented by White Cube
White Cube
White Cube is a contemporary art gallery designed by MRJ Rundell & Associates in Hoxton Square in the East End of London Mason's Yard, in central London and White Cube Bermondsey in South East London...
and since 2009 by ARNDT in Berlin.
Jack Freak Pictures
Jack Freak Pictures is, to date, the largest series of work created by Gilbert & George. According to Michael BracewellMichael Bracewell
Michael Bracewell is a British writer and novelist. He was born in London, and educated at the University of Nottingham.-Bibliography:*Fiction**Missing Margate **The Crypto-Amnesia Club...
“the Jack Freak Pictures are among the most iconic, philosophically astute and visually violent works that Gilbert & George have ever created.” The Union Jack and Gilbert & George are the two dominant pictorial images - appearing contorted, abstracted, and sometimes complete. The entire series is set in the East End of London indicated by flags, maps, street signs, graffiti and other less obvious motifs such as brickwork and foliage that can be found there.
After showing at White Cube’s Hoxton and Mason Yard galleries the exhibition travelled to the Croatian Museum of Contemporary Art, Zagreb
Museum of Contemporary Art, Zagreb
The Museum of Contemporary Art is a contemporary art museum located on Dubrovnik Avenue in Zagreb, Croatia. It is the biggest and most modern museum in the country....
; The Kröller-Müller Museum
Kröller-Müller Museum
The Kröller-Müller Museum is an art museum and sculpture garden, located in the Hoge Veluwe National Park in Otterlo in the Netherlands.-Museum:...
, the Netherlands; Centro de Arte Contemporaneo de Malaga, Spain; Arndt & Partner
Arndt & Partner
Arndt & Partner is a contemporary art gallery based in Berlin, Germany, that today is among the city's most important exhibition sites. It is currently located near the Hamburger Bahnhof Museum...
gallery, Berlin; the Baronian Francey Gallery, Brussels; and the Bozar Center for Fine Arts, Brussels.
Awards
In 1981, Gilbert & George won the Regione Lazio Award (Torino), in 1986 the Turner PrizeTurner Prize
The Turner Prize, named after the painter J. M. W. Turner, is an annual prize presented to a British visual artist under the age of 50. Awarding the prize is organised by the Tate gallery and staged at Tate Britain. Since its beginnings in 1984 it has become the United Kingdom's most publicised...
, in 1989 the Special International Award (Los Angeles), in 2007 they won the South Bank
South Bank
South Bank is an area of London, England located immediately adjacent to the south side of the River Thames. It forms a long and narrow section of riverside development that is within the London Borough of Lambeth to the border with the London Borough of Southwark and was formerly simply known as...
Award, as well as the Lorenzo il Magnifico Award (Florence).
In 2005, they represented the UK at the Venice Biennale
Venice Biennale
The Venice Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The Venice Film Festival is part of it. So too is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is held in even years...
. Their 2007 retrospective at Tate Modern
Tate Modern
Tate Modern is a modern art gallery located in London, England. It is Britain's national gallery of international modern art and forms part of the Tate group . It is the most-visited modern art gallery in the world, with around 4.7 million visitors per year...
was the largest of any of the artists who have had retrospectives there.
In December 2008, Gilbert & George were awarded Honorary Doctorates by London Metropolitan University
London Metropolitan University
London Metropolitan University , located in London, England, was formed on 1 August 2002 by the amalgamation of the University of North London and the London Guildhall University . The University has campuses in the City of London and in the London Borough of Islington.The University operates its...
.
In October 2010, Gilbert & George were awarded the honorary title "Magister Artium Gandensis" by University College Ghent
Hogeschool Gent
With thirteen faculties and 16,000 students, University College Ghent is currently the largest university college in Flanders. Its establishment in 1995 is the outcome of two successful mergers that involved sixteen Belgian institutions of higher education. Many had been influential leaders in...
.
In November 2010, Gilbert & George were conferred with Honorary Doctorates by the University of East London
University of East London
The University of East London is a university located in the London Borough of Newham, East London, England, based at two campuses in Stratford and Docklands areas...
Political stances
Gilbert & George are an oddity in the artistic world because of their openly conservative political views and their praise for Margaret ThatcherMargaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
. George claims never to have been anti-establishment: "you're not allowed to be Conservative in the art world, of course," he says. "Left equals good. Art equals Left. Pop stars and artists are meant to be so original. So how come everyone has the same opinion? ... We admire Margaret Thatcher greatly. She did a lot for art. Socialism wants everyone to be equal. We want to be different." The duo are monarchists, and have said of the Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
: "We're also fond of the Prince of Wales: he's a gentleman."
Influences
- Gilbert & George inspired two characters, Man Green and Man Yellow, Chief Constables of the Science Gestapo, in Grant Morrison'sGrant MorrisonGrant Morrison is a Scottish comic book writer, playwright and occultist. He is known for his nonlinear narratives and counter-cultural leanings, as well as his successful runs on titles like Animal Man, Doom Patrol, JLA, The Invisibles, New X-Men, Fantastic Four, All-Star Superman, and...
comicbook series The Filth. The two characters appear in pastiches of Gilbert & George's artwork, with the separate sections of the imagery acting as individual comic book panels. - In the book Man, Machine and Music, Pascale Bussy claims that the look KraftwerkKraftwerkKraftwerk is an influential electronic music band from Düsseldorf, Germany. The group was formed by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider in 1970, and was fronted by them until Schneider's departure in 2008...
adopted between 1974 and 1978 was partly inspired by Gilbert and George.
Further reading
- Baudino, Isabelle; Gautheron, Marie, eds. (2005), Gilbert & George, E1, Lyon: ENS Editions (to accompany an exhibition at the Musée d'art moderne de Saint-Etienne, parallel French and English texts)
- Dutt, Robin (2004), Gilbert & George: obsessions & compulsions. London: Philip Wilson Publishers ISBN 0 85667 570 9
- Farson, Daniel (1999), Gilbert & George: a Portrait, London: HarperCollins
- Farson, Daniel (1991), With Gilbert & George in Moscow, London: Bloomsbury
- Fuchs, Rudi (2007), Gilbert & George: the Complete Pictures, Tate PublishingTate Publishing LtdTate Publishing is a publisher of visual arts books, associated with the Tate Gallery in London, England. It was established in 1911; nowadays it is a division of Tate Enterprises Ltd, an independent company wholly owned by the Trustees of Tate, and is based at Tate Britain, Millbank, London...
ISBN 978-1-85437-681-7 - Jahn, Wolf (1989), The Art of Gilbert & George. New York: Thames & Hudson
- Jonquet, François (2005), Intimate Conversation, London: Phaidon
- Rosenblum, Robert (2004), Introducing Gilbert & George, London: Thames & Hudson
Exhibition catalogues
- 1997: Lehmann Maupin, New York, The Fundamental Pictures
- 2001: White Cube, London, New Horny Pictures
- 2004: Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac, Paris, London E1 Pictures
- 2004: Gallery Bernier/Eliades, Athens, Thirteen Hooligan Pictures
- 2004: Sonnabend Gallery/Lehmann Maupin, New York Perversive Pictures 2004
- 2006: White Cube, London, Sonofagod Pictures
External links
- 2007 interview from Independent on Sunday ABC Arts magazine
- Gilbert and George: Major Exhibition at Tate Modern, London, 2007
- Gilbert and George's film "The World of Gilbert and George" as a RealMedia stream at Tate Online (includes a question and answer session with the audience)
- Complete Biography
- Arts: Gilbert and George on glbtq.comGlbtq.comglbtq.com is an online encyclopedia that presents detailed biographies of notable gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer people. It was named one of the "Best Free Reference Web Sites" in 2005 by the American Library Association....
- 'Gilbert and George unveil new hoodie art' – UK Guardian website, 23/5/2005
- The Singing Sculpture
- Gilbert & George at ARNDT Berlin
- Gilbert & George at Lehmann Maupin Gallery
- Gilbert and George at de Young - San Francisco
- Gilbert and George in the Video Data Bank
- Tateshots video - the artists speak about their 'Bomb Pictures'
- Gilbert & George at the at The Milwaukee Museum of Art Videos.
- G&G interview include URETHRA POSTCARD PICTURES exhibition at Ropac Gallery
Gilbert & George are two artists who work together as a collaborative duo. Gilbert Proesch (San Martin de Tor
San Martin de Tor
San Martin de Tor is a comune in South Tyrol in the Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located about 90 km northeast of the city of Trento and about 45 km northeast of the city of Bolzano .-Geography:...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, 17 September 1943) and George Passmore (Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, 8 January 1942) have become famous for their distinctive, highly formal appearance and manner and their brightly coloured graphic-style photo-based artworks.
Early life
Gilbert Proesch was born in San Martin de TorSan Martin de Tor
San Martin de Tor is a comune in South Tyrol in the Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located about 90 km northeast of the city of Trento and about 45 km northeast of the city of Bolzano .-Geography:...
in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, his mother tongue being Ladin
Ladin
Ladin is a language consisting of a group of dialects spoken in the Dolomite Mountains in Northern Italy in the border regions of the provinces Trentino, South Tyrol and Belluno...
rather than Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
. He studied art at the Wolkenstein School of Art and Hallein School of Art in Austria and the Akademie der Kunst, Munich
Academy of Fine Arts, Munich
The Academy of Fine Arts, Munich was founded 1808 by Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria in Munich as the "Royal Academy of Fine Arts" and is one of the oldest and most significant art academies in Germany...
, before moving to England. George Passmore was born in Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, to a single mother in a poor household. He studied art at the Dartington College of Arts
Dartington College of Arts
Dartington College of Arts was a specialist arts institution near Totnes, Devon, South West England, it specialized in post-dramatic theatre, music, choreography, Performance Writing and visual performance, focusing on a performative and multi-disciplinary approach to the arts. In addition to this,...
and the Oxford School of Art, then part of the Oxford College of Technology, which eventually became Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University is a new university in Oxford, England. It was named to honour the school's founding principal, John Brookes. It has been ranked as the best new university by the Sunday Times University Guide 10 years in a row...
.
The two first met on 25 September 1967 while studying sculpture at St Martins School of Art, now Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design
Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design
Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design is a constituent college of the University of the Arts London. The school has an outstanding international reputation, and is considered one of the world's leading art and design institutions...
, one of six colleges in the University of the Arts, London. The two claim they came together because George was the only person who could understand Gilbert's rather poorly spoken English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. In a 2002 interview with Daily Telegraph, they said of their meeting: "it was love at first sight". They have claimed that they married in 2008.
For many years, Gilbert & George have been residents of Fournier Street
Fournier Street
Fournier Street, formerly Church Street, is a street of 18th century houses in Spitalfields, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It runs between Commercial Street and Brick Lane....
, Spitalfields
Spitalfields
Spitalfields is a former parish in the borough of Tower Hamlets, in the East End of London, near to Liverpool Street station and Brick Lane. The area straddles Commercial Street and is home to many markets, including the historic Old Spitalfields Market, founded in the 17th century, Sunday...
, East London. Their entire body of work has been created in, and focused on, London's East End, which they see as a microcosm. According to George, "Nothing happens in the world that doesn't happen in the East End".
Singing and living sculptures
Whilst still students Gilbert & George made The Singing Sculpture, which was first performed at Nigel Greenwood GalleryNigel Greenwood (art dealer)
Nigel Palin Greenwood was an erudite and independent-minded art dealer.-Early career:Nigel Greenwood was educated at Christ Church, Oxford and at the Courtauld Institute . He started his career in the art world at the Axiom Gallery in London...
in 1970. For this performance they covered their heads and hands in multi-coloured metalised powders, stood on a table, and sang along and moved to a recording of Flanagan and Allen
Flanagan and Allen
Flanagan and Allen were a British singing and comedy double act popular during World War II. Its members were Bud Flanagan and Chesney Allen...
's song "Underneath the Arches
Underneath the Arches (song)
"Underneath the Arches" is a 1931 popular song with words and music by Bud Flanagan, and additional lyrics by Reg Connelly. It was one of the most famous songs of the duo Flanagan and Allen....
", sometimes for a day at a time. The suits they wore for this became a sort of uniform for them. They rarely appear in public without wearing them. It is also unusual for one of the pair to be seen without the other. The pair regard themselves as "living sculptures". They refuse to disassociate their art from their everyday lives, insisting that everything they do is art.
The Pictures
The pair are perhaps best known for their large scale photo works, known as The Pictures. The early work in this style is in black and white, later with hand-painted red and yellow touches. They proceeded to use a range of bolder colours, sometimes backlit, and overlaid with black grids. The artists themselves frequently feature in these works, along with flowers, youths, friends, and Christian symbolism.In 1986, Gilbert and George were criticized for a series of pictures seemingly glamourizing 'rough types' of London's East End such as skinhead
Skinhead
A skinhead is a member of a subculture that originated among working class youths in the United Kingdom in the 1960s, and then spread to other parts of the world. Named for their close-cropped or shaven heads, the first skinheads were greatly influenced by West Indian rude boys and British mods,...
s, while a picture of an Asian man bore the title "Paki". Some of their work has attracted media attention because of the inclusion of (potentially) shocking imagery, such as nudity
Nudity
Nudity is the state of wearing no clothing. The wearing of clothing is exclusively a human characteristic. The amount of clothing worn depends on functional considerations and social considerations...
, depictions of sexual acts
Sexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse, also known as copulation or coitus, commonly refers to the act in which a male's penis enters a female's vagina for the purposes of sexual pleasure or reproduction. The entities may be of opposite sexes, or they may be hermaphroditic, as is the case with snails...
, and bodily fluids (faeces, urine
Urine
Urine is a typically sterile liquid by-product of the body that is secreted by the kidneys through a process called urination and excreted through the urethra. Cellular metabolism generates numerous by-products, many rich in nitrogen, that require elimination from the bloodstream...
and semen
Semen
Semen is an organic fluid, also known as seminal fluid, that may contain spermatozoa. It is secreted by the gonads and other sexual organs of male or hermaphroditic animals and can fertilize female ova...
). The titles of these works, such as "Naked Shit Pictures" (1994) and "Sonofagod Pictures" (2005), also contributed to the attention.
A book, The Complete Pictures, 1971–2005, published in 2007 by Tate Modern
Tate Modern
Tate Modern is a modern art gallery located in London, England. It is Britain's national gallery of international modern art and forms part of the Tate group . It is the most-visited modern art gallery in the world, with around 4.7 million visitors per year...
, includes over a thousand examples of their art.
In May 2007, Gilbert and George were the subject of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
documentary Imagine, presented by Alan Yentob
Alan Yentob
Alan Yentob is a British television executive and presenter who has worked throughout his career at the BBC.-Early life:...
. At the end of the programme a picture entitled 'Planed' was made available as a free file download from the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
websites for 48 hours. People who downloaded the files could then print and assemble the piece, and thus own an original Gilbert and George picture for free.
In 2000, they moved galleries to be represented by White Cube
White Cube
White Cube is a contemporary art gallery designed by MRJ Rundell & Associates in Hoxton Square in the East End of London Mason's Yard, in central London and White Cube Bermondsey in South East London...
and since 2009 by ARNDT in Berlin.
Jack Freak Pictures
Jack Freak Pictures is, to date, the largest series of work created by Gilbert & George. According to Michael BracewellMichael Bracewell
Michael Bracewell is a British writer and novelist. He was born in London, and educated at the University of Nottingham.-Bibliography:*Fiction**Missing Margate **The Crypto-Amnesia Club...
“the Jack Freak Pictures are among the most iconic, philosophically astute and visually violent works that Gilbert & George have ever created.” The Union Jack and Gilbert & George are the two dominant pictorial images - appearing contorted, abstracted, and sometimes complete. The entire series is set in the East End of London indicated by flags, maps, street signs, graffiti and other less obvious motifs such as brickwork and foliage that can be found there.
After showing at White Cube’s Hoxton and Mason Yard galleries the exhibition travelled to the Croatian Museum of Contemporary Art, Zagreb
Museum of Contemporary Art, Zagreb
The Museum of Contemporary Art is a contemporary art museum located on Dubrovnik Avenue in Zagreb, Croatia. It is the biggest and most modern museum in the country....
; The Kröller-Müller Museum
Kröller-Müller Museum
The Kröller-Müller Museum is an art museum and sculpture garden, located in the Hoge Veluwe National Park in Otterlo in the Netherlands.-Museum:...
, the Netherlands; Centro de Arte Contemporaneo de Malaga, Spain; Arndt & Partner
Arndt & Partner
Arndt & Partner is a contemporary art gallery based in Berlin, Germany, that today is among the city's most important exhibition sites. It is currently located near the Hamburger Bahnhof Museum...
gallery, Berlin; the Baronian Francey Gallery, Brussels; and the Bozar Center for Fine Arts, Brussels.
Awards
In 1981, Gilbert & George won the Regione Lazio Award (Torino), in 1986 the Turner PrizeTurner Prize
The Turner Prize, named after the painter J. M. W. Turner, is an annual prize presented to a British visual artist under the age of 50. Awarding the prize is organised by the Tate gallery and staged at Tate Britain. Since its beginnings in 1984 it has become the United Kingdom's most publicised...
, in 1989 the Special International Award (Los Angeles), in 2007 they won the South Bank
South Bank
South Bank is an area of London, England located immediately adjacent to the south side of the River Thames. It forms a long and narrow section of riverside development that is within the London Borough of Lambeth to the border with the London Borough of Southwark and was formerly simply known as...
Award, as well as the Lorenzo il Magnifico Award (Florence).
In 2005, they represented the UK at the Venice Biennale
Venice Biennale
The Venice Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The Venice Film Festival is part of it. So too is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is held in even years...
. Their 2007 retrospective at Tate Modern
Tate Modern
Tate Modern is a modern art gallery located in London, England. It is Britain's national gallery of international modern art and forms part of the Tate group . It is the most-visited modern art gallery in the world, with around 4.7 million visitors per year...
was the largest of any of the artists who have had retrospectives there.
In December 2008, Gilbert & George were awarded Honorary Doctorates by London Metropolitan University
London Metropolitan University
London Metropolitan University , located in London, England, was formed on 1 August 2002 by the amalgamation of the University of North London and the London Guildhall University . The University has campuses in the City of London and in the London Borough of Islington.The University operates its...
.
In October 2010, Gilbert & George were awarded the honorary title "Magister Artium Gandensis" by University College Ghent
Hogeschool Gent
With thirteen faculties and 16,000 students, University College Ghent is currently the largest university college in Flanders. Its establishment in 1995 is the outcome of two successful mergers that involved sixteen Belgian institutions of higher education. Many had been influential leaders in...
.
In November 2010, Gilbert & George were conferred with Honorary Doctorates by the University of East London
University of East London
The University of East London is a university located in the London Borough of Newham, East London, England, based at two campuses in Stratford and Docklands areas...
Political stances
Gilbert & George are an oddity in the artistic world because of their openly conservative political views and their praise for Margaret ThatcherMargaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
. George claims never to have been anti-establishment: "you're not allowed to be Conservative in the art world, of course," he says. "Left equals good. Art equals Left. Pop stars and artists are meant to be so original. So how come everyone has the same opinion? ... We admire Margaret Thatcher greatly. She did a lot for art. Socialism wants everyone to be equal. We want to be different." The duo are monarchists, and have said of the Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
: "We're also fond of the Prince of Wales: he's a gentleman."
Influences
- Gilbert & George inspired two characters, Man Green and Man Yellow, Chief Constables of the Science Gestapo, in Grant Morrison'sGrant MorrisonGrant Morrison is a Scottish comic book writer, playwright and occultist. He is known for his nonlinear narratives and counter-cultural leanings, as well as his successful runs on titles like Animal Man, Doom Patrol, JLA, The Invisibles, New X-Men, Fantastic Four, All-Star Superman, and...
comicbook series The Filth. The two characters appear in pastiches of Gilbert & George's artwork, with the separate sections of the imagery acting as individual comic book panels. - In the book Man, Machine and Music, Pascale Bussy claims that the look KraftwerkKraftwerkKraftwerk is an influential electronic music band from Düsseldorf, Germany. The group was formed by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider in 1970, and was fronted by them until Schneider's departure in 2008...
adopted between 1974 and 1978 was partly inspired by Gilbert and George.
Further reading
- Baudino, Isabelle; Gautheron, Marie, eds. (2005), Gilbert & George, E1, Lyon: ENS Editions (to accompany an exhibition at the Musée d'art moderne de Saint-Etienne, parallel French and English texts)
- Dutt, Robin (2004), Gilbert & George: obsessions & compulsions. London: Philip Wilson Publishers ISBN 0 85667 570 9
- Farson, Daniel (1999), Gilbert & George: a Portrait, London: HarperCollins
- Farson, Daniel (1991), With Gilbert & George in Moscow, London: Bloomsbury
- Fuchs, Rudi (2007), Gilbert & George: the Complete Pictures, Tate PublishingTate Publishing LtdTate Publishing is a publisher of visual arts books, associated with the Tate Gallery in London, England. It was established in 1911; nowadays it is a division of Tate Enterprises Ltd, an independent company wholly owned by the Trustees of Tate, and is based at Tate Britain, Millbank, London...
ISBN 978-1-85437-681-7 - Jahn, Wolf (1989), The Art of Gilbert & George. New York: Thames & Hudson
- Jonquet, François (2005), Intimate Conversation, London: Phaidon
- Rosenblum, Robert (2004), Introducing Gilbert & George, London: Thames & Hudson
Exhibition catalogues
- 1997: Lehmann Maupin, New York, The Fundamental Pictures
- 2001: White Cube, London, New Horny Pictures
- 2004: Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac, Paris, London E1 Pictures
- 2004: Gallery Bernier/Eliades, Athens, Thirteen Hooligan Pictures
- 2004: Sonnabend Gallery/Lehmann Maupin, New York Perversive Pictures 2004
- 2006: White Cube, London, Sonofagod Pictures
External links
- 2007 interview from Independent on Sunday ABC Arts magazine
- Gilbert and George: Major Exhibition at Tate Modern, London, 2007
- Gilbert and George's film "The World of Gilbert and George" as a RealMedia stream at Tate Online (includes a question and answer session with the audience)
- Complete Biography
- Arts: Gilbert and George on glbtq.comGlbtq.comglbtq.com is an online encyclopedia that presents detailed biographies of notable gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer people. It was named one of the "Best Free Reference Web Sites" in 2005 by the American Library Association....
- 'Gilbert and George unveil new hoodie art' – UK Guardian website, 23/5/2005
- The Singing Sculpture
- Gilbert & George at ARNDT Berlin
- Gilbert & George at Lehmann Maupin Gallery
- Gilbert and George at de Young - San Francisco
- Gilbert and George in the Video Data Bank
- Tateshots video - the artists speak about their 'Bomb Pictures'
- Gilbert & George at the at The Milwaukee Museum of Art Videos.
- G&G interview include URETHRA POSTCARD PICTURES exhibition at Ropac Gallery
Gilbert & George are two artists who work together as a collaborative duo. Gilbert Proesch (San Martin de Tor
San Martin de Tor
San Martin de Tor is a comune in South Tyrol in the Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located about 90 km northeast of the city of Trento and about 45 km northeast of the city of Bolzano .-Geography:...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, 17 September 1943) and George Passmore (Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, 8 January 1942) have become famous for their distinctive, highly formal appearance and manner and their brightly coloured graphic-style photo-based artworks.
Early life
Gilbert Proesch was born in San Martin de TorSan Martin de Tor
San Martin de Tor is a comune in South Tyrol in the Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located about 90 km northeast of the city of Trento and about 45 km northeast of the city of Bolzano .-Geography:...
in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, his mother tongue being Ladin
Ladin
Ladin is a language consisting of a group of dialects spoken in the Dolomite Mountains in Northern Italy in the border regions of the provinces Trentino, South Tyrol and Belluno...
rather than Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
. He studied art at the Wolkenstein School of Art and Hallein School of Art in Austria and the Akademie der Kunst, Munich
Academy of Fine Arts, Munich
The Academy of Fine Arts, Munich was founded 1808 by Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria in Munich as the "Royal Academy of Fine Arts" and is one of the oldest and most significant art academies in Germany...
, before moving to England. George Passmore was born in Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, to a single mother in a poor household. He studied art at the Dartington College of Arts
Dartington College of Arts
Dartington College of Arts was a specialist arts institution near Totnes, Devon, South West England, it specialized in post-dramatic theatre, music, choreography, Performance Writing and visual performance, focusing on a performative and multi-disciplinary approach to the arts. In addition to this,...
and the Oxford School of Art, then part of the Oxford College of Technology, which eventually became Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University is a new university in Oxford, England. It was named to honour the school's founding principal, John Brookes. It has been ranked as the best new university by the Sunday Times University Guide 10 years in a row...
.
The two first met on 25 September 1967 while studying sculpture at St Martins School of Art, now Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design
Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design
Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design is a constituent college of the University of the Arts London. The school has an outstanding international reputation, and is considered one of the world's leading art and design institutions...
, one of six colleges in the University of the Arts, London. The two claim they came together because George was the only person who could understand Gilbert's rather poorly spoken English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. In a 2002 interview with Daily Telegraph, they said of their meeting: "it was love at first sight". They have claimed that they married in 2008.
For many years, Gilbert & George have been residents of Fournier Street
Fournier Street
Fournier Street, formerly Church Street, is a street of 18th century houses in Spitalfields, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It runs between Commercial Street and Brick Lane....
, Spitalfields
Spitalfields
Spitalfields is a former parish in the borough of Tower Hamlets, in the East End of London, near to Liverpool Street station and Brick Lane. The area straddles Commercial Street and is home to many markets, including the historic Old Spitalfields Market, founded in the 17th century, Sunday...
, East London. Their entire body of work has been created in, and focused on, London's East End, which they see as a microcosm. According to George, "Nothing happens in the world that doesn't happen in the East End".
Singing and living sculptures
Whilst still students Gilbert & George made The Singing Sculpture, which was first performed at Nigel Greenwood GalleryNigel Greenwood (art dealer)
Nigel Palin Greenwood was an erudite and independent-minded art dealer.-Early career:Nigel Greenwood was educated at Christ Church, Oxford and at the Courtauld Institute . He started his career in the art world at the Axiom Gallery in London...
in 1970. For this performance they covered their heads and hands in multi-coloured metalised powders, stood on a table, and sang along and moved to a recording of Flanagan and Allen
Flanagan and Allen
Flanagan and Allen were a British singing and comedy double act popular during World War II. Its members were Bud Flanagan and Chesney Allen...
's song "Underneath the Arches
Underneath the Arches (song)
"Underneath the Arches" is a 1931 popular song with words and music by Bud Flanagan, and additional lyrics by Reg Connelly. It was one of the most famous songs of the duo Flanagan and Allen....
", sometimes for a day at a time. The suits they wore for this became a sort of uniform for them. They rarely appear in public without wearing them. It is also unusual for one of the pair to be seen without the other. The pair regard themselves as "living sculptures". They refuse to disassociate their art from their everyday lives, insisting that everything they do is art.
The Pictures
The pair are perhaps best known for their large scale photo works, known as The Pictures. The early work in this style is in black and white, later with hand-painted red and yellow touches. They proceeded to use a range of bolder colours, sometimes backlit, and overlaid with black grids. The artists themselves frequently feature in these works, along with flowers, youths, friends, and Christian symbolism.In 1986, Gilbert and George were criticized for a series of pictures seemingly glamourizing 'rough types' of London's East End such as skinhead
Skinhead
A skinhead is a member of a subculture that originated among working class youths in the United Kingdom in the 1960s, and then spread to other parts of the world. Named for their close-cropped or shaven heads, the first skinheads were greatly influenced by West Indian rude boys and British mods,...
s, while a picture of an Asian man bore the title "Paki". Some of their work has attracted media attention because of the inclusion of (potentially) shocking imagery, such as nudity
Nudity
Nudity is the state of wearing no clothing. The wearing of clothing is exclusively a human characteristic. The amount of clothing worn depends on functional considerations and social considerations...
, depictions of sexual acts
Sexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse, also known as copulation or coitus, commonly refers to the act in which a male's penis enters a female's vagina for the purposes of sexual pleasure or reproduction. The entities may be of opposite sexes, or they may be hermaphroditic, as is the case with snails...
, and bodily fluids (faeces, urine
Urine
Urine is a typically sterile liquid by-product of the body that is secreted by the kidneys through a process called urination and excreted through the urethra. Cellular metabolism generates numerous by-products, many rich in nitrogen, that require elimination from the bloodstream...
and semen
Semen
Semen is an organic fluid, also known as seminal fluid, that may contain spermatozoa. It is secreted by the gonads and other sexual organs of male or hermaphroditic animals and can fertilize female ova...
). The titles of these works, such as "Naked Shit Pictures" (1994) and "Sonofagod Pictures" (2005), also contributed to the attention.
A book, The Complete Pictures, 1971–2005, published in 2007 by Tate Modern
Tate Modern
Tate Modern is a modern art gallery located in London, England. It is Britain's national gallery of international modern art and forms part of the Tate group . It is the most-visited modern art gallery in the world, with around 4.7 million visitors per year...
, includes over a thousand examples of their art.
In May 2007, Gilbert and George were the subject of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
documentary Imagine, presented by Alan Yentob
Alan Yentob
Alan Yentob is a British television executive and presenter who has worked throughout his career at the BBC.-Early life:...
. At the end of the programme a picture entitled 'Planed' was made available as a free file download from the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
websites for 48 hours. People who downloaded the files could then print and assemble the piece, and thus own an original Gilbert and George picture for free.
In 2000, they moved galleries to be represented by White Cube
White Cube
White Cube is a contemporary art gallery designed by MRJ Rundell & Associates in Hoxton Square in the East End of London Mason's Yard, in central London and White Cube Bermondsey in South East London...
and since 2009 by ARNDT in Berlin.
Jack Freak Pictures
Jack Freak Pictures is, to date, the largest series of work created by Gilbert & George. According to Michael BracewellMichael Bracewell
Michael Bracewell is a British writer and novelist. He was born in London, and educated at the University of Nottingham.-Bibliography:*Fiction**Missing Margate **The Crypto-Amnesia Club...
“the Jack Freak Pictures are among the most iconic, philosophically astute and visually violent works that Gilbert & George have ever created.” The Union Jack and Gilbert & George are the two dominant pictorial images - appearing contorted, abstracted, and sometimes complete. The entire series is set in the East End of London indicated by flags, maps, street signs, graffiti and other less obvious motifs such as brickwork and foliage that can be found there.
After showing at White Cube’s Hoxton and Mason Yard galleries the exhibition travelled to the Croatian Museum of Contemporary Art, Zagreb
Museum of Contemporary Art, Zagreb
The Museum of Contemporary Art is a contemporary art museum located on Dubrovnik Avenue in Zagreb, Croatia. It is the biggest and most modern museum in the country....
; The Kröller-Müller Museum
Kröller-Müller Museum
The Kröller-Müller Museum is an art museum and sculpture garden, located in the Hoge Veluwe National Park in Otterlo in the Netherlands.-Museum:...
, the Netherlands; Centro de Arte Contemporaneo de Malaga, Spain; Arndt & Partner
Arndt & Partner
Arndt & Partner is a contemporary art gallery based in Berlin, Germany, that today is among the city's most important exhibition sites. It is currently located near the Hamburger Bahnhof Museum...
gallery, Berlin; the Baronian Francey Gallery, Brussels; and the Bozar Center for Fine Arts, Brussels.
Awards
In 1981, Gilbert & George won the Regione Lazio Award (Torino), in 1986 the Turner PrizeTurner Prize
The Turner Prize, named after the painter J. M. W. Turner, is an annual prize presented to a British visual artist under the age of 50. Awarding the prize is organised by the Tate gallery and staged at Tate Britain. Since its beginnings in 1984 it has become the United Kingdom's most publicised...
, in 1989 the Special International Award (Los Angeles), in 2007 they won the South Bank
South Bank
South Bank is an area of London, England located immediately adjacent to the south side of the River Thames. It forms a long and narrow section of riverside development that is within the London Borough of Lambeth to the border with the London Borough of Southwark and was formerly simply known as...
Award, as well as the Lorenzo il Magnifico Award (Florence).
In 2005, they represented the UK at the Venice Biennale
Venice Biennale
The Venice Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The Venice Film Festival is part of it. So too is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is held in even years...
. Their 2007 retrospective at Tate Modern
Tate Modern
Tate Modern is a modern art gallery located in London, England. It is Britain's national gallery of international modern art and forms part of the Tate group . It is the most-visited modern art gallery in the world, with around 4.7 million visitors per year...
was the largest of any of the artists who have had retrospectives there.
In December 2008, Gilbert & George were awarded Honorary Doctorates by London Metropolitan University
London Metropolitan University
London Metropolitan University , located in London, England, was formed on 1 August 2002 by the amalgamation of the University of North London and the London Guildhall University . The University has campuses in the City of London and in the London Borough of Islington.The University operates its...
.
In October 2010, Gilbert & George were awarded the honorary title "Magister Artium Gandensis" by University College Ghent
Hogeschool Gent
With thirteen faculties and 16,000 students, University College Ghent is currently the largest university college in Flanders. Its establishment in 1995 is the outcome of two successful mergers that involved sixteen Belgian institutions of higher education. Many had been influential leaders in...
.
In November 2010, Gilbert & George were conferred with Honorary Doctorates by the University of East London
University of East London
The University of East London is a university located in the London Borough of Newham, East London, England, based at two campuses in Stratford and Docklands areas...
Political stances
Gilbert & George are an oddity in the artistic world because of their openly conservative political views and their praise for Margaret ThatcherMargaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
. George claims never to have been anti-establishment: "you're not allowed to be Conservative in the art world, of course," he says. "Left equals good. Art equals Left. Pop stars and artists are meant to be so original. So how come everyone has the same opinion? ... We admire Margaret Thatcher greatly. She did a lot for art. Socialism wants everyone to be equal. We want to be different." The duo are monarchists, and have said of the Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
: "We're also fond of the Prince of Wales: he's a gentleman."
Influences
- Gilbert & George inspired two characters, Man Green and Man Yellow, Chief Constables of the Science Gestapo, in Grant Morrison'sGrant MorrisonGrant Morrison is a Scottish comic book writer, playwright and occultist. He is known for his nonlinear narratives and counter-cultural leanings, as well as his successful runs on titles like Animal Man, Doom Patrol, JLA, The Invisibles, New X-Men, Fantastic Four, All-Star Superman, and...
comicbook series The Filth. The two characters appear in pastiches of Gilbert & George's artwork, with the separate sections of the imagery acting as individual comic book panels. - In the book Man, Machine and Music, Pascale Bussy claims that the look KraftwerkKraftwerkKraftwerk is an influential electronic music band from Düsseldorf, Germany. The group was formed by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider in 1970, and was fronted by them until Schneider's departure in 2008...
adopted between 1974 and 1978 was partly inspired by Gilbert and George.
Further reading
- Baudino, Isabelle; Gautheron, Marie, eds. (2005), Gilbert & George, E1, Lyon: ENS Editions (to accompany an exhibition at the Musée d'art moderne de Saint-Etienne, parallel French and English texts)
- Dutt, Robin (2004), Gilbert & George: obsessions & compulsions. London: Philip Wilson Publishers ISBN 0 85667 570 9
- Farson, Daniel (1999), Gilbert & George: a Portrait, London: HarperCollins
- Farson, Daniel (1991), With Gilbert & George in Moscow, London: Bloomsbury
- Fuchs, Rudi (2007), Gilbert & George: the Complete Pictures, Tate PublishingTate Publishing LtdTate Publishing is a publisher of visual arts books, associated with the Tate Gallery in London, England. It was established in 1911; nowadays it is a division of Tate Enterprises Ltd, an independent company wholly owned by the Trustees of Tate, and is based at Tate Britain, Millbank, London...
ISBN 978-1-85437-681-7 - Jahn, Wolf (1989), The Art of Gilbert & George. New York: Thames & Hudson
- Jonquet, François (2005), Intimate Conversation, London: Phaidon
- Rosenblum, Robert (2004), Introducing Gilbert & George, London: Thames & Hudson
Exhibition catalogues
- 1997: Lehmann Maupin, New York, The Fundamental Pictures
- 2001: White Cube, London, New Horny Pictures
- 2004: Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac, Paris, London E1 Pictures
- 2004: Gallery Bernier/Eliades, Athens, Thirteen Hooligan Pictures
- 2004: Sonnabend Gallery/Lehmann Maupin, New York Perversive Pictures 2004
- 2006: White Cube, London, Sonofagod Pictures
External links
- 2007 interview from Independent on Sunday ABC Arts magazine
- Gilbert and George: Major Exhibition at Tate Modern, London, 2007
- Gilbert and George's film "The World of Gilbert and George" as a RealMedia stream at Tate Online (includes a question and answer session with the audience)
- Complete Biography
- Arts: Gilbert and George on glbtq.comGlbtq.comglbtq.com is an online encyclopedia that presents detailed biographies of notable gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer people. It was named one of the "Best Free Reference Web Sites" in 2005 by the American Library Association....
- 'Gilbert and George unveil new hoodie art' – UK Guardian website, 23/5/2005
- The Singing Sculpture
- Gilbert & George at ARNDT Berlin
- Gilbert & George at Lehmann Maupin Gallery
- Gilbert and George at de Young - San Francisco
- Gilbert and George in the Video Data Bank
- Tateshots video - the artists speak about their 'Bomb Pictures'
- Gilbert & George at the at The Milwaukee Museum of Art Videos.
- G&G interview include URETHRA POSTCARD PICTURES exhibition at Ropac Gallery