Tristan Hoare, founded in 2009, is a multi-layered gallery that focuses on emerging and established artists working in a variety of mediums. African photography, glass, painting, and sketching are all topics of interest, as is a growing interest in ceramics. The gallery organizes a large-scale exhibition with a central theme every year.
Tristan Hoare was able to collaborate with a large number of artists and galleries to put together this year's exhibition - The Conference of the Birds - which combined work from BC to the present. Exhibits were selected with the goal of telling a story and connecting with both seasoned collectors and those new to the art world.
The Conference of the Birds was a multidisciplinary group exhibition organized by Flora Hesketh and Omar Mazhar and it took place between June 8th and July 8th, 2022. The gallery is housed in a Grade I listed Georgian mansion in Fitzroy Square and is open Tuesday to Saturday.
The title of the exhibition was derived from a poem written in the 12th century by Attar of Nishapur, which recounts the tale of the wise Hoopoe leading the world's birds on a quest to find their ideal ruler, the fabled Simorgh. I managed to take some pictures of some avian-themed artworks.
Birds have fascinated humans since the dawn of time, influencing everything from architecture to science to technology, as well as poetry, music, folklore, fairy tales, movies, fashion, and, of course, the visual arts. Birds are inextricably linked to our fascination with flight, freedom, mobility, and migration.
Birds have appeared in the art of every civilization throughout history, from Neolithic cave drawings to prominent roles as gods and goddesses in pagan religions, to symbolic depictions in Christian paintings such as Piero della Francesca's dove in The Baptism of Christ from the 15th century. With hunting no longer a privilege of the aristocracy, paintings of birds as prizes by artists such as Frans Snyders and others flourished in the 17th century, as the period's upwardly mobile society fueled demand.
Furthermore, birds appeared in a variety of art movements throughout the twentieth century, sometimes as symbols of optimism, freedom, and peace, and sometimes with darker, more foreboding overtones, such as in surrealist paintings. When researching this show, we were astounded by how many contemporary artists were looking back at this rich subject in art history as well as directly at the natural world.
Moreover, The Conference of the Birds delves into several aspects of the subject and features artworks from various civilizations and mediums. The show spans from 800 BC to the present day, with a focus on modern art and how the theme continues to inspire artists today.
On the other hand, the view from outside the gallery is breathtaking. On display is a statue of General Francisco de Miranda.
Francisco de Miranda was a Venezuelan revolutionary who helped pave the way for Latin American independence. He was born on March 28, 1750, in Caracas, Venezuela, and died on July 14, 1816, in Cádiz, Spain. Despite the fact that his attempt to liberate Spain's American colonies with the support of European powers failed, he is remembered as El Precursor—the "forerunner" of Bolvar and other more successful rebels.
Needless to say, I enjoyed the visit to the museum as a whole. I found it to be a great place to see interesting artwork from a variety of historical periods. I learnt about the history of the world in a fun and engaging way. I also enjoyed seeing how art from many different cultures has been used to convey messages about humanity's relationship with the natural world.I was also inspired by the collection of shells and fossils. I do hope to find more artefacts and sections before my next visit.
