Henry Silk and East End Vernacular (January 18-February 10) draws on the gallery’s existing stock of works by Silk (1883-1948), a prolific painter of quiet, personal scenes. A basket weaver and a member of the East London Group member, he lived and worked in Bow.
Pieces from the collection previously featured in Abbott and Holder’s 2016 exhibition Henry Silk – East London Still Lifes.
That was in itself a follow-up to the gallery’s 2012 show The East London Group, where David Buckman launched his extensive study From Bow to Biennale: Artists of the East London Group.
“There is a whole tradition of vernacular painting in the East End, particularly the working class,” says Abbott and Holder’s Tom Edwards. “This show is part of a revival of their works which we have been involved with from the start.”
In this show, Silk is brought into context with the artists who came after him. A selection of post-war and contemporary works included in the Buckman book by artists such as Roland Collins, Nicholas Borden and John Allin, appear both on loan and for sale, complementing Silk’s works.
Each is a selection from another book on this theme: East End Vernacular: Artists who painted London’s East End streets in the 20th century (2017). This is by the Spitalfields Life blog’s ‘The Gentle Author’ (who writes and speaks exclusively under this moniker) .
An address by The Gentle Author takes place on January 25. Tickets on application.
