Whats On At The Ikon: Friends in Love and War — L’Éloge des Meilleur·es Ennemie·es
Exhibition Dates:
2 October 2024 – 23 February 2025
Venue:
Ikon Gallery, Birmingham
Artists:
Kenneth Armitage, Sonia Boyce, Tereza Bušková, Pogus Caesar, Patrick Caulfield, Jimmie Durham, Tracey Emin, Marie-Anita Gaube, Lola Gonzàlez, Emma Hart, Lubaina Himid, Géraldine Kosiak, Delaine Le Bas, Markéta Luskacová, Rachel Maclean, Goshka Macuga, Madame Yevonde, Gordon Matta-Clark, Hetain Patel, Paula Rego, Luke Routledge, Niek van de Steeg, Francis Upritchard, Fabien Verschaere, Gillian Wearing, Bedwyr Williams, Rose Wylie, Lynette Yiadom-Boakye.
About the Exhibition:
Ikon Gallery in Birmingham and macLYON present Friends in Love and War — L’Éloge des Meilleur·es Ennemie·es, a collaborative exhibition exploring friendship as a fundamental aspect of human connection. Featuring works from the British Council Collection and macLYON, the exhibition delves into the personal, political, and philosophical dimensions of friendship, reflecting on its complexity in a post-Brexit world.
The show includes a variety of artistic mediums: painting, drawing, photography, textile, sculpture, and installation, featuring both new and existing works by artists from the UK and abroad. The exhibition runs concurrently in Birmingham and Lyon, promoting artistic partnerships between the two cities.
Themes and Highlights:
Friendship, as a source of strength, love, and resilience, is examined through diverse lenses. The exhibition considers both its nurturing and its challenging aspects, echoing Aristotle’s idea of altruism as the essence of ‘true’ friendship.
Highlighted works include Hetain Patel’s film Don’t Look at the Finger (2017), which portrays a bride and groom in a symbolic duel, reflecting mutual respect and the complexity of love. Kenneth Armitage’s sculptures, such as Friends Walking (1952), emphasise the solidarity and strength that friendships provide, while Lubaina Himid’s Have Courage in the Crisis Set Yourself Free (2016) comments on the alliances needed to overcome adversity.
Friendship’s role in fostering collective futures is also explored, such as in Tereza Bušková’s Clipping the Church (2016), filmed in Birmingham just before the Brexit referendum, and Pogus Caesar’s Schwarz Flaneur photography series, which captures intimate moments of friendship in multicultural communities.
Rose Wylie’s Bagdad Cafe (Film Notes) (2015) reflects the way friendships broaden horizons, while Tracey Emin’s Birds (2012) celebrates admiration and respect between friends. Niek van de Steeg’s interactive installation Structure de correction, table de débat (ca. 2000) invites visitors to engage in discussions, reflecting on how friendships challenge us to grow.
Evolution of Friendship:
The exhibition also considers how friendships evolve over time, from childhood bonds to the supportive roles of colleagues and neighbours. Markéta Luskačová’s Children in Playground IV (1988) captures the fleeting yet impactful nature of early friendships, while Fabien Verschaere’s Seven Days Hotel (2007) and Luke Routledge’s Strangelets (2024) present imaginary friendships as metaphors for hope and resilience.
Pets, often considered loyal companions, are also celebrated, with Paula Rego’s Four Girls Playing with a Dog (1987) offering a playful take on friendship’s unpredictable nature.
Collaborative Curatorship:
Curated by Melanie Pocock (Ikon) and Marilou Laneuville (macLYON), this exhibition is part of the UK/France Spotlight on Culture 2024 initiative, supported by the British Council. It reflects on how cultural and diplomatic friendships between regional capitals like Birmingham and Lyon can pave the way for new collaborations and ideas in an evolving political landscape.
Catalogue and Accompanying Essay:
A fully illustrated catalogue, including essays on the exhibited artists and a piece by Camille Toffoli, author of S’engager en amitié (2023), accompanies the exhibition.
For further details, interviews, and press appointments, please contact Yaz Ozkan or Aloisia Rucellai at yaz@pelhamcommunications.com or aloisia@pelhamcommunications.com, or call +44 (0) 208 969 3959.
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