Gilbert & George
FREE DICK, part of suite of 12 unique Ink washes
Special 400 gsm watercolour paper and Indian ink
70 x 100 cm
Edition of 50
Hand signed and numbered by the artists
£1,000
For their love of London’s Serpentine Gallery and its Artistic Director, Hans Ulrich Obrist, Gilbert & George have created a suite of twelve ink washes, 50 originals of each.
In 2002 Serpentine hosted ‘Gilbert & George: The Dirty Words Pictures, 1977’ having originally exhibited in three groups in Amsterdam, Düsseldorf and New York in 1977 and 1978, all 26 pictures of Gilbert & George’s The Dirty Words Pictures (1977) were brought together at the Serpentine Gallery for the first time.
With a dedicated and prolific body of art that spans over 50 years, their pictures combine found swear words and slogans, referenced from the stark images of urban life and using their immediate environment of their home, London life, and themselves (the artists) as constant material. Their all-encompassing practice relentlessly explores aspects of 20th century turmoil, the Art reveals much about the changing face of our world and shifting attitudes towards sexuality and existence.
On the occasion of the Serpentine’s 50th anniversary, Gilbert & George’s intention and subject matter is consistent in this extraordinary suite of twelve ink washes created especially for the gallery, each ink wash created individually by hand by the artists. Rich, heavy brush strokes depict blunt and direct exclamations, so often overheard in streets, restaurants or whilst travelling, inciting the viewer or listener to theorise and explore the messages portrayed to them from the artists.
