About

An exhibition at Gallery@Oxo featuring Amélie Crépy, Robert George, Jemma Gowland, Sharon Griffin, Jacqueline James, Line Nilsen, Lisa Pettibone and Loraine Rutt. Known collectively as The Tangible Project, their new works celebrate the tactile relationship of hands exploring materials through their individual crafting of textile, wood, clay and glass.

The artists met while exhibiting at the prestigious Collect Fair 2022. They are a diverse group with differing ages, nationalities, backgrounds and individual approaches to making, yet united by their outstanding craftsmanship in their different fields, with work in public and private collections both in the UK and internationally.

In a world leaning toward digital encounters where so recently society was restricted from physical contact, touch has never mattered more. Hands exploring materials are the lifeblood of artists, a fluid relationship that ignites expression, understanding and a deep sense of connection.

This exhibition focuses on the importance of touch to each maker and the wider context of viewer perception, questioning how important touch is to our interactions with the objects around us. Some artists have worked collaboratively for this show, illuminating each artist’s unique approach to making.

From an exhibition idea that was born during the first lockdown, The Tangible Project pledged to find ways to connect through making. As part of this process, they have created a series of shared sketchbooks, each artist adding ideas as the exhibition developed and sending it on to another in the group.

There are talks at 2pm daily, with Q&A sessions discussing each artist’s approach to making and their tacit response to their chosen material. Each talk offers an insight into the studio world, with the opportunity for visitors to experience the tactile quality of each craft through a special exhibit of objects made specifically for them to handle. For details on talks, visit thetangibleproject.co.uk.