The Archive: In The Company We Trust | Horatio Jr | London 30th November

In The Company We Trust | Horatio Jr | London 30th November - 30th December 2012

Solo Exhibition

Tim Ellis

In The Company We Trust

30^th November – 30^th December 2012

Tim Ellis’ practice is centered on the idea ‘That a Being has a primeval desire to want to belong to something greater than oneself’. This ‘wanting to belong’ manifests itself in both the production and consumption of art and craft objects. ‘Whether in isolation or as a collection, art and craft objects are dependent on a creator, mediator and audience, as a consequence they inherit their aspirations, values and intentions.’

Ellis’s work often responds directly to the environment it is shown in, in this case to the Horatio Jr.’s original function as a public house.

The public house has traditionally been a focal point of the community, somewhere social to meet. Through conversation, information is shared and confided, with mutual help arranged. The exhibition proposes that social exchange creates a common understanding. So despite the public nature of the environment, elements of loyalty and trust are forged within. This trust manifests itself in a particular type of companionship, whether individually or as a group. The Company of the exhibition’s title refer to the many united by these bonds, through a common ideology.

For this exhibition, the pub’s lantern has been redesigned and a variety of works installed that recall and question the former activities of the space. The works shown reflect the design, graphics and material decor of the interior but also suggest the symbolic function of the public house, a place uniting disparate groups and individuals, thus offering an enlightenment of sorts. This can be seen in the totemic nature of the works, alluding to the occupants coming together for a greater good or higher meaning. In this context, the lantern becomes something beyond its original utility, a symbolic and literal beacon, calling people together.

Tim Ellis was born in Chester in 1981. He studied at Liverpool John Moores 2000-2003 and the Royal Academy Schools 2006-2009. His Solo exhibitions include ‘’Sons of Pioneers’ Furini Contemporary, Rome Italy 2011. ‘The Tourist’ Spacex Exeter England 2011 and ‘A Foundation for Exchange’ Primopiano Lugano Switzerland 2010. Selected Group exhibitions include ‘Secret Societies’ The Schirn Kunsthalle, Frankfurt, Germany and the CAPC, Bordeaux, France 2011-12. ‘Friendship of the Peoples’ Simon Oldfield Gallery London 2011. ‘Newspeak - British Art Now’ Saatchi Gallery London. 2010. John Moores Painting Prize 26', The Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool 2010. ‘Tag 3 to 36 New London Painting’ Brown Gallery London 2010. ‘New Sensations’ The A foundation London 2009. ‘He lives and works in London

Horatio Jr.

The Lord Nelson 

66 Canon Beck Rd 

Rotherhithe 

London 

SE16 7DN   

horatiojunior@gmail.com

www.timellis.org