Grey Organisation
Encyclopedia
The Grey Organisation were an Artist collective
active from 1983 to 1991. GO worked in several mediums including film and video and participated in over 20 international exhibitions.
In January 1985 the group committed an act of 'art terrorism' by smuggling one of their paintings into the International Contemporary Arts Fair in London. The following year they mounted an attack on Cork Street, then the centre of the London art world, splashing grey paint on the windows of a number of galleries. After this, members of the group were arrested and for a time banned from central London. This resulted in them relocating to New York City where they exhibited at The Civilian Warfare Gallery in the East Village.
The members of the group were Toby Mott
, Daniel Saccoccio, Tim Burke and Paul Spencer.
'.
On Saturday July 28, 1984 GO organised a live concert for Psychic TV
.
It took place in a derelict circular building in Drayton Park, London and was recorded live and released as Temporary Temple
.
In 1984, GO directed the film 'Grey Moments'.
In 1986 GO took part in the exhibition Money organised by J. S. G. Boggs
, the notorious money-counterfeiting artist, at the Young Unknowns Gallery. The exhibition was raided by police and works, including those by GO, were confiscated.
"in the England of the 1980s, there were others creating their own vision reacting to the prevailing Thatcherite free market consumerist culture. Psychic Youth
, Test Department. Laibach
. My own involvement was with the art, filmmaking group the Grey Organization. We parodied yuppie and Soviet corporate monoculture with our uniformed anonymity, shaved heads, white shirts, English suits, making and exhibiting art as product without individual authorship, something inspired from the rigorous orthodoxy of Crass
."
From the essay 'Crass
, an education' by Toby Mott
, Crass 1977 - 1984, PPP Editions, 2011.
They state wearing suits afforded them the respect necessary in the 1999, but shunned the wearing of ties stating, “We wear no ties. All those who see themselves as dissidents in society do like-wise”
GO’s recognition begun to grow outside of the art world when Lynne Franks launched the Grey Organisation into the 80’s world of PR, modelling for Katherine Hamnett at The Albert Hall
, Yohji Yamamoto
in Paris. Supporting Red Wedge
, meeting Neil Kinnock
at the Houses of Parliament, and promoting Swatch watches.
GO also appeared in the Derek Jarman
film The Angelic Conversation
and the Gilbert & George “Exister” pieces.
In the 1980s, whilst living in New York, GO produced a series of album covers for Tommy Boy Records
, including for De La Soul
's 3 Feet High and Rising
and the Information Society (band)
.
pursued a solo career exhibiting at White Columns NYC, The Thomas Soloman Garage, Los Angeles and Interim Art, London. He was for many years represented by the Maureen Paley gallery.
He is also the founder of The Mott Collection. The collection has been exhibited at the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León
in March, 2010. and the Haunch of Venison
gallery (London) where it was accompanied by a major publication, Loud Flash: British Punk on Paper.
In A Punk's Journey, an essay by Mott which appears in Loud Flash, he writes: "In 1977 my bedroom was covered in posters, flyers and shelves of records and fanzines, and when I left home these significant symbols of my past were stored away. In 1997 I returned from living in America and started to add to my collection. I appreciated the visual immediacy which never seemed tired or dated. The ideals of self empowerment, motivation, action and common cause are evident throughout [the collection]. To me they are the spirit of punk".
Ian Bone, founding editor of Class War
Magazine, recalls the Grey Organisation as "load of pretentious wankers" on his blog
Artist collective
An artist collective is an initiative that is the result of a group of artists working together, usually under their own management, towards shared aims...
active from 1983 to 1991. GO worked in several mediums including film and video and participated in over 20 international exhibitions.
In January 1985 the group committed an act of 'art terrorism' by smuggling one of their paintings into the International Contemporary Arts Fair in London. The following year they mounted an attack on Cork Street, then the centre of the London art world, splashing grey paint on the windows of a number of galleries. After this, members of the group were arrested and for a time banned from central London. This resulted in them relocating to New York City where they exhibited at The Civilian Warfare Gallery in the East Village.
The members of the group were Toby Mott
Toby Mott
Toby Victor Mott is a British artist,designer and sometime Punk historian known for his work with the Grey Organisation, an artists' collective that was active in the 1980s, and for his fashion brand Toby Pimlico...
, Daniel Saccoccio, Tim Burke and Paul Spencer.
Biography
After moving to Bow, East London Toby Mott, and childhood friends Daniel Saccoccio, Tim Burke and Paul Spencer, as a response to the ‘prevailing Thatcherite free market consumerist culture’ formed Grey Organisation in 1982. GO's origins can be found in the Punk movement and 70’s youth politics, having been members of the Anarchist Street Army. They eschewed the more common anarcho-aesthetic opting instead to dress uniformly in grey suits, with heads shaved in a parody of yuppie and Soviet “corporate monoculture”. In 1985 GO began a series of direct art-actions, launching attacks on the International Contemporary Arts Fair in London by sneaking paintings into the fair, and an attack on an attack on Cork Street covering some of London’s most famous galleries in grey paint 'arguably something inherited from the strategies of disobedience of May '68 Paris, culled from the heroism of Guy DebordGuy Debord
Guy Ernest Debord was a French Marxist theorist, writer, filmmaker, member of the Letterist International, founder of a Letterist faction, and founding member of the Situationist International . He was also briefly a member of Socialisme ou Barbarie.-Early Life:Guy Debord was born in Paris in 1931...
'.
On Saturday July 28, 1984 GO organised a live concert for Psychic TV
Psychic TV
Psychic TV or PTV, is a video art and music group that primarily performs psychedelic, punk, electronic and experimental music...
.
It took place in a derelict circular building in Drayton Park, London and was recorded live and released as Temporary Temple
Temporary Temple
Temporary Temple is a live album by Psychic TV. The album was recorded on July 28, 1984 in London and released on 12" vinyl. It was later coupled with another concert and released on CD as Temporary Temple & Atonal.-Liner notes:...
.
In 1984, GO directed the film 'Grey Moments'.
In 1986 GO took part in the exhibition Money organised by J. S. G. Boggs
J. S. G. Boggs
J. S. G. Boggs was an American artist, best known for his hand-drawn, one-sided depictions of U.S. banknotes and his various "Boggs bills" he draws for use in his performances. He spends his "Boggs notes" only for their face value. If he draws a $100 bill, he exchanges it for $100 worth of goods...
, the notorious money-counterfeiting artist, at the Young Unknowns Gallery. The exhibition was raided by police and works, including those by GO, were confiscated.
"in the England of the 1980s, there were others creating their own vision reacting to the prevailing Thatcherite free market consumerist culture. Psychic Youth
Thee Temple ov Psychick Youth
Thee Temple ov Psychick Youth or TOPY was a fellowship founded in 1981 by members of Psychic TV, Coil, Current 93, and a number of other individuals...
, Test Department. Laibach
Laibach
Laibach can refer to one of the following:* German name for Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia* Laibach , Slovenian industrial musical group** Laibach , the title of the debut album by the band with this name...
. My own involvement was with the art, filmmaking group the Grey Organization. We parodied yuppie and Soviet corporate monoculture with our uniformed anonymity, shaved heads, white shirts, English suits, making and exhibiting art as product without individual authorship, something inspired from the rigorous orthodoxy of Crass
Crass
Crass are an English punk rock band that was formed in 1977, which promoted anarchism as a political ideology, way of living, and as a resistance movement. Crass popularised the seminal anarcho-punk movement of the punk subculture, and advocated direct action, animal rights, and environmentalism...
."
From the essay 'Crass
Crass
Crass are an English punk rock band that was formed in 1977, which promoted anarchism as a political ideology, way of living, and as a resistance movement. Crass popularised the seminal anarcho-punk movement of the punk subculture, and advocated direct action, animal rights, and environmentalism...
, an education' by Toby Mott
Toby Mott
Toby Victor Mott is a British artist,designer and sometime Punk historian known for his work with the Grey Organisation, an artists' collective that was active in the 1980s, and for his fashion brand Toby Pimlico...
, Crass 1977 - 1984, PPP Editions, 2011.
Fashion & PR
GO’s image of uniformed anonymity, shaved heads, white shirts, and grey English suits were key to GO manifesto ‘A BASIC INTRODUCTION TO THE GRAY ORGANISATION FOR JOURNALISTS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC (THAT WE THOUGHT UNNECESSARY, SO LIMPID IS OUR STANCE)’They state wearing suits afforded them the respect necessary in the 1999, but shunned the wearing of ties stating, “We wear no ties. All those who see themselves as dissidents in society do like-wise”
GO’s recognition begun to grow outside of the art world when Lynne Franks launched the Grey Organisation into the 80’s world of PR, modelling for Katherine Hamnett at The Albert Hall
Albert Hall
Albert P. Hall is an American actor.Born in Brighton, Alabama, Hall graduated from the Columbia University School of the Arts in 1971. That same year he appeared Off-Broadway in The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel and on Broadway in the Melvin Van Peebles musical Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death...
, Yohji Yamamoto
Yohji Yamamoto
Yōji Yamamoto , is an award winning Japanese fashion designer based in Tokyo and Paris. Yohji is considered to be among the master tailors whose work is thought to be of fashion genius and he has been described by Julie Gilhart, fashion director for Barney's New York as probably the only designer...
in Paris. Supporting Red Wedge
Red Wedge
Red Wedge was a collective of musicians who attempted to engage young people with politics in general, and the policies of the Labour Party in particular, during the period leading up to the 1987 general election, in the hope of ousting the Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher.Fronted by...
, meeting Neil Kinnock
Neil Kinnock
Neil Gordon Kinnock, Baron Kinnock is a Welsh politician belonging to the Labour Party. He served as a Member of Parliament from 1970 until 1995 and as Labour Leader and Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition from 1983 until 1992 - his leadership of the party during nearly nine years making him...
at the Houses of Parliament, and promoting Swatch watches.
GO also appeared in the Derek Jarman
Derek Jarman
Michael Derek Elworthy Jarman was an English film director, stage designer, diarist, artist, gardener and author.-Life:...
film The Angelic Conversation
The Angelic Conversation (film)
The Angelic Conversation is a 1985 arthouse drama film directed by Derek Jarman. Its tone is set by the juxtaposition of slow moving photographic images and Shakespeare's sonnets read by Judi Dench...
and the Gilbert & George “Exister” pieces.
Album Artwork
Tommy Boy Records
Tommy Boy Entertainment is an independent record label started in 1981 by Tom Silverman.-History:...
, including for De La Soul
De La Soul
De La Soul is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York. The band is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres...
's 3 Feet High and Rising
3 Feet High and Rising
3 Feet High and Rising is the debut album from American hip hop trio De La Soul, released in 1989.The album marked the first of three full-length collaborations with producer Prince Paul, which would become the critical and commercial peak of both parties. It is consistently placed on 'greatest...
and the Information Society (band)
Information Society (band)
Information Society is an American band originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, primarily consisting of Kurt Larson , Paul Robb, and James Cassidy; the latter two reconvened the band in 2006, initially with Christopher Anton as lead vocalist, then with Harland rejoining them as lead vocalist by...
.
After the Grey Organisation
When GO disbanded in 1991, Toby MottToby Mott
Toby Victor Mott is a British artist,designer and sometime Punk historian known for his work with the Grey Organisation, an artists' collective that was active in the 1980s, and for his fashion brand Toby Pimlico...
pursued a solo career exhibiting at White Columns NYC, The Thomas Soloman Garage, Los Angeles and Interim Art, London. He was for many years represented by the Maureen Paley gallery.
He is also the founder of The Mott Collection. The collection has been exhibited at the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León
Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León
The Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León, better known as the MUSAC, is a contemporary art museum in the city of León, Spain....
in March, 2010. and the Haunch of Venison
Haunch of Venison
Haunch of Venison is a commercial art gallery founded in 2002 in the West End of London. The gallery represents leading contemporary artists with branches in London, Berlin and New York.-History:...
gallery (London) where it was accompanied by a major publication, Loud Flash: British Punk on Paper.
In A Punk's Journey, an essay by Mott which appears in Loud Flash, he writes: "In 1977 my bedroom was covered in posters, flyers and shelves of records and fanzines, and when I left home these significant symbols of my past were stored away. In 1997 I returned from living in America and started to add to my collection. I appreciated the visual immediacy which never seemed tired or dated. The ideals of self empowerment, motivation, action and common cause are evident throughout [the collection]. To me they are the spirit of punk".
Ian Bone, founding editor of Class War
Class War
Class War is a UK class struggle based group and newspaper originally set up by Ian Bone and others in 1983. It subsequently mutated various forms, becoming specifically anarchist....
Magazine, recalls the Grey Organisation as "load of pretentious wankers" on his blog
External links
- A basic introduction to the Grey Organisation http://www.tokyohipstersclub.com/magazine/reading_for_hipsters/english_text/a_basic_introduction_to_the_gr.html http://thc-test02.sakura.ne.jp/magazine/english_text/an_artist_wearing_a_gray_suit.html
- GO at Discogs Organisation http://www.discogs.com/artist/Grey+Organization,+The
- GO at Artnet.com http://www.artnet.com/artists/the-grey+organisation/past-auction-results
- Kerstin Rodgers' portrait of the Grey Organisation http://www.kerstinrodgers.com/index.php?/photography/nme-photography/