MAGIC NUMBERS: INTERVIEW WITH 101 GALLERY
101 GALLERY on Allersbergerstraße 101 in Nuremberg is a newly opened art space that regularly hosts artists from all over the world which we actively follow. The gallery is owned by French, an illustrator & artist who has converted the front part of his studio into a separate space with space to support his German and foreign colleagues. Opening at the peak of the spring quarantine, it launched with an exhibition by Kirill Kogan and in the summer held an exhibition of Gabriel Hollington aka Pizza Boobs artwork where a ramp stood right in the middle of a small room hung with colorful artworks.
On November 7th, 101 GALLERY will open a group exhibition in which more than 40 works in A4 format from completely different artists, from all over the world. We contacted French to find out more about his case.
On November 7th, 101 GALLERY will open a group exhibition in which more than 40 works in A4 format from completely different artists, from all over the world. We contacted French to find out more about his case.
MAGIC NUMBERS: INTERVIEW WITH 101 GALLERY
101 GALLERY on Allersbergerstraße 101 in Nuremberg is a newly opened art space that regularly hosts artists from all over the world which we actively follow. The gallery is owned by French, an illustrator & artist who has converted the front part of his studio into a separate space with space to support his German and foreign colleagues. Opening at the peak of the spring quarantine, it launched with an exhibition by Kirill Kogan and in the summer held an exhibition of Gabriel Hollington aka Pizza Boobs artwork where a ramp stood right in the middle of a small room hung with colorful artworks.
On November 7th, 101 GALLERY will open a group exhibition in which more than 40 works in A4 format from completely different artists, from all over the world. We contacted French to find out more about his case.
On November 7th, 101 GALLERY will open a group exhibition in which more than 40 works in A4 format from completely different artists, from all over the world. We contacted French to find out more about his case.
Where did you get your interest for this kind of counter-cultural, cartoonish and non-mainstream art?
I don't have an interest in any one form of art. I am just interested in art in general. If I find it interesting or feels genuine and can evoke some form of interest or emotion then I like. I don't believe in trying to put any sort of art in a box or categories. Art is art.
What triggers prompted you to open your own gallery?
I wanted to get a studio so I could paint and make larger pieces of work and be a little more messy and it just happened that it wasn't that much more expensive to rent a tiny shop. So I thought it would be super fun and interesting to have a small space to show case other artists work. Also I was very lucky that Vans helped me out and supported my idea.
How difficult was the opening during the quarantine?
It wasn't «difficult» I just had to be sensible and follow the regulations. I lost like 3 months cos I had to close, but that was ok cos I needed to build out the walls to be able to hang the artwork and also the landlord was super supportive and didn't make me pay rent.
I can still only have two people in the gallery at one time, with masks at any one time. But at least so far the weather has been pretty good and people to hang outside and now I have a covered garden space for people to use. Also people can view the gallery by appointment or just send me a message and see if I'm there. I also i make sure that all the artwork cos on the website and I make a pdf of each show that I can email out if people ask. It's been great having a small web shop as well cos then artist can still get to to sell their work from their shows.
I can still only have two people in the gallery at one time, with masks at any one time. But at least so far the weather has been pretty good and people to hang outside and now I have a covered garden space for people to use. Also people can view the gallery by appointment or just send me a message and see if I'm there. I also i make sure that all the artwork cos on the website and I make a pdf of each show that I can email out if people ask. It's been great having a small web shop as well cos then artist can still get to to sell their work from their shows.
Most of the artists that you exhibit are young and little-known names in the art world. Why is it important for you to interact with fresh names? Why do you support them?
I don't think of it like that. Like I said, art is art, if its good I will show it. I don't really think theirs any difference between artists work you know or don't, other than you haven't seen it yet. But I agree, I like to support artists who may not have had that much exposure yet, having a small space with low overheads allows me to think more about the art and artists than money and sales.
How is your selection of artists going? Is it just your own feel or something else?
So far it's just been artists that I have known or worked with for a while or even just people I like and admire what they do and I ask them if they would like a show and explain how tiny the space is and that its really an unknown so its more for fun and the experience especially with the virus situation. Gabriel Hollington aka Pizza Boobs is a good example, I met him in Melbourne earlier this year and I just really like his work and he's whole out look on art and life and I explained I didn't know how the show would go but he could do whatever he liked and it turned out to be a huge success for him.
As we know, you started with Kirill Kogan's exhibition. Kirill also lived in Nuremberg. Tell us, how do you meet?
I met Kirill in Berlin in about 2015 or 16 at a skateboard trade show and we've been internet homies ever since. I think there's something really exciting about the way he draws and develops his work. It made total sense that him growing up and essentially being from Nuremberg that he should have the first exhibition.
Another Nuremberg local you worked with Johannes Stahl. You did an exhibition called «BLOCKPRINTSCUM». Usually Johannes style is full of colors. Why did you choose to focus on black color artworks?
I didn't choose to do anything, Johannes chose to only show block print works in black and white, I think its his preferred way to work and its super effective as well. I really like the differing scale of the works, from 20 cm pieces to one print that was more than 110 cm. His zine was super colourful, on loads of different coloured papers and the inside of the cover was a 3 colour risograph print.
You did a photo exhibition of skate photographer Matthias Welker. Could you tell us more about him and his works? Why did you choose to focus on his shots?
Matthias had a made a zine of photos of his hike across the alps and I saw it and thought it was super inspiring, so I asked him if he would like to launch the zine in the gallery. The prints on the wall were all pages from the zine, so it wasn't really much choosing or curating from me, other than how we hung the show. Matthias had a strong vision of how it would look. It's really interesting to see work entirely done on film.
Can you tell us about your future exhibitions? For example, we saw Will Sweeney preparing work for your gallery. What will it be?
The next exhibition is going to be a group show with artworks from over 40 different artists all over the world. It's all A4 in size so the gallery will be full. All the artworks will be really different, photography, print, sculpture, drawing, collage and painting.
James Jarvis said he want's his exhibition to be all collage works. Other than that I don't know exactly what each artist is going to show. Obviously I like too curate artists work so they show what I think is the best work they have, but I don't want to control them and tell them what to make for the show. I think that I ask them to show they're work because I liked what they do and then I have to have to have confidence in them as a creative to make something great for their show and support them in that.
James Jarvis said he want's his exhibition to be all collage works. Other than that I don't know exactly what each artist is going to show. Obviously I like too curate artists work so they show what I think is the best work they have, but I don't want to control them and tell them what to make for the show. I think that I ask them to show they're work because I liked what they do and then I have to have to have confidence in them as a creative to make something great for their show and support them in that.
Grade Moscow
5 Nov, 2020