I love the idea of the Dulwich Outdoor Gallery. In 2011, Ingrid Beazley who was working at the Dulwich Picture Gallery, met Stik, the street artist, and showed him round the permanent collection. From there, the project was born and fairly soon walls across Dulwich and Peckham were given modern interpretations of old masters.
Today, Ben (an old friend and art teacher) and I wandered around trying to spot what was left of the old idea. Some were easier to find than others, some seemed just not to be there any more, but we were not religious about it so may have missed a few just because we were chatting.
Next to each modern version is a copy of the picture in the Picture Gallery’s permanent collection that inspired it. So, for example, this mural by Mad C has some information about it and the inspiration for it in the bottom right corner.
The below – the street art and the work(s) that inspired them – doesn’t match the detail of the descriptions but hopefully gives a flavour. I’ve put the relevant links and everything else for the images at the bottom.
Almost regardless of whether the new versions “work”, it struck me as a brilliant way for an institution like the Dulwich Picture Gallery to live beyond its walls.
Originals at the Dulwich Picture Gallery:
- Venetia, Lady Digby, on-her-deathbed
- The Massacre of the Innocents
- The Guardian Angel
- Vase with Flowers
- Girl at a Window
- The Triumph of David
All of which acted as inspiration for:
- Stik
- Mad C
- Remi/Rough
- System – couldn’t find anything “official” but did come across the brilliant Hooked blog, all about street art. It’s a whole new rabbit hole of interest.