Tonight animals, cartoons and children join forces to create Raarr, an eclectic melange of art and charity at London’s Book Club...
Who? Tonight animals, cartoons and children join forces to create Raarr, an eclectic melange of art and charity at London’s Book Club. For Raarr, curator Jason Kerley has commissioned headless and faceless animals from illustrators from all over the world which have been completed by younger collaborators. The colourful results are on show from this evening and available to buy, with all proceeds going to the NSPCC.
What? The exhibition has all the fun of both the farmyard and the exotic zoo in its range of creatures covering the walls. Micah Lidberg’s high stepping horse is complete with a rainbow speckled coat, blue tail and pink face, Katie Price’s cat has been given a delightfully minimalist head and quizzical expression and Joshua has added an avuncular expression and acid bright colouring to Marcus Oakley’s orangutan. The children have gone to town in adding personality, unexpected features and charm in a manner that the illustrators could never have predicted.
Why? There is a tired Hollywood adage about never working with children or animals, yet in art terms it is surely a killer combination. The show combines the work of exceptional illustrators of all styles and persuasions with the inherent levity and enthusiasm that imbues every child when faced with colouring in. Poppy may have refused to stay within the lines, but her fluorescent mouse with Robert Maple is an absolute joy, and there is a certain Munchian menace to the gawping mouth that Eddie contributed to Kristian Hammerstad’s pink pig. Tonight's opening will be soundtracked by London music collective Hung Drawn & Quartered, ensuring that all in all Raarr will be a joyous and original way to contribute to a wonderful cause.
Raarr opens this evening at The Book Club and runs until 26th February.