In Pictures: NoBrow’s “Studio Dreams” at the SPACE Gallery, Hackney

By Antony Esmond on June 14, 2018

I have to admit that few things these days get me to head into London’s East End, an area that I spent a lot of time in during the late 1980s and early 90s. A place that was an altogether different place back then. It wasn’t the art that was edgy back then but the people.

Yesterday’s comics trip didn’t start that well. After finishing work at a reasonable hour for a change I headed to Mare Street. I thought that since I was a touch early I’ll pop into a nearby pub (for arguments sake let’s call it ‘The Top Not’). I ordered an overpriced soft drink and sat on a reclaimed railway sidings bench to read a book. I had a look at the menu. Alongside pizza and pasta,they’re serving “Doughnuts with Nutella and local jam”.

I think I need some good art in my eyes.

Good job there was an exhibition opening nearby with just that!

Last night was something of an event. To celebrate the special tenth edition of Nobrow Magazine themed “Studio Dreams”, NoBrow have teamed up with the East London Comic Art Festival (ELCAF, which takes place next weekend) and SPACE to curate a series of collaborative projects. The SPACE gallery in Hackney will feature not only the seventy artists featured in the new tenth edition but also specially commissioned pieces by Andrew Rae, Yukai Du, Grace Helmer, Patrick Kyle and Tor Brandt.

The illustrations have spilled from books and easels and computer screens onto the walls of this exhibition hall. I would happily have bought all the pieces and taken them home!

(I am not planning a burglary!)

Anyway. Here is the art and some photos of the event. And splendid it was!

A collection of the art you can find at SPACE and also in the pages of Nobrow 10

This multimedia installation by Yukai Du was outstanding

We await the Moon Headed band and their organically crafted set

This piece by Patrick Kyle cunningly occupied a large and spacious corner of the venue. Like an artist stuck in the corner of his studio making use of the window’s light to draw. (A personal favourite)

In the opposite corner was a three dimensional set of an idealised drawing table. Looking out onto the inspirational. With some added potted plants hanging in space. Gorgeous art by Tor Brandt

If you fancy heading down, and I recommend that you do whether you like doughnuts of not, then you can find this at SPACE, 129-131 Mare Street, London, E8 3RH.

The show is runs until Saturday 16th June.

• NoBrow 10 is available here from the NoBrow web site

Celebrating 10 years of Nobrow, this 10th Nobrow magazine features 70 artists responding to our theme of ‘Studio Dreams’. This will be a number stamped limited edition hardback with a foiled four spot colour printed cover and a dust jacket poster.

World-renowned creators turn their hand to creating their dream studio spaces (whatever that might mean for each one) in this unique international showcase containing over 100 pages of illustration.

Featuring illustrations by:

• East London Comics and Arts Festival at SPACE, 14th – 16th June 2016 SPACE 129-131 Mare St, Hackney, London E8 3RH | Web: www.spacestudios.org.uk

• You can find out more about the events leading up to the mighty East London Comics Art Festival (22nd – 24th June 2018 at www.elcaf.co.uk/event/studio-dreams-elcaf-x-nobrow-10-workshops-and-panel-discussions/

See you at ELCAF!

Many thanks for reading.