Austin Osman Spare

Résumé du livre

The fascinating rise and fall of Austin Osman Spare, who lived and worked in Southwark in the early twentieth century, was charted in a temporary exhibition Autumn 2010 at the Cuming Museum. Austin Osman Spare's choice of dream-like, magical themes, his sometimes disturbing imagery and his other-worldly life and attitude have meant his work has both admirers and detractors. But he was also a fine and much-admired draughtsman and figurative artist, and left a fascinating visual record of his Southwark neighbours and acquaintances. Spare rejected much of the art establishment of the time and followed his own path, despite an early promise of fame and fortune. This made him an outsider in the art world but his life and work continue to inspire new generations of artists, musicians and writers. The exhibition featured Spare's work from the Southwark Art Collection and loans from many private and institutional collectors. It was the largest showcase of his work in a public museum since his death in 1956. The exhibition was curated by Stephen Pochin and Chris Jordan in conjunction with the Cuming Museum.