Adam Dant was been chosen as the official artist for the Lord Mayor's Show 2024, and has now opened his new exhibition at Newlands House Gallery 'Legends of Albion'! For both projects, Adam has explored the folklore and myths that run throughout the history of the City of London!

 

 

This year's show theme was 'The Origin Myths of the City of London, The Artist, The Antiquary, and The Lord Mayor', with Adam taking inspiration from work he did for his exhibition 'The Reign', referencing historical texts and objects from the collection of the Society of Antiquaries at Burlington House!

 

Adam's painting for The Reign 'Gog and Magog in the City of London', as part of the '9 Origin Myths of the City of London' series

 

This woodcut artwork created for the Lord Mayor's Show details the story of Gog and Magog, two wicker figures that are paraded through London during the procession each year! Adam explains the origins of this myth and tradition below:

'The massive wicker figures of Gog and Magog (...) have several origin stories, even featuring in The Old Testament and The Koran.

The pseudo History responsible for these two giants becoming guardians of the Guildhall is most likely the version recounted by Geoffrey of Monmouth in his Historia Regum Britanniae. This tells of how Brutus of Troy founded ‘Troia Nova’ on The Thames having routed the land of a race of giants, the offspring of the Alba and her sisters, the 33 exiled daughters of Diocletian.

The custom of carrying such wicker effigies may be derived from the pagan ceremonies that involved a human sacrifice, either as replacements for the unfortunate victim or as replicas of ‘the wicker man’ device described by Julius Caesar in his ‘Commentary on the Gallic War’.'

 

Adam Dant's poster for the Lord Mayor's Show 2024, featuring original artwork

 

 

 

Following the Lord Mayor's Show, Adam's new exhibition 'Legends of Albion' is now open at Newlands House Gallery!

Inspired by the collection of the Society of Antiquaries, Adam is exploring the role of the 'Painter Stainer' in British contemporary art and culture.

Once a common alternative to tapestries, decorative wall paintings and panelling, The Painted Cloths commissioned from The Worshipful Company of The Painter-Stainers would have hung in the palaces of both nobility and the modest homes of folk, who nonetheless could also interpret and appreciate the classical, biblical and mythological themes depicted in bright layers of colour and lively, cursive line.

Adam is also displaying his latest associated maps and charts which further explore the common histories of British mythology!

'Adam Dant: Legends of Albion' at Newlands House Gallery has been extended until Sunday 16th March 2025!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

'Adam Dant: Legends of Albion'

Newlands House Gallery, Pound Street, Petworth, GU28 0DX

22nd November 2024 - 16th March 2025

Opening Hours -

Wednesday - Saturday 10AM - 5PM

Sunday - 11AM - 4PM

Learn more and book your tickets HERE

 

 

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