Visit Nottinghamshire is proud to have been involved in two seasons of the exciting project that is The Grand Tour, so when the third season came around we were highly anticipating what it had in store.

I am pleased to say it does not disappoint, featuring a renowned punk as the first ever artist in residence at Chatsworth; a state of the art take on the ceramic process on the historic Welbeck Estate; Joseph Wright’s Iron Forge returning to Derby for the first time, and an eclectic exhibition that spans 400 years at Nottingham Contemporary.

Following the launch at Chatsworth with the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, I had two days to take my very own Grand Tour, beginning at Chatsworth in the stunning Peak District.


Linder, Pythia, 2017. Courtesy: the artist and Stuart Shave/Modern Art, London. Devonshire Collection, Chatsworth.

The estate, which I know well, looked different due to a 10-year long restoration programme, the biggest since the 1820s with a cost of £32million. A fresh façade with shimmering gold leaf adorns the renewed house surrounded by the landscaped gardens and parkland. That isn’t all that is new, Linder Sterling – renowned punk feminist – has spent six months on the estate becoming the first ever artist in residence in over 500 years.

The resulting exhibition Her Grace Land highlights and makes use of the stark contrast between Linder’s abrasive collages, created using images from pop culture, and the establishment of a stately home. Yet upon further exploration of the house and Linder’s work, something echoed from The Duke of Devonshire’s speech at the launch – that ‘everything was once new’ at Chatsworth – and Linder’s work is yet another new addition to this family’s extensive collection.

Linder has spent her time at Chatsworth finding stories and icons. The snake and the stag, both integral in the history of the estate, as is the plant life outdoors. Linder has also created incense and music inspired by these, as she explained “sound and scent snake through the house”.


Bartosz Stawiarski / Linder, You search but do not see, 1981/2010. Courtesy the artist and Stuart Shave/Modern Art, London. Photo: Christina Birrer.

The tour continues as Nottingham Contemporary presents The House of Fame. An exhibition curated by Linder which incorporates her own retrospective work and some new pieces, alongside items loaned from Chatsworth and an array of other works from Linder’s inspirations.

The retrospective work from Linder goes as far back as a series of masks that she made whilst studying Graphic Design at university, which were modelled by her good friend Howard Devoto. Linder’s iconic collage work is present and most impactful when enlarged and backlit as was It’s the Buzz, Cock! This piece went on to be the single cover of the iconic 70s punk band The Buzzcock’s Orgasm Addict and is a subtle yet sizeable step away from the almost elegant black and white self portraits of You Search but Do Not See.

A new collage by Linder of Elvis, semi-hidden behind a piece of ornate decoration taken from Chatsworth, is displayed in a cabinet of objects from the house itself. The extensive exhibition continues with works from Moki Cherry and Maxwell Sterling to name but a few.


Clare Twomey, 2018. Courtesy the artist. Photo: The Grand Tour.

My Grand Tour continued and led me to the Welbeck Estate in North Nottinghamshire. The Harley Gallery, a home to both contemporary and historic artwork, presented Half in Shadow: Half in Light by Clare Twomey. Clare, like Linder, spent time on the estate to understand its workings. The outcome is works that reveal the Welbeck of today. Different in its operations to Chatsworth with only offering limited public access, it is a living estate and private home to the family and community.

Clare’s work highlights the inhabitants as the lifeblood of the estate and announces them to the viewer through delicate yet striking images. The subjects present the life and strength of the estate, whilst the lithophane echoes the delicacy of the balance they have achieved between the history of the estate and the success of its current version.

The lithophane technology that is used is a cutting-edge version of the porcelain carved artworks that became popular in the 1800s. A photographic image has been transferred on to the 1mm porcelain slate and then backlit with bright white light to reveal the image. The eerie images present a fascinating insight into the Welbeck Estate and the evolving industry of ceramic art.


Joseph Wright, An Iron Forge, 1772. Photo: The Grand Tour.

My final stop of this four venue Grand Tour is Derby Museum and Art Galleries. The exhibition, The Industry of Art: From Joseph Wright to the 21st Century, explores the connections of art and industry throughout history, delving into artists view of industry and how industry presents itself to the world. The highlight of this exhibition is the return of Joseph Wright’s An Iron Forge- back in Derby for the first time, on loan from the Tate.

The Grand Tour Season Three is a series of lessons, teaching the Grand Tourist about historical and contemporary art, the push and pull of time, and about process and creation, from the simplicity of collage to the technicalities of 1mm thick porcelain. This art tour will open your eyes, whilst showcasing four of Nottinghamshire’s and Derbyshire’s finest tourist attractions.

Her Grace Land at Chatsworth is open now until Sunday 21 October 2018.

The House of Fame at Nottingham Contemporary is open now until Sunday 24 June 2018.

Half in Shadow: Half in Light at The Harley Gallery is open now until Sunday 17 June 2018.

The Industry of Art: From Joseph Wright to the 21st Century is open now until Sunday 17 June 2018.

To find out more please click here.

This blog was written by Genevieve Preece, Communications Executive at Marketing NG.

Related

The Grand Tour: Season Three
Exhibition
The Grand Tour: Season Three

The Grand Tour Season Three takes you on a journey across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, experiencing the treasures of its museums and galleries.

Chatsworth
Historic House / Palace
Chatsworth
Nottingham Contemporary
Gallery
Nottingham Contemporary

Nottingham Contemporary is one of the largest contemporary art galleries in the UK, presenting free exhibitions, special events, and family activities.

The Harley Gallery
Gallery
The Portland Collection

Situated on the ducal Welbeck estate, the award-winning Harley Gallery shows contemporary exhibitions by leading visual artists. Exhibitions change five times a year, and range from ceramics to photography.

1 Comments

Comments

  1. Browne
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