What the chuff am I doing in the epicentre of the Mayfair high art world, knocking on a majestic front door, asking to enter a gallery?
Erm…
And so I made my way over to Woodbury House on a recommendation to see the Lee Quiñones exhibition.
You might know Lee from his work and starring role in the Wild Style film back in 1982.
I can recall watching in at the old Odeon back in Nottingham, hanging on to every last detail of the emerging hip hop scene, and seeing how I could transfer this to my own teenage stylings.
I still have no regrets about wearing the ski goggles for a Wear Your Own Clothes day at school.
And that really should have been it for Lee and I. Hip hop burnt out for me when I stopped breakin'. I confess that I haven’t followed his career since.
KNOCK KNOCK.
“Can I help you?”
Erm, I’ve come to view the gallery.
“Are you a collector?”
I hesitated in saying YES! I specialise in cheapo Ebay CD’s and knock off Forest kits.
I somehow managed to blag myself into Woodbury House. Actually, it wasn’t that difficult.
The host was an absolute charmer. She knew her art, and genuinely seemed interested in to what had led me over to Mayfair.
There was little misunderstanding as I tried to explain that it was a Big Issue article sent over to me by Wifey.
The host mentioned that Wifey had been in the gallery only last week. I explained that this most definitely wasn’t the case, unless the gallery was hosting a chepo golf clothes sale.
I was given a brief introduction to the work of Lee, starting with Wild Style. This was, until now, my start and end point.
I was given the freedom of the gallery to explore, with no other viewers - or collectors - around.
This is something of a back to front exhibition. You enter the gallery with Lee’s more contemporary work, and then make your way over to Wild Style at the back of the space.
You can see how his work has progressed over the years, taking in various cultural reference points for each period, and then adding his own interpretation.
The overall message of the exhibition title - Outside is America - runs throughout. The work documents an outsider view of the States, and in particular, one viewed through the prism of race.
Sadly it’s a theme that has given him plenty of scope over the decades.
The only thing missing from the exhibition is some form of soundtrack. But then that might have been a little annoying with the same tracks played over again on loop.
Woodbury House is a most welcoming space. The work of Lee Quiñones was worth making the trip over to Mayfair to view.
I might even start collecting, if I can find the spare £25k or so floating around down the back of the settee.
