Louis Wain (1860 - 1939) curated by Nick Cave
What:
Louis Wain (1860 - 1939) curated by Nick Cave in association with All Tomorrows Parties and Chris Beetles Gallery, London
Where:
Neon Parc, 1/53 Bourke St, Melbourne
When:
Jan 20 - 31, Opening hours here
Louis Wain invented LOL Cats. All the way back in 1886. Then he went crazy and had to be shipped off to an institution... A full century later, his ground-breaking work in the field of ‘cat illustrations' is finally being recognised by the international art community. Also, some scruffy old hipsters have gotten in on the action, such as Nick Cave and the All Tomorrow's Parties crowd.
Nick Cave may not look the type, but he's totally gay for cat illustrations. Loves them! The proud owner of several paintings, he's taken time out from his busy schedule to curate the Louis Wain collection as it makes its way around the country. A real expert in the field, he'll happily discuss the artistic merits of anthropomorphised cats for hours.
While the paintings are wonderfully stupid and charming in their own right, what makes the collection really interesting is the subtext. Louis Wain's work is a showcase of both kitsch 19th century art and creeping mental illness. Also, it's never been displayed outside the UK before.
Medium: Painting
Drink: Dandy shandy
Keywords: Neon Parc, All Tomorrow's Parties
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