Exhibition opening at the home of the late JOHN LATHAM, London, 2 Oct - 2 Nov

Exhibition Description:

The John Latham Foundation have announced the opening of Flat Time House (FTHo), the home of the late artist, John Latham (1921 - 2006). Latham was one of the most important British artists of the post-war period and lived at FTHo in Peckham, South East London for over 20 years.

The House has now become the home of the John Latham Foundation and the John Latham Archive. It will also be the primary location for a 10-month programme of exhibitions and events exploring the artist's practice, his theoretical ideas and their continued relevance.

The opening exhibition, Distress of a Dictionary, will be a solo exhibition exploring the role of language and humour in Latham's work. Latham considered his house a 'living sculpture', and named the different rooms after the attributes of a living organism.

Description:

The Image: They’re learning fast, 1988
Fish tank, pages from “Report of a Surveyor”, piranha fish
47 x 91 x 30 cm
Courtesy John Latham Estate and Lisson Gallery
© The Artist

The Artist and FTHo: A giant and colourful book-relief sculpture penetrates a large window on the front of the FTHo, known as the Face, into a room called the Mind, in which a permanent installation of works demonstrating Latham's Time-Base Theory has been maintained.

The next room has been called the Brain. Latham described this space as his area for 'rational thought' and this is where he worked on his theoretical writing and correspondence. This will be the home to the John Latham Archive.

The Hand, formerly Latham's studio, will be the main location for the programme of events taking place. The rest of the house is taken up with what is termed the 'Body Event', where eating, sleeping and 'plumbing' take place.

The actual house name derives from John's theoretical language, in which 'Flat Time' describes the way in which time and events can be represented by the length and width of a flat canvas, demonstrated in works including Time-Base Roller (1972. Tate Collection).

Latham is best known for his painting and sculpture, using materials of glass, books, canvas and the spray gun. From the mid-1950s onwards, Latham began developing a cosmological theory, formulated through his art-making discoveries that considered time and event to be more primary than the established means of understanding, based on space and matter.

He called this his Time-Base Theory and it offers an ordering and unification of all events in the universe including human actions, allowing an understanding of the special status of the artist in society, and this is represented by a permanent installation at FTHo.

John Latham has been associated with several national and international artistic movements since he began showing work in the late 1940s. His work has been exhibited internationally, including recent solos at Tate Britain (2005) and PS1, New York (2006). Latham has been represented by Lisson Gallery since 1970.

Full Contact Details:

Flat Time House, 210 Bellenden Road, London, SE15 4BW
Hours: (during exhibitions): Thursday - Sunday, 11am - 5pm
FTHo will also be open by appointment for private study and research.
Admission: Free
Directions: The nearest train station is Peckham Rye. Regular bus services operate
to Peckham Rye or Peckham Square.