The world of art gets ‘fresh look’ (From The Oxford Times)
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The world of art gets ‘fresh look’
12:00pm Saturday 21st July 2012 in Witney
By Tom Jennings, covering Witney and West Oxfordshire. Call me on 01865 425403
Curator Martin Jenner admires some of the work at the Contemporary Art Exhibition at High House, Clanfield
A NEW gallery showcasing contemporary art hopes to bring the London art scene to the Cotswolds.
And the gallery includes paintings by TV Burp presenter Harry Hill.
It is the first time his artwork has been exhibited.
Martin Jenner, owner and curator of High House in Clanfield, opened the gallery this week with two exhibitions.
The first, ‘the momentarily absurd’, features humorous work, including Mr Hill’s paintings, a deep-fried bible and faked paparazzi pictures using look-a-likes.
‘Dividing line’, the second gallery, invited artists who had never exhibited outside before, to reinterpret sculpture and bring new life to the form.
Mr Jenner said: “I wanted to try and shake up the Cotswold art scene.
“My feeling is that most art in the Cotswolds is fine for drawing rooms but there is really nothing exciting out here.
“Working with galleries in London, I wanted to bring a fresh new approach to the Cotswolds.”
He added: “I met Harry Hill through a charity event and I told him he was a lot better than he thought he was.
“He invited me to see his work and I persuaded him to go in the show.
“It is the first time his work has been exhibited.”
The gallery is open from Thursday to Sunday, 11am to 5pm.
For more information, visit highhouse gallery.com
