SUBJECT TO CHANGE: AN UNKLE EXHIBITION

Subject to Change: AN UNKLE EXHIBITION

Venue	Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA)
Date(s)	6-8 Sep 2003

The Subject to Change exhibition featured artwork from UNKLE on display, including the Never Never Land album artwork by Futura, a limited edition Kubrick toy for sale, artwork from the previous Psyence Fiction album, prototypes of the Command Z Toys, and an early prototype of the U77 figure.

Available to purchase were postcards, art prints, UNKLE x BAPE T-shirts, UNKLE CDs and DVDs, and a new Kubrick toy.

The exhibition was followed by an UNKLE concert held on the 9 September 2003.

News

Picks of the week: Pop, by John Robinson.

Now no longer featuring DJ Shadow, who oversaw their first album, UNKLE are essentially a quartet comprising Richard File, Antony Genn, James Lavelle, and the latter's extremely high opinion of himself. A magnet, as before, for celebrity guest appearances, the new UNKLE album Never, Never, Land has a lot in the way of style, and if it sometimes appears that substance is a bit thin on the ground there's plenty of trickery to divert from the fact. ICA, The Mall, SW1 (020-7930 3647) 8pm, pounds 8.

Going out: pop unkle, by Kevin Harley.

Having spent the last few years presiding over the decks at London's Fabric club, James Lavelle has returned to his band, UNKLE, in fine style. Weak reviews for UNKLE's last album, Psyence Fiction (an ill-advised mix of mope-rock singers and dance moves), haven't prevented him from corraling a crack array of guest stars for its follow-up, the deep, down and moody Never, Never Land. Ex-Stone Roses Ian Brown and Mani Mountfield can be heard on there; ditto the dulcet tones of Jarvis Cocker and Queens of the Stone Age's Josh Homme. To big up this second coming, Lavelle and his compadre, Richard File, are taking over London's ICA for four days, with a mix of art, videos, graphics and, erm, toys that is in keeping with the band's busy live integration of sound and image. And, on that note, the mini residency closes with a gig - DJs, animated visuals, guests and all.

ICA, The Mall, London SW1 (020-7930 3647; www.ica.org.uk) Fri to 8 Sept

U.N.K.L.E Exhibition - London, by Burnt Blue.

UNKLE aka James Lavelle and Richard File, have announced plans for a four-day exhibition and special live show at London's ICA, September 5-8.

The event, Subject 2 Change, is staged by creative agency thisisrealart; it marks the release of the second UNKLE album, 'Never Never Land', due out September 1.

It will include a full collection of UNKLE record sleeves including rare and unreleased promos, the full collection of UNKLE toys including limited edition Kubrik sets and one-off prototypes and limited edition UNKLE T-shirts.

The 8'x16' canvas of the album artwork by Graffiti artist, Futura 2000 will also be on display, plus large format prints of photographs taken by Mo'Wax collaborator, William Bankhead, which document the actual painting of the canvas. An 8-minute short film showing the creation of the canvas made by Mo 'Wax art director, Ben Drury, will also be shown. The event will also include the screening of UNKLE's award winning 11-minute animated film for the first single from the album 'Eye For An Eye', which was created by London design collective, Shynola with Lavelle and pal Massive Attack's 3-D.

The UNKLE Sounds live show on Monday 8 will include Lavelle, vocalist and co-producer Richard File plus special guests and visuals by Unorthodox Styles. For the real trainspotters Lavelle and File will do a signing in the ICA book shop during the evening.

SUBJECT 2 CHANGE - UNKLE @ ICA - September 5-8

Review

Review by RTHQ September 2003 Images from article are available on Flickr.

The UNKLE exhibition at the ICA was quite small, yet had many items on display of interest for the fans of both the UNKLE music, the toy collectors and fans of Futura 2000. Living up to the title of the exhibition, it was delayed by a day and opened on the Saturday instead of Friday as intended. This left a couple of people a bit pissed off as some had come quite a distance to check the show on the Friday.

Unlike any exhibition I've been to before, as the gallery doors swung open, we all headed straight to the book shop to grab the merchandise on offer. Items available included boxed postcards (limited to 50 packs, at £40 a throw), a nice slection of prints that came in a 12" sleeve type box (I think these were £80), some UNKLE x BAPE Ts, the new single, the new DVD single, Psyence Fiction CD, the boxed Kubrick set and especially for the show, a white Kubrick. There were 300 of the white Kubricks for the show and these were £13. For those feeling particularly flush, Ben Drury's photographs (I assume by not of him) were also available for £500.

Held within the upper gallery of the ICA, the exhibiton consisted of a large multi paneled piece by Futura to your left as you entered the room. UNKLE music pumped out through the speakers, naturally. Three glass cabinets were in the centre of the room. One contained bits and pieces from Psyence Fiction. Another contained prototype Kubricks that appear to have been used for the sleeve notes of the new album. A boxed CD version of the new album was on display. The third cabinet contained various UNKLE related figures, including a prototype of the figure from Psyence Fiction.

As already noted, the Futura mural took one wall, the next wall around the room had two cabinets and a print of Futura in action. One cabinet contained the forever delayed 12" Pointman figure. I noted what looked very much like the Bounty Hunter logo on its shoulder pauldron - one for the toy fans to speculate on... The other cabinet contained the 1000% UNKLE Kubrick. It was good to see these items in the UK after having seen photos of them at the BAPE Gallery earlier this year. The opposite wall had some further prints of Futura at work. A film to accompany the exhibition was projected on the wall opposing the mural. The film shows Futura doig a large mural. It was nicely edited by the folks at Unorthodoz Styles, and the end piece where the 2D Pointman "come alive" was a nice touch.

I did enjoy going, although it was a small affair. I felt it was more an exhbition of Futura's work, and how it has been developed by the UNKLE/Mo Wax team. Some fans might be disappointed that the exhibition wasn't a showcase for all the UNKLE material, but just being able to get the Kubrick and check the prototype figures was worth it alone for me!

Images

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  Listing in The Guardian - Saturday, August 30, 2003 p43

See Also

9 September 2003

Billboard 13 September 2003

External Link

Images from exhibition at ICA

Exhibition Review (Archived)