Living in London means it is impossible to run out of cultural and arts events to see or visit. As much as I enjoy visiting the world-class museums and galleries, I still favour the more intimate, quirky and less touristy galleries dotted around the city.
I only found out about The Crypt gallery in Euston a few years ago, despite having walked past it many times before. This is due to its discreet entrance and location… very well hidden underneath the St Pancras Parish church.
Recently I was in the area and the poster of the current exhibition, “In this place, in this time” caught my attention, so I decided to pay a visit before it ends on Sunday.
The exhibition features work from five artists, Sam Wibberley from the United Kingdom, Bruce Hucko from the United States, Kenji Yamada, Michi Suzuki and Aki Moriuchi from Japan. The exhibition is curated by the artist/ ceramicist, Aki Moriuchi, and I was lucky enough to catch both Aki and Kenji at the exhibition to learn more about their work.
Top left: Kenji Yamada’s video installation; top right and main: Michi Suzuki’s ceramic installation; bottom left: Bruce Hucko’s landscape photos
The theme of the exhibition is related to time and place, but what fascinates me most is how well the art works complement the historical, sacred and atmospheric setting of the gallery. From Bruce Hucko‘s hauntingly beautiful black and white photographs of the Anasazi Ruins to Kenji Yamada‘s video installation inspired by Tibetan Buddhism’s burial rituals… Aki‘s thoughtful curation is hard to fault.
But I was particularly moved by London-based ceramicist, Michi Suzuki‘s tiny and delicate botanical ceramic objects that are carefully laid out at the back room. From a distance, they look almost like human remains, and against the burial backdrop, I was able to sense the fragility of all living beings. It’s almost hard to believe that I would be contemplating life and death underneath the busy Euston Road on a late Friday afternoon!
Unfortunately, the exhibition will be closing on Sunday, I hope more Londoners ( or even visitors from out of town) will get to see this one of a kind and ‘spiritual’ exhibition before it closes.
Top left: Aki Moriuchi’s ceramics; top right: Sam Wibberley’s two dollar bills; Aki Moriuchi’s typographic print work; bottom middle: Michi Suzuki’s ceramic installation