Art Exhibition: YOU ME by Jill Mulleady and Henry Taylor
The Schinkel Pavillon, a renowned venue in Berlin's Mitte district, is currently hosting an intriguing exhibition that brings together the works of two renowned artists: Henry Taylor and Jill Mulleady. Located at Oberwallstr. 32, the Pavillon is a unique space that fosters dialogues between artists, and this latest exhibition is no exception.
Henry Taylor, a celebrated painter known for his thick, easy strokes and vivid characters, presents a version of Manet's Luncheon on the Garden. His work delves into the continued abuses of colonialism and marginalization, offering a contemporary perspective on these historical wrongs.
On the other hand, Uruguayan contemporary artist Jill Mulleady, born in 1980 in Montevideo, references disturbing rape scenes from KaΜthe Kollwitz and Otto Dix in a couple of her bleakly ambiguous canvases. Her work upstairs in the exhibition, bathed in translucent whites and reds, feels raw and tender, like exposed, peeling skin.
The glass panopticon at the Schinkel Pavillon, a semi-transparent architectural feature, adds to the exhibition's immersive experience. It mirrors the shape of the room and invites a feeling of intrusion or voyeurism, as if one is looking where they shouldn't. This perception is further corrupted by the panopticon, adding to the overall sense of unease.
The exhibition, which continues until May 19, explores themes of race, gender, colonialism, and marginalization in art history. It presents a dialogue between the works of Henry Taylor and Jill Mulleady, inviting viewers to question and reflect on these important issues.
In Taylor's painting, Nude descending down a staircase, a black figure takes centre stage, challenging traditional representations in art history. Meanwhile, Mulleady's version of the same painting features a white, thin, and upright figure, adding another layer to the dialogue between the two artists.
The Schinkel Pavillon is a place where such dialogues are encouraged and fostered. It's a space where artists can challenge, question, and engage with each other and their audiences, pushing the boundaries of what art can be and do.
So, if you're in Berlin before May 19, be sure to visit the Schinkel Pavillon and witness this compelling dialogue between Henry Taylor and Jill Mulleady. It's an exhibition that will challenge, provoke, and inspire, offering a unique perspective on race, gender, and their representations in art history.
