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‘THE FIRST PEOPLE’ - ART WORK SPACE PRESENTS DEBUT SOLO SHOW BY CONRAD FRANKEL Artist Conrad Frankel’s debut UK solo exhibition ‘The First People’ opened on November 19th at ART WORK SPACE - a new independent gallery, recently launched in The Hempel Hotel, London. The exhibition of oil paintings takes its inspiration and subject matter from 19-century photographic portraits and the particular intensities and abstractions that occurred while the technology was still in its infancy. Frankel has always been interested in portraiture and in 2006, having spent several years painting from life with vivid colours, he started working from black-and-white photography. An avid collector of market-found artefacts and objects, he found himself drawn to antique photographs, the characters within them and the secrets and stories they hold. Frankel was also fascinated by the process of early photography, which required the sitter to remain still, looking into the camera lens, for up to five seconds. The resulting images have an intensity that is almost haunting, with the force of the sitter’s gaze becoming, at once, hypnotically vulnerable and disconcertingly intimidating - an irony not wasted on Frankel who notes that the subjects may well have never experienced photography before and would probably have found the whole process intimidating themselves. Of the photographs the artist says, ‘The fact that exposure time could last for five seconds or more means that they look back at us with greater intensity and vulnerability than in present-day photographs. Seeing these images is like reading a diary – we are looking into a ready-made, private world, and they look back at us like no modern subject does’. This is not the only duality in the photographs to interest Frankel, who is attracted by the heavily directed placement of the subjects, usually smartly dressed and surrounded by elaborate sets; inspired by, and commissioned as an affordable alternative to, traditional portrait painting. ‘They were made as intimate family records without the self-consciousness of art photography, but yet they are amazing displays, with people dressed in their Sunday best, their heads fixed still by neck braces, their eyes transfixed by the slow exposure lens.’ says the artist, who is struck by the unnaturally choreographed nature of something that is intensely personal. Frankel painstakingly recreates these images, combining several painting techniques and building layers of oils in order to capture the intense qualities contained in the original photographs. By enlarging them, often to life-size or greater, from the original miniatures, the artist also increases their force – mesmerising the viewer who is compelled to engage with these enduring spirits. Frankel’s talent has already been recognised by his peers with him being awarded both the Jerwood Student Prize for Drawing and the de Laszlo Prize for Portraiture, With ‘The First People’ at Art Work Space recognition of this emerging young talent is sure to continue to grow. ‘THE FIRST PEOPLE’ runs from 20th November 2009 – 14th January 2010 Private View takes place on 19th November 2009, 6.30 – 9.30pm For press enquiries please contact Bakul at planb bakul@planb.uk.com / press@artworkspace.co.uk / 07984 462 358 For gallery enquiries, please contact Naomi Murtagh naomi@artworkspace.co.uk / 07515 797 877 www.artworkspace.co.uk ART WORK SPACE, Lower Ground, The Hempel Hotel, 31-35, Craven Hill Gardens, W2 3EA, 020 7298 9000 Opening Hours: Monday – Friday 10.30am – 7.30pm, Saturday 3.30pm – 7.30pm, Sunday 1.30pm – 7.30pm and by appointment Please consult www.artworkspace.co.uk or call 020 7298 9000 ahead of your visit in case of any previously booked events in the gallery space ABOUT CONRAD FRANKEL: Conrad Frankel was born and raised on a farm in County Cork, Ireland. Isolated except for from the people that worked in and around the farm, he developed a strong interest in the stories of these characters, who seemed to come from another era. Frankel gained a degree in Biblical and Theological studies at Trinity College, Dublin, before moving to London to do an MA at City and Guilds of London Art School. During his time studying for his MA he received the Jerwood Prize for Drawing and the de Laszlo Prize for Portraiture. Past exhibitions include: 2007 Drawing Breath, Australia (Group show) The Boyle Arts Festival, Ireland (Group show) 2006 Obsession, Sartorial Contemporary Art, London (Group show) Young Gods, Clapham Art Gallery. London (Group show) Jerwood Special Drawing Exhibition, London (Group show) 2005 Neither Flesh nor Fleshless, Clapham Art Gallery, London (Group Show) 2004 Untitled, Metatron Gallery, Dublin (Group show) 2003 Untitled, The Private Collectors Gallery, Dublin (Two-man show) Conrad Frankel, 15 St Nicholas Place, Dublin (Solo sho) ‘The First People’ is Conrad Frankel’s debut solo show in the UK. ABOUT ART WORK SPACE & NAOMI MURTAGH (GALLERY DIRECTOR): Naomi Murtagh was born in the small town of Kingscourt, Co Cavan, Ireland in 1979. An early interest in the Arts led her to study Fashion Design at Limerick college of Art and Design where she gained her degree. Following long stints of travelling around the world, she returned to Europe, moving to Paris to pursue her career in Fashion. She spent several years working for various designers and labels including Sharon Wauchob, Aquascutum, Vincent Du Sartel and Hobbs as accessories designer. In early 2009 the opportunity to create a gallery within the old restaurant space at The Hempel presented itself and Murtagh, who has always had a keen love of the Arts and interest in the industry grabbed it with both hands. Gallery area = 120 m ABOUT THE HEMPEL: Nestled in the heart of West London, The Hempel comprises of 50 individually designed bedrooms and suites each with its own minimalist style and relaxing ambience. A comprehensive range of amenities are offered in each of the rooms as well as wireless internet throughout. The Hempel’s restaurant, No.35, offers guests a relaxed but memorable dining experience and the bar; No. 31, serves as an ideal venue for a cocktail or light snack for those in the know. Directly opposite the hotel are six self-contained apartments, an ideal home from home, which all mirror the hotel’s contemporary design and offer stunning garden views. Guests are invited to enjoy the peaceful surroundings of the hotel’s private Zen Garden to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. Ends.

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The Sony World Photography Awards 2009/10 exhibition opens at ART WORK SPACE at The Hempel Hotel, London on 19 January 2010. The London stop is part of a global tour which has taken in leading photographic institutions in New York, Toronto, Mexico, Paris, Hong Kong, Berlin, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok. Running until 29 January 2010, the exhibition showcases photographs by the winners and finalists of the 2009 Sony World Photography Awards, spanning a variety of genres including fashion, architecture, advertising, sport and music, from across the world. Included in this striking exhibition will be images from winning UK photographers Edgar Martins, Tamany Baker, Yannick Dixon, Dylan Collard, Dave Watts and Amiran White. Brought together by leading British curator Zelda Cheatle, the exhibition showcases work by the very best professional and amateur photographers worldwide. Selected by the Sony World Photography Awards Honorary Judging Committee, which comprises leading figures from the international photographic community, the winning photographs were chosen from over 60,000 images submitted from 139 countries. Zelda Cheatle comments “Each of these pictures has a place, a purpose, show talent or skill. They have forethought, expertise or have humour, audacity, a concept, an issue or an opinion. This exhibition reflects the diversity of material, the range and depth of the response and the vibrant qualities that photography offers.” Cecily Breese, Global Tour Manager, comments “The Global Tour is a core component of the World Photography Awards and one of the main aspects of the prize received by the finalists. It offers true international exposure to the winning photographers enabling them to have their work viewed by a global audience. The unique aspect of the Global Tour exhibition is the variety and depth of the photographic genres that it displays, from fashion to photojournalism, from natural history to architecture. Across the world, the focus of the exhibition often shifts, depending on local culture and interests but the celebration of the still image is a constant worldwide.” The tour will finish in Cannes, France in April 2010 as the main exhibition of the Sony World Photography Awards festival, a week-long celebration of photography. The Sony World Photography Awards is an annual competition that creates an international platform for emerging photographers to be discovered, and for professionals to showcase their new work. For further information about the Sony World Photography Awards and the Global Tour please visit www.worldphotographyawards.org. Listing details: Art Work Space Lower Ground Floor, The Hempel Hotel, 31-35 Craven Hill Gardens, London, W2 3EA Tel: 020 7298 9000 www.artworkspace.co.uk Dates: 19 January – 29 January 2010 Press night: Tuesday 19 January 2010 Cost: Free Opening times: Monday –Friday 10.30am-7.30pm; Saturday 3.30pm-7.30pm; Sunday 1.30pm-7.30pm and by appointment. NB: Please call ahead of your visit to ensure there is no previously arranged event happening within the space. Closest tubes: Paddington, Lancaster Gate, Queensway and Bayswater For further information or to attend the press night please contact Jill Cotton or Rachel Duffield at Colman Getty Tel: 020 7631 2666 Email: jill@colmangetty.co.uk / rachel@colmangetty.co.uk Notes to Editors: • Scott Gray, Managing Director of the World Photography Organisation, Astrid Merget, Creative Director, winners of the 2009 Sony World Photography Awards and Academy members are available for interview through Colman Getty • Images from the exhibition are also available via Colman Getty. Use of images must comply with Sony World Photography Awards terms and conditions • The Sony World Photography Awards, launched in 2007, lend a global platform for the photographic industry and community. Through a variety of international programmes including the week-long festival of photography in Cannes in April, the launch of an online magazine and a gallery, an international student programme and a touring exhibition, the Sony World Photography Awards will continue to discover new talent and create avenues through which to reward photographers with the support and expertise of industry professionals • The Sony World Photography Awards website - www.worldphotographyawards.org features an online magazine and gallery. It also includes comprehensive information about the awards, the categories, a current list of World Photographic Academy members, and key dates • About Sony: Sony is a leading global innovator of audio, video, communications and information technology products for both the consumer and professional markets. Sony is renowned for its audio-visual products, such as the BRAVIA™ LCD High Definition (HD) television, Cyber-shot™ digital camera, Handycam® camcorder and Walkman® MP3 player as well as its VAIO™ personal computers and HD professional broadcast equipment, highlighted by the XDCAM™ HD. Offering a complete end-to-end HD value chain and with its electronics, music, pictures, game and online businesses, Sony is one of the world’s leading digital entertainment brands, employing approximately 170,000 people worldwide Through its long-term football partnerships as an official sponsor of the UEFA Champions League until 2012, Official FIFA Partner until 2014 and global sponsor of the FIFA World Cup™ in 2010 and 2014, Sony is inspiring a sense of excitement for the millions of football fans around the world. “Sony”, “WALKMAN”, “VAIO”, “Cyber-shot”, “Handycam”, “BRAVIA” and “XDCAM” are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Corporation. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. For more information on Sony Europe, please visit http://www.sony-europe.com and http://www.sony.eu/presscenter • ART WORK SPACE is a new independent gallery, situated in The Hempel Hotel, London. The gallery is the brainchild of Naomi Murtagh, whose ambition is to create a forum in which to showcase the work of emerging Artists working in all the various disciplines of Fine Art. The gallery is situated in what was the hotel’s restaurant; a beautiful, minimalist space that cries out for work to be displayed within it. Naomi, who was already a successful fashion designer with a passion for the Arts and a desire to move closer towards them, heard The Hempel had plans to move its restaurant. She took a chance and approached them with a proposal to house a gallery in the resulting empty space. The hotel, which has an impressive design heritage of its own, saw the drive and talent that could be brought to the space and agreed to let her take it, without condition; giving absolute curatorial freedom over the artistic programming. Naomi’s ambition for ART WORK SPACE is that it becomes a platform for upcoming artists and is recognised for the consistently high quality of work exhibited within it. ART WORK SPACE has swiftly become one of the most exciting new prospects on the London and global Art scenes. For press enquiries or further information about Art Work Space please contact Bakul Patki at plan b on: bakul@planb.uk.com / 07984 462 358. www.artworkspace.co.uk

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NIALL OBRIEN’S ‘GOOD RATS’ TAKE RESIDENCE AT ART WORK SPACE Photographer and Filmmaker NIALL O’BRIEN is to make his solo debut this February with an exhibition at ART WORK SPACE - a new independent gallery, recently launched in The Hempel Hotel, London. The show entitled ‘GOOD RATS’, opens on February 1st 2010 and marks the first substantial exposition of work from the ‘Superheroes’ series – an ongoing project that has seen O’Brien living with, and observing the lives of, a group of young punks from South-West London over the last three years. During this time, the artist has seen the group begin to grow from children to young men and has experienced the associated ecstasies and ordeals with them. Following them on their adventures from Brighton to Berlin and documenting their exploits, O’Brien has created a series of photographs so strikingly beautiful that, at first glance, they might belie their raw, uninhibited and primal content. Gradually earning the trust of the group, who are normally fiercely protective, has enabled him to gain access to some particularly personal and poignant moments. O’Brien captures these with an honesty and respect that makes these images and episodes all the more visceral and affecting. ‘There’s something beautiful about capturing the spontaneity of youth. It’s something everyone can relate to on some level, even if they can’t immediately identify with this mad group of punks’ he says. This trust not only comes with a responsibility to be truthful to the kids’ identities, but also towards the work - imposing on the artist a constant battle between his ability to build and sustain his relationship with his subjects and his duty to not influence the way they behave. ‘Basically my only rule is never to interfere.’ says O’Brien of the need to maintain this balance, ‘That can make it hard though, to balance the fact that I want the guys to trust me but I don’t want to do anything that would affect what comes naturally. There can be blood spurting out of someone’s hand, police bowling in or all kinds of sketchiness, but I can never step in. That distance is important and I hope that comes across in the work’. The resulting photographs succeed in drawing the viewer into the lives of the characters within them, but never really let one get past the point of voyeurism. O’Brien’s talent and commitment to his subject is already been recognised by his peers with a number of awards including the Irish Professional Photographer's Association Rex Roberts Medal. ‘Good Rats’ at Art Work Space is sure to see this recognition grow - giving the public an opportunity to enter the world of these young punks and a chance to catch the work of one of the Art World’s brightest emerging talents. ‘GOOD RATS’ runs from 1st February to March 11th 2010. For press enquiries please contact Bakul at planb bakul@planb.uk.com / press@artworkspace.co.uk / 07984 462 358 For gallery enquiries, please contact Naomi Murtagh naomi@artworkspace.co.uk / 07515 797 877 www.artworkspace.co.uk ART WORK SPACE, Lower Ground, The Hempel Hotel, 31-35, Craven Hill Gardens, W2 3EA, 020 7298 9000 Opening Hours: Monday – Friday 10.30am – 7.30pm, Saturday 3.30pm – 7.30pm, Sunday 1.30pm – 7.30pm and by appointment Please consult www.artworkspace.co.uk or call 020 7298 9000 ahead of your visit in case of any previously booked events in the gallery space NIALL O’BRIEN: Niall O’Brien studied fine art photography in the renowned Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology.He has exhibited at a number of Irish and English shows and has many awards to his name, including the Irish Professional Photographer's Association Rex Roberts Medal and two main categories in the ICI Photographer of the Year Award. In October 2008 Niall was accepted into the top 20 portfolios in the International Portfolio Review, Bratislava. He continues to exhibit throughout Europe. His commissioned work is of a gritty, contemporary style, which seamlessly blurs the boundaries between the conceptual and the aesthetic. His growing collection of intimate portraits concentrates on unusual subjects with whom Niall develops a close working relationship. Niall's long-term project “Superheroes” came from a film, which he made in 2006 and has been on ongoing photo documentary about adolescence and desire. Born in Dublin in 1979, Niall now lives in London. His fresh and innovative photographs and films work continues to draw both attention and acclaim. Selected low-res images of work from ‘Good Rats’ (high-res images available on request): ABOUT ART WORK SPACE & NAOMI MURTAGH (GALLERY DIRECTOR): Naomi Murtagh was born in the small town of Kingscourt, Co Cavan, Ireland in 1979. An early interest in the Arts led her to study Fashion Design at Limerick college of Art and Design where she gained her degree. Following long stints of travelling around the world, she returned to Europe, moving to Paris to pursue her career in Fashion. She spent several years working for various designers and labels including Sharon Wauchob, Aquascutum, Vincent Du Sartel and Hobbs as accessories designer. In early 2009 the opportunity to create a gallery within the old restaurant space at The Hempel presented itself and Murtagh, who has always had a keen love of the Arts and interest in the industry grabbed it with both hands. Gallery area = 120 m2 ABOUT THE HEMPEL: Nestled in the heart of West London, The Hempel comprises of 50 individually designed bedrooms and suites each with its own minimalist style and relaxing ambience. A comprehensive range of amenities are offered in each of the rooms as well as wireless internet throughout. The Hempel’s restaurant, No.35, offers guests a relaxed but memorable dining experience and the bar; No. 31, serves as an ideal venue for a cocktail or light snack for those in the know. Directly opposite the hotel are six self-contained apartments, an ideal home from home, which all mirror the hotel’s contemporary design and offer stunning garden views. Guests are invited to enjoy the peaceful surroundings of the hotel’s private Zen Garden to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. Ends.

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The debut solo show by London based illustrator Yasmin Sandytia; this exhibition consists of a series of one-off ink and watercolour drawings, each of which gives us an insight into Sandytia’s vision of the world we live in and the characters that inhabit that world. Sandytia’s illustrations are inspired by her observations of daily life, whether it be the mundane chore or the grandiose ritual. From the routine of the individual to the politic of the community at large, it is our behaviour and the characteristics that drive that behaviour which intrigue her, particularly those we may prefer not to acknowledge.

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ART WORK SPACE POPS-UP EAST THIS SPRING Independent gallery ART WORK SPACE will make an appearance in East London this spring in the form of ART WORK SPACE EAST – a temporary gallery on the Hackney Road, opposite Hackney City Farm and minutes away from Broadway and Columbia Road Markets. Having launched last autumn in The Hempel Hotel, the gallery has rapidly won wide respect for its presentation of exciting and very talented young artists, with a consistently high quality of work. Gallery Director Naomi Murtagh felt it was time to bring some of that work to a fresh audience and soon managed to secure a space. “At Art Work Space we are really proud of how we have been received over the past half a year - and are especially proud of the artists we work with.” says Murtagh, “I wanted to find a way to make sure that their art was seen by as many people as possible and a pop-up exhibition space in this great location seemed the perfect way to do so.” Art Work Space East will present a selection of work, as a group show from the four artists that have each had their debut solo exhibition at the main gallery since its launch. The first was HASLAM FOX, whose show of watercolour paintings, entitled ‘A Tale of Two Towers’, explored the Capital’s architectural and social diversity by focusing on two of its contrasting tall buildings; the landmark that is the Lloyds of London building and the unexceptional but locally beloved Donnington Tower in Stockwell, and the people that live and work around them. CONRAD FRANKEL’s exhibition, ‘The First People’ was made up of a group of oil paintings and took its inspiration and subject matter from 19-century photographic portraits and the particular intensities and abstractions that occurred while the technology was still in its infancy. YASMIN SANDYTIA’s exhibition of illustrations, ‘In Brackets’, is the current exhibition at Art Work Space and consists of a series of one-off ink and watercolour drawings, alongside a selection of hand glazed ceramic plates. The work gives us an insight into the artist’s vision of the world we live in and the characters that inhabit it and is inspired by her observations of daily life and encounters, whether they be the mundane chore or the grandiose ritual. 
 Photographer and filmmaker NIALL O’BRIEN’s show, entitled ‘Good Rats’, marked the first substantial exposition of work from the ‘Superheroes’ series – an ongoing project that has seen O’Brien living alongside, and observing the lives of, a group of young punks from South-West London over the last three years. The exhibition received widespread critical acclaim and Art Work Space East is very pleased to be teaming up with BISTROTHEQUE to put on a special, free Q&A event with O’Brien on April 22nd. Hosted at their Wadeson Street restaurant, in the now infamous Cabaret Room, the Q&A will be led by journalist Justin Quirk, features writer for The Guardian and Esquire and Editorial Director for Soho House Group’s House Magazine. A fan of O’Brien’s work and having himself grown up in Kingston, he’s the perfect person to help lead us through the adventures of the Kingston Brew Crew, who the photographer has so truthfully and sensitively documented. Art Work Space East will be open from April 15th to May 9th 2010 at 338-340 Hackney Road (opposite Hackney City Farm), London E2 7AX. Tues-Sat 10 am– 6pm, Sunday 9am–2pm. Contact Number: 07515 797 877 Opening night event Thursday April 15th 2010, 6.30pm – 9pm www.artworkspace.co.uk/east ‘GOOD RATS’ Q&A with Niall O’Brien and Justin Quirk @ Bistrotheque, 23-27, Wadeson Street, London E2 9DR. Doors 6.30pm, Q&A, 7pm. This is a free event, but audience places are limited. To register interest / reserve tickets contact: rsvp@artworkspace.co.uk . To book a post-event dinner contact Bistrotheque directly on: 020 8983 7900, www.bistrotheque.com NOTES TO EDITORS: ABOUT THE ARTISTS: HASLAM FOX: A brief and ultimately dull spell at Chelsea Art College managed to quell what had been Haslam Fox's school time obsession with painting and he ended up instead studying Art History at Glasgow University. Specialising in Abstract Expressionism and Chinese landscape painting for his Masters, his background and eclectic taste no doubt still inform his own image making. From university, an array of creative and practical jobs led him to travel extensively and finally settle in London. Inspired by a meeting with the artist Brendan Kelly, Haslam Fox spent a year at London's Art Academy in 2005. Here he met a group of artists he looked up to and soon his love of painting found new direction. Keen to continue his development alone and intent on immersing himself in the art world, he has since then been working on private commissions whilst building up a comprehensive series to exhibit from his studio in Lambeth. His paintings have been showcased through various public competitions, last year exhibiting at 'The Discerning Eye' (Mall Galleries), '20th Century Watercolours' (Bankside Gallery) and winning the Young Artist award in the Sunday Times/RWS Watercolour Competition. www.haslamfox.com CONRAD FRANKEL: Conrad Frankel was born and raised on a farm in County Cork, Ireland. Isolated except for from the people that worked in around the farm, he developed a strong interest in the stories of these characters, who seemed to come from another era. Frankel gained a degree in Biblical and Theological studies at Trinity College, Dublin, before moving to London to do an MA at City and Guilds of London Art School. During his time studying for his MA he received the Jerwood Prize for Drawing and the de Laszlo Prize for Portraiture. Past exhibitions include: 2007 Drawing Breath, Australia (Group show) The Boyle Arts Festival, Ireland (Group show) 2006 Obsession, Sartorial Contemporary Art, London (Group show) Young Gods, Clapham Art Gallery. London (Group show) Jerwood Special Drawing Exhibition, London (Group show) 2005 Neither Flesh nor Fleshless, Clapham Art Gallery, London (Group Show) 2004 Untitled, Metatron Gallery, Dublin (Group show) 2003 Untitled, The Private Collectors Gallery, Dublin (Two-man show) Conrad Frankel, 15 St Nicholas Place, Dublin (Solo show) www.conradfrankel.com NIALL O’BRIEN: Niall O’Brien studied fine art photography in the renowned Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology.He has exhibited at a number of Irish and English shows and has many awards to his name, including the Irish Professional Photographers’ Association Rex Roberts Medal and two main categories in the ICI Photographer of the Year Award. In October 2008 Niall was accepted into the top 20 portfolios in the International Portfolio Review, Bratislava. He continues to exhibit throughout Europe. His commissioned work is of a gritty, contemporary style, which seamlessly blurs the boundaries between the conceptual and the aesthetic. His growing collection of intimate portraits concentrates on unusual subjects with whom Niall develops a close working relationship. Niall's long-term project “Superheroes” came from a film, which he made in 2006 and has been on ongoing photo documentary about adolescence and desire. Born in Dublin in 1979, Niall now lives in London. His fresh and innovative photographs and films work continues to draw both attention and acclaim. www.niallobrien.co.uk YASMIN SANDYTIA: Yasmin Sandytia was born and raised in Jakarta, Indonesia, until moving to Salzburg at the age of 18 to complete her high school studies. She moved to the UK in 1999 to study art at the University of West England and then gained her BA Hons in Fashion design at Central Saint Martin’s School of Art and Design. Since then she’s worked for several British brands, as well as, as a freelancer with clients including Bjork, Illustration has always been Sandytia’s passion and in 2009, having been approached by Murtagh who was already aware of her work, she agreed that it was time to exhibit some of her illustrative work. Sandytia lives and works in London. www.sandytia.com ABOUT ART WORK SPACE EAST: Art Work Space East will be open from April 15th to May 9th 2010 at 338-340 Hackney Road (nr Columbia Road & Broadway Markets), London E2 7AX. Tues-Sat 10 am–6pm, Sunday 9am–2pm. Contact: Naomi Murtagh: 07515 797 877 Private View Thursday April 15th 2010, 6.30pm –9pm First Thursday May 6th, 6–9pm. www.artworkspace.co.uk/east ABOUT ART WORK SPACE & NAOMI MURTAGH (GALLERY DIRECTOR): Naomi Murtagh was born in the small town of Kingscourt, Co Cavan, Ireland in 1979. An early interest in the Arts led her to study Fashion Design at Limerick college of Art and Design where she gained her degree. Following long stints of travelling around the world, she returned to Europe, moving to Paris to pursue her career in Fashion. She spent several years working for various designers and labels including Sharon Wauchob, Aquascutum, Vincent Du Sartel and Hobbs as accessories designer. In early 2009 the opportunity to create a gallery within the old restaurant space at The Hempel presented itself and Murtagh, who has always had a keen love of the Arts and interest in the industry grabbed it with both hands. Gallery area = 120 m2 www.artworkspace.co.uk

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PHILIP GATWARD’S ETHIOPIAN ETHNOGRAPHS TRAVEL TO ART WORK SPACE Art Work Space is proud to present ‘Ethnographs’, an exhibition of new work by award winning photographer Philip Gatward, this summer. Made up of a series of beautiful and elegiac portraits of the people of the South Omo Valley region in Ethiopia, the show sees the artist return to a subject that has fascinated him since childhood, when he was first astonished and moved by Robert Gardener’s 1974 documentary ‘Rivers of Sand’. After years of planning, Gatward spent six weeks at the end of 2009 living with and documenting the beautiful and striking indigenous tribes. Having set up a temporary studio with lights and a simple background, he then chose not to over-direct his subjects but to allow them to present themselves in a way that felt natural to them. Eschewing use of the rigorous, unnatural post-production processes of digital enhancement on his life-sized exhibition prints, the resulting collection of analytical, reverential and honest photographs give the viewer an insight into the individual characters of these proud people and their culture. Of the work the artist says, “I knew that I didn’t want to make beautiful, prettified pictures in Ethiopia. I wanted to make portraits of these extraordinarily self-aware sitters that were my response to the subject, but without the hundreds of colour adjustments that I may make in my other work. I didn’t want to bring my pre-made plan (crop, pose, lighting) to bear on these much-photographed people. Above all, I wanted to make respectful portraits. Gatward’s distinctive style sees him abstracting his subjects throughout his work, whether they be flowers, birds, dogs or people, from their background. This process creates particularly impactful images, whose extraordinary power has deservedly seen the artist awarded several awards including the International Photography Awards. This summer’s exhibition at Art Work Space will give the public an opportunity to appreciate the talent that judges and Gatward’s contemporaries have long seen in his work. ‘ETHNOGRAPHS’ runs from June 21st to July 30th 2010. Private View June 22nd 2010 6.30pm-8.30pm For press enquiries please contact press@artworkspace.co.uk For gallery enquiries, please contact Naomi Murtagh at naomi@artworkspace.co.uk / 07515 797 877 www.artworkspace.co.uk ART WORK SPACE, Lower Ground, The Hempel Hotel, 31-35, Craven Hill Gardens, W2 3EA, 020 7298 9000 Opening Hours: Monday – Friday 10.30am – 7.30pm, Saturday 3.30pm – 7.30pm, Sunday 1.30pm – 7.30pm and by appointment Please consult www.artworkspace.co.uk or call 020 7298 9000 ahead of your visit in case of any previously booked events in the gallery space NOTES TO EDITORS: ABOUT PHILIP GATWARD: Philip Gatward’s awards for photography: • Applied Arts 2010 Winner in 'Portrait Photography' category for series entitled 'Ethnograph'. • Applied Arts 2010 Winner in 'Limited edition gallery prints' category for series entitled 'Ethnograph'. • International Colour Awards 2008 Winner in ‘Fine Art’ category. • International Colour Awards 2007 Winner and Honour of Distinction in ‘Still Life’ category. Nominated for ‘Fine Art’ category. • International Colour Awards 2006 3rd place and Honour of Distinction ‘Still Life’ category. Nominated for ‘Fine Art’ category. • International Photographer of the Year 2006 Selected for ‘Best In Show’ category. • International Photographer of the Year 2005 Winner • International Photography Awards 1st Place in the ‘Special’ category. www.philipgatward.co.uk ABOUT ART WORK SPACE & NAOMI MURTAGH (GALLERY DIRECTOR): Naomi Murtagh was born in the small town of Kingscourt, Co Cavan, Ireland in 1979. An early interest in the Arts led her to study Fashion Design at Limerick college of Art and Design where she gained her degree. Following long stints of travelling around the world, she returned to Europe, moving to Paris to pursue her career in Fashion. She spent several years working for various designers and labels including Sharon Wauchob, Aquascutum, Vincent Du Sartel and Hobbs as accessories designer. In early 2009 the opportunity to create a gallery within the old restaurant space at The Hempel presented itself and Murtagh, who has always had a keen love of the Arts and interest in the industry grabbed it with both hands. Gallery area = 120 m2 ABOUT THE HEMPEL: Nestled in the heart of West London, The Hempel comprises of 50 individually designed bedrooms and suites each with its own minimalist style and relaxing ambience. A comprehensive range of amenities are offered in each of the rooms as well as wireless internet throughout. The Hempel’s restaurant, No.35, offers guests a relaxed but memorable dining experience and the bar; No. 31, serves as an ideal venue for a cocktail or light snack for those in the know. Directly opposite the hotel are six self-contained apartments, an ideal home from home, which all mirror the hotel’s contemporary design and offer stunning garden views. Guests are invited to enjoy the peaceful surroundings of the hotel’s private Zen Garden to escape the hustle and bustle of city life.

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