Volunteer/Moore Galleries, Second Level
Frayed, unfurling rope; gleaming coloured glass and a fluffy, handmade quilt; a powerful thunderstorm; a boy and his dog; a knowing look. What do these things have in common?
They all relate to objects—artworks and artifacts, from the distant past and the present day—found in Museum London’s permanent collections, together revealing what creative people have always known: when we closely attend to our surroundings, both ordinary and extraordinary, we encounter an infinite source of fascination and inspiration. Borrowing its title from a work by notable London artist Bernice Vincent (1934-2016), All Around Me, All Around You underscores the relevance and resonance of our regional artists’ critical impact on a broad scale. This exhibition centres curiosity, delving into Museum London’s art and history collections to demonstrate the ways our surroundings stimulate and reflect creativity over time.
The exhibition addresses the many ways we engage with creative energy and splendour every day. We encounter inspiration through our relationships to other beings—both human and non-human—through our travels through space, in the clothing we wear, the tools we use and the food we eat: all things that aid and nourish us bring beauty into our lives. We find inspiration in raw sensation, in how colour and texture make us feel and relate to the world around us. Surrounding us all the time, intangible memories, beliefs, language and symbols impart substance and meaning to our everyday lives. Each of these components sit at the core of our human experience.
With all of this in mind, we invite visitors to engage with All Around Me, All Around You in different ways, each complementing the exhibition’s very essence. Dig deep into our online database of collection holdings, satisfy that tactile urge at a designated touch station, and listen to audio interviews with featured artists discussing their works. Revel in the beauty of the world all around us.
Image: Bernice Vincent, Ironing Board (detail), 1978, acrylic on board, Gift of the artist, 2006. Photo Credit: Alex Walker
This exhibition is made possible thanks to generous support from the John H. & Elizabeth Moore Acquisition Endowment Fund, with additional support from the Museum London Board of Directors.