Cabinets of Curiosities | Shoreditch Design Triangle: 70 Redchurch x Timothy Everest
70 Redchurch
70 Redchurch is a young artist from Redchurch Street in Shoreditch with a passion for expressionist, figurative art. He prefers use of charcoal, acrylic paint and pens. He has taken up classes at the Art Academy London in the past and received mentorship from Benat Olaberria.
With his paintings, he intends to convey both the playfulness (colours) and seriousness (charcoal and lines) endemic to art, or, life itself.
Fantasy is key and incorporating elements of his direct surroundings aids in producing art that is both recognisable, but disorienting.
References to Greek mythology provide a medium to explore themes of mental health and psychological transition experienced on the streets of Shoreditch during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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We asked 70 Redchurch about his inspiration, his aspirations and why Shoreditch makes the ideal home for creatively-minded people.
What inspiration do you draw from Shoreditch?
Having lived in the East End for 5 years, Shoreditch has become a second home to me. The area surrounding Spitalfields has always been a refuge for dissenters, insurgents and migrants (think roman catholic theatre-goers, the Huguenots, Jews, Asian communities, international students) and its industrial past invigorates the street art messages against its brick walls.
My character aligns with the vibrancy and energy of life in this area adjacent to the City. Its abundant street art has influenced my use of primary colours speaking to the forwardness and no nonsense of East End life. I believe in art that immediately attracts the eye and includes child-like playfulness. On the other hand, the East End has had a rough past with industrial revolution labour conditions similar to that of my hometown, Ghent (Belgium). I therefore use charcoal in reference to that industrial past and the greyness of bricks used in the converted warehouses surrounding Redchurch Street.
Ultimately, this series of paintings is an homage to the brave people of Shoreditch and the East End that have all lived through the pandemic with me. For some time, lockdowns managed to dim the joyful colour of this area that has become a substantive part of my life. These paintings are a representation of the internal metamorphoses we all underwent while externally feeling like time stood still..
Does your work reflect your community and if so, in what way?
I think it definitely does. The faces represented in my paintings all indicate rather strong emotions and are portraits of people I saw on the regular walks during lockdown. I think of East London as a creative place where many cultures and individuals come together to make bold statements about change and are not afraid to share their opinions. The pandemic has in many ways suppressed this community feeling and I hence used this series of paintings to release my frustration about it. The bubbles splurging out of faces in the paintings represent thoughts and dreams. They are reflective of the mental action in our mind standing in stark contrast to the physical inaction of the pandemic.
If you could collaborate with any Shoreditch-based artist - past or present, living or dead - who would you choose and why?
I am a big fan of Gilbert & George. Their explosive use of colour immediately attracts the eye and their reference to everyday objects they encounter on the streets close to their Spitalfields home make me identify with their work. I like the symmetry in their paintings and the unexpected power they radiate. My dad used to hang a lithography of one of their paintings in our home and I’ve always loved it.
Timothy Everest
Timothy Everest is a unique tailoring brand, established in the heart of Spitalfields, East London in the early ‘90s. With retail locations situated in sophisticated Mayfair and vibrant Shoreditch, and an Atelier in Hoxton, this modern menswear brand seamlessly fuses traditional Bespoke tailoring with contemporary designs and fabrications creating beautifully crafted pieces for every man’s wardrobe.
Cabinets of Curiosities is a project for Shoreditch Design Triangle, a cultural event that celebrates the creative industry in East London.
it was established in 2008 as a vehicle for the designers, companies, and institutions situated in the East End to collaborate on the promotion of their activities during the London Design Festival.
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