Main Image: Marilyn Minter, Split, 2003 c-print

What began as a representation of material objects to celebrate the wealth of the middle classes, providing art to adorn their homes, ‘Still Life’, as an art genre has seen a resurgence with subject matters being more than just apples on a plate or flowers in a vase.

Immortal Apples, Eternal Eggs fills the gallery in its entirety with works by Michael Craig-Martin, Louise Bourgeois, Henry Moore, Sarah Lucas, Ai Weiwei and Patrick Caulfield to name just a few. This exhibition explores the rich and complex genre of still life with over 50 artworks by more than 50 artists over the past 100 years. With more than 20 artworks that have never been seen in a public gallery before, this is an exhibition not to be missed. 

Left: Sarah Lucas, Grace, 2006 and Cabe, 2007 (right)

The exhibition takes its title from former Sussex resident Virginia Woolf’s description of Roger Fry’s bedsit in 1940. As a writer, Woolf was fundamental in showing how ordinary, everyday objects can be expressed with extraordinary poetry and art.

Hastings Contemporary’s director, Liz Gilmore explains “From magic and mystery to life and death, and the beauty and domestic and ordinary, Immortal Apples, Eternal Eggs takes visitors on a surprising and thought-provoking journey through the genre of still life. Whether it be shock, surprise, humour, melancholy or delight, there’s something for everyone in this exhibition.”

Get Hastings was lucky enough to attend a press preview before the opening and some of our favourites were Singerie, 2004 by Cathie Pilkington. This mixed media installation features miniature monkeys sat around a long table with snacks and party balloons. The mood is playful yet melancholy and unsettling. The monkeys wear or have removed human masks and the piece reminds the viewer of Da Vinci’s The Last Supper, Victorian Taxidermy, PG Tips adverts and animal cruelty.

Cathie Pilkington, Singerie, 2004, mixed media

Man Ray is an art icon from the Dada and surrealist movements. We felt privileged to witness his work in the flesh. Le Gant Perdu (The Lost Glove), 1967/68 features a leather glove, string and a ring. Man Ray often worked with overlooked, discarded found objects and this leather glove is presented as if it were a curious  artefact.The glove implies warmth and protection while the absence of a body implies a bare hand, provoking the sense of touch.

To have these works by world-renowned artists on show here in Hastings is incredibly special! Man Ray’s glove, Sarah Lucas’ iconic tights, Ai Weiwei’s chair are all on our doorstep so please do not miss this. We could not wait to tell our readers about this exhibition, so much so that we headed straight to The Crown to have a glass of rosé and write it up! As always, we met some wonderful art lovers such as Jon Everall from Creative Boom and Sabine Casparie from Studio International.

This exhibition has something for everyone with fun and juvenility. It is captivating and provocative with artworks in oils, acrylics, buttons and everything else in between AKA mixed media.

Hastings Contemporary is always free for under 18s and open Wednesdays to Sundays 11am – 5pm

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