Fine Things to be Seen

Statue by Eleanor Morgan, Tortoise God (2008)

‘Fine Things to be Seen’ is at the Intervention Gallery – West London’s most interesting new public art space – until 5 September.

At the Anglican Chapel, Kensal Green Cemetery; open Saturday and Sunday 10am–4pm

Taking its title from the Chesteron poem ‘The Rolling English Road*’, the just-opened month-long show features works by Edwina Ashton, Karl England, Gabriel Hartley, Eleanor Morgan, Brian Sayers and Rose Wylie. Curated by Tom Juneau and Ben Street.

Rose Wylie

And take the kids! If the gods and monsters theme grabs you – you’ll enjoy the Family Art Day on SUNDAY 15 AUGUST. This is your chance to meet the artist Karl England and draw your own beasts inspired by some of the strange creatures inhabiting the chapel this month.

*‘The Rolling English Road’ by
GK Chesterton

‘My friends, we will not go again or ape an ancient rage,
Or stretch the folly of our youth to be the shame of age,
But walk with clearer eyes and ears this path that wandereth,
And see undrugged in evening light the decent inn of death;
For there is good news yet to hear and fine things to be seen,
Before we go to Paradise by way of Kensal Green.’

Brian Sayers

‘The poem ends pragmatic spirituality to the ancient lyric of the balladeer, staggering pie-eyed towards “the decent inn of death”. The mythic drunkard sees harbingers of the next life in the merry, mazy pastoralia of this: there are fine things to be seen, gods in dregs of ale-mugs and monsters in the ditches. The crooked road’s the path to Paradise. Inspired by this vision of rambunctious energy, bowling through time to knit together our sense of ourselves, ‘Fine Things to be Seen’ presents a bathetic pantheon built from the stuff of intoxication and obsession.” – Ben Street

The Intervention Gallery, Anglican Chapel

What can I say, Ben’s an art history teacher, I couldn’t come up with those sorts of musings. I can just tell you the pieces are inspiring to look at in an extraordinarily special space in a unique setting. After gazing at the paintings and sculptures, you get to wander the surrounding peaceful grounds which are the stuff that costume drama scenes are made of. (Crane your head right in a southerly direction, beyond the canal and train line, you might just spot the dreaded red Westfield sign glowing in the distance – it’s the only thing that prods you back from the timeless Merchant Ivory meets Tate Britain vibe to modern-day London.)

Gabriel Hartley

The Intervention Gallery is open in the Anglican Chapel in Kensal Green Cemetery on Saturdays and Sundays 10am–4pm; ring 07903 524 968 to make an appointment.

Enter the gates on the Harrow Road and Ladbroke Grove and walk through Kensal Green Cemetery.

Tagged as: Art, Kensal Green, Kensal Green Cemetery, Kids, The Paradise