A FESTIVAL in Henley hopes to “break the mould” of traditional art displays at it’s 40th anniversary event this summer.
Henley Festival, which is taking place from Wednesday, July 6 to Sunday, July 10, has announced a new “immersive art experience” which will include more than 350 works from fine art, ceramics, sculptures and more.
Leading art consultants Hollandridge Group, based near Henley, have partnered with the festival to help source the art.
The collection will be displayed over the two main spaces, named The Ruby Gallery and the Festival Gallery, on the field alongside Remenham Lane.
They will exhibit art from galleries such as Jenna Burlingham, Zuleika Gallery, Panter & Hall, Rebecca Hossacks and Air contemporary.
The festival’s annual sculpture garden will be making a return with more than 30 installations including work by Johannes von Stumm, Frippy Jameson, Tom Waugh and physicist Andrew Chisolm.
There will also be work from interior designers including Kelly Hoppen, Tom Dixon and David Linley and Paul Vanstone who will be displaying some of his pieces inspired by “how the qualities of stone can be transformed to portray the curvature of the human body”.
Whitsable’s Tommy Gurr will be sharing his large-scale canvas artwork and the award-winning Holly Frean will be showing her “quirky and humorous takes” on the subjects she paints from well-known figures from art history to dogs.
Also appearing will be Biddy Hodgkinson, the former artist in residence at Lincoln Cathedral commemorating the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta, who will be showcasing artwork inspired by colour and texture and the acceptance of ageing and death.
Abstract work inspired by Marcus Hodge’s travels in India will also be on display portraying themes of spiritual liberation.
Work from married artist due Rob and Nick Carter, whose work has been collected by Sir Elton John and Jude Law., will be present including paintings, photography and light installations.
Luminosi Trees will also be appearing creating a “magical forest embellished with thousands of globe lights” with six foot art deco trees.
The black-tie festival is celebrating its anniversary with headliners Sir Tom Jones, The Script, Boney M, Craig David, Pete Tong Ibiza Classics with the Heritage Orchestra and Jules Buckley, Katherine Jenkins and Jack Savoretti.
The festival has also launched a new charitable initiative, RISE, which is to encourage the next generation of talent take their first steps performance and creativity.
The initiative will provide opportunities for young musicians, comedians and visual artists to perform or show their work, as well as helping them before and after with marketing and production.
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