Skarstedt gallery opens exhibition about artistic appropriation

Words by Bryony Stone, Thursday 09 March 2017

Heinecken---two-women---t_-1987_copyright-the-robert-heinecken-trust_-courtesy-of-cherry-and-martin_-los-angelesint — Robert Heinecken (1931- 2006) Two Women-T, 1987 dye bleach print of a magazine page 14 x11 in.(35.6 x27.9 cm.) ©The Robert Heinecken Trust, courtesy of Cherry and Martin, Los Angeles.

Fresh on the heels of Lernert and Sander’s presentation on creative mimicry at Design Indaba last week, Skarstedt gallery in London has opened a new photography exhibition titled Double Take which looks at the idea of appropriation by artists from the 1960s through to today, pushing visitors to consider ways in which images are often manipulated to shift our understanding of reality.

The gallery describes Double Take as “a re-framing, re-staging and re-presentation of appropriation in photography”, with work by emerging and established artists Anne Collier, Roe Ethridge, Robert Heinecken, Barbara Kruger, Louise Lawler, Richard Prince, Collier Schorr, Steven Shearer, Hank Willis Thomas.

So what does appropriation mean in this context? Well, according to one of Double Take’s contributing artists Richard Prince, who has been copying other people’s work since the mid ‘70s, "the great thing about appropriation is that even though the transformation reads as fiction, everybody knows that the source of the appropriation was at some point non-fiction (magazine, movie, etc), and it’s these sources, or elements of non-fiction, that gives the picture, no matter how questionable, its believable edge”.

Double Take is at Skarstedt, London, until 22 April 2017.

Prince---untitled-(woman-with-eyelashes)_-1982-84int — Richard Prince: Untitled (eyelashes)

Roe-ethridge---double-jess-gold_-2015_image-courtesy-of-the-artist-and-andrew-kreps-gallery_-new-york-int — Roe Ethridge: Double Jess Gold
Courtesy of the artist and Andrew Kreps Gallery, New York

Roe-ethridge---pic-'n-clip-9_-2016_image-courtesy-of-the-artist-and-andrew-kreps-gallery_-new-yorkint — Roe Ethridge: Pic ’n Clip 9
Courtesy of the artist and Andrew Kreps Gallery, New York

Schorr---dorothea_-2012_copyright-the-artist.-courtesy-stuart-shave-modern-art_-london-and-303-gallery_-new-york-highresint — Collier Schorr: Dorothea
Courtesy Stuart Shave Modern Art, London and 303 Gallery, New York

Heinecken---are-you-rea-(detail)_-1964--68_-copyright-the-robert-heinecken-trust_-courtesy-of-cherry-and-martin_-los-angeles_001int — Robert Heinecken: Are You Rea (detail)
© The Robert Heinecken Trust, courtesy of Cherry and Martin, Los Angeles

Shearer---guys_-2005_copyright-the-artist_-courtesy-of-modern-art-london_-galerie-eva-presenhuber_-z%c3%bcrichint — Steven Shearer: Guys
Copyright the artist, courtesy of Modern Art London; Galerie Eva Presenhuber, Zürich

Willisthomas--relax-me-hr_courtesy-of-the-artist-and-maruani-mercier-gallery_-brussels_belgiumint — Hank Willis Thomas: Why Wait Another Day to be Adorable? Tell Your Beautician “Relax Me.”
Courtesy of the artist and Maruani Mercier Gallery, Brussels / Belgium

Anne-collier---studiofloor3_skarstedtint — Anne Collier: Studio Floor #3 (Marilyn, Norman Mailer)
Courtesy of the artist; Anton Kern Gallery, New York; Marc Foxx Gallery, Los Angeles; The Modern Institute/ Toby Webster Ltd., Glasgow; Galerie Neu, Berlin / © Anne Collier

Louise-lawler---nude_-2002--2003_copyright-the-artist_-courtesy-of-metro-picturesint — Louise Lawler: Nude
Courtesy of the artist and Metro Pictures, New York

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