To avoid disappointment, please note that the title is that of the exhibition

The Lenkiewicz Foundation has distributed this announcement in its latest Newsletter:

 
ROYAL WEST OF ENGLAND ACADEMY

'Still Lives' – Robert Lenkiewicz
17 April — 31 May 2011


"This will be the most comprehensive exhibition of Robert Lenkiewicz's work since his premature death at the age of 60 in 2002. Lenkiewicz famously chose the outsider as the subject for his art: the vagrants and street alcoholics who dossed at his studios, families with mentally handicapped children, the elderly, the dying – human beings isolated from one another by their circumstances and from themselves by their preoccupations.'You're born alone and you die alone,' he said and the problem was to deal with the isolation of simply being alive. Lenkiewicz found one solution – a richly creative life conducted with panache – and left behind a legacy which will appeal to anyone with an interest in the conundrum of existence. In his obituary of Lenkiewicz, art critic David Lee remarked that 'Lenkiewicz was one of few serious painters of contemporary history.'"

For further information and to download the RWA events magazine, please visit: http://www.rwa.org.uk/curpro.htm

A schedule of educational events surrounding the exhibition – including gallery talks, lectures and discussions – will be announced early in the new year on the RWA web site and on www.lenkiewiczfoundation.org

Information about Private Views and other Friends benefits will be announced in the next newsletter, which will be out shortly.


Newsletter contents

WANTED! Rembrandt | Van Gogh | Courbet
Help the Foundation locate self-portraits of Robert with his artistic heroes

A film-maker's perspective on Robert Lenkiewicz
by Jeremy Elman, commissioned by TLF to produce a film for the RWA show

PLUS, new images from the archive, charity news, forthcoming events and exhibitions, Private Views and more...
 

lenkiewicz.org has received the following suggestion from TLF:

//TLF with several new trustees is conducting a reappraisal of its aims and strategy. We would like to widen this to others interested in Robert and thought one good way to do this would be in the forum.

We invite comments, ideas and questions. We’ll try to respond as openly as possible. The only no-go areas will be some legal issues and anything personal on trustees.

This event will have a two week cut-off as it can't be open-ended but maybe it could happen again every so often.//

Personally I think this is a brilliant idea. TLF suggests that the two weeks begin on 1 August. Once TLF has sent the opening post, take the opportunity to find out where TLF stands on issues that matter to you, and make suggestions on where TLF should be heading. We are all curious regarding who are on the TLF board, what are the finances like, is there an agenda for each important area: the permanent collection, acquisitions, the permanent exhibition space, authentication service, the private diaries, publication of the project notebooks, and so on.

Let your voice be heard!

Member 555

There has been a steady increase in the number of bot registrations on the site. Now every day between five and ten fake members are registered. I have therefore temporarily disabled the web site registration of new members.  Real people who wish to register as members of the forum should send a message through the 'Contact Us' option found in the list in the upper left on this page, and I will make the registration for them.

The Administrator

PRESS RELEASE – THE LENKIEWICZ FOUNDATION

‘THE TALKING WALL’ – PLANS FOR THE BARBICAN MURAL

The Lenkiewicz Foundation has announced that it is in discussion with the School of Art and Design at Loughborough University regarding the possibility of a digital reconstruction of Lenkiewicz’s famous mural on The Barbican.

Anna Navas, spokesperson for The Foundation, said: “The mural clearly has a special place in the city’s cultural history and has always been a landmark on The Barbican for Plymothians and visitors alike. While he was alive, Robert had looked at different options about repainting or replacing it but the technical issues were highly problematic. We were therefore delighted to be approached by Robert Brocklehurst of Loughborough University with an idea about using the latest digital technology to reconstruct the original. It would, however, depend upon being able to access high quality images of the mural in its original condition.”

Lecturer in the Performance and Multi-Media at Loughborough University, Robert Brocklehurst is no stranger to Lenkiewicz’s work. He first encountered the artist’s work over twenty years ago when one of Lenkiewicz’s exhibitions on ‘Sexual Behaviour’ had run into trouble with the local authorities. He says, “Recently I returned to Plymouth as a pilgrimage to visit his studio and view The Barbican Mural: ‘The Influence of Jewish Thought on Elizabethan Culture 1520–1620.’ This time I was truly shocked, for his studio was empty and the mural faded, battened and peeling in the sun. Fading with this work are possibly some of Lenkiewicz’s most important ideas on worlds past and present, on relationships between art, science, literature and religion in society. I wondered whether this seminal work was going to be saved? Contact with The Lenkiewicz Foundation revealed many ideas about doing so, including Lenkiewicz’s own, but highlighting real problems with any physical restoration. Complete removal appears necessary to stabilize the surface before any restoration could begin, not to mention the costs of constant upkeep once restored.”

“Therefore I proposed ‘The Talking Wall’”, Mr. Brocklehurst continued. “A digital alternative to any ‘actual’ restoration, a replica that would at the very least help preserve and regenerate the mural using current media technology. Adopting a collaborative, non-invasive approach, two artist residencies set up to photographically capture the whole in sections, initial documentation taking place at night in order to retain light, tone and colour continuity. Then drawing on studies and sketches from the Lenkiewicz archive the work would be reconstructed using specialist ‘paint and paste’ software. The project would then move into a manipulation phase where facial features within the mural would be animated, named actors employed to vocalize relevant texts from the Renaissance period. This work would draw on Lenkiewicz’ intentions for the mural utilizing texts from his extensive library archive. The final high-definition image becomes part of a 1:1 scale night screening event, an on-site computer programme activating ‘random’ conversations through hidden speakers within the wall. Both image and event would be portable enough to travel as part of any future touring exhibitions.”

Ms. Navas added, “These ideas are obviously at an early stage but they are totally dependent upon high-quality images of the mural in its heyday. We therefore appeal for anyone who may have something we may be able to use to contact us.”

In the meantime, The Foundation’s plans to open premises on The Barbican before Christmas have been stalled by yet another delay in the winding-up of the estate. Ms. Navas comments, “It is extremely frustrating, as we have been told by the Executor that the estate would be wound up this year but unfortunately it now looks like this will be delayed until in the New Year. We have a building ready with plans for an opening exhibition and have even shortlisted candidates for the post of gallery manager. The Foundation is anxious to get on with its mission of promoting Robert’s life, and needs to be allowed to go about its business as soon as possible. We are at least pleased that a feature on Robert filmed at the recent Plymouth City Museum exhibition will be broadcast on BBC2 in early December as part of Paul Martin’s ‘Flog It’ program, which will hopefully bring his work to a wider national  audience.”

17.11.2009

The Lenkiewicz Foundation:

www.lenkiewiczfoundation.org

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tel: 01752 221450

In the end, an imaginative and democratic solution was found. The excluded works will be displayed on free-standing panels with the other works for one day only during the exhibition to give visitors a chance to assess the material for themselves. But there will also be a chance for the general public to say whether they think the Museum or TLF had the right idea.

The event will start at 6.30pm with a Private View of the current exhibition plus the additional works. A Presentation will then take place from 7.45pm where representatives from Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery and The Lenkiewicz Foundation will explain their approach and put forward their points of view. A moderated open forum Discussion will then take place from 8.15pm, enabling members of the audience to also express their opinions. The event will finish at 9pm. (Tickets for the discussion must be booked in advance on 01752 304774. The viewing is open to all).

The Foundation is hoping to open its own public gallery later this year and is aware that some of the work within the legacy may fall outside of general tastes. TLF therefore sees the open forum as a valuable learning experience and a chance to hear from a fairly representative audience of gallery-goers what their views are.
“Robert’s natural audience was the ordinary person in the street, but so was his subject matter,” says TLF. “He never presumed to pre-judge what they might or might not find acceptable — he just assumed that since his work was about the feelings and emotions that we all experience, that they would be genuinely interested in seeing themselves reflected in the work.”

In fact, only one of the artist’s many Projects exhibited at his studios on The Barbican was deemed beyond the pale — that on the theme of Sexual Behaviour in 1983. The City Council and the Police asked him to display a warning sign outside his exhibition rooms. Robert reluctantly agreed rather than see the show closed down entirely. The sign read ‘The Local Authority regard this project as unsuitable for those under eighteen; this is not the painter’s opinion.’ The Foundation added, “It’s a formula that worked for the artist for more than 30 years. Why would we change it?”

For enquiries or to request illustrations please call Francis Mallett on 01752 221450 or e-mail
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Note added 2 June 2009: Please note that 2/3 of the available places have already been booked.

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The Lenkiewicz Foundation extends a special welcome to users of lenkiewicz.org

This year will be a turning point in the history of The Lenkiewicz Foundation. The legacy of work by Robert Lenkiewicz is passing from the artist’s Estate to the charity (most of which can be seen at Plymouth City Museum until 11 July) and the Estate will be wound up, leaving TLF in control of its own affairs at long last. The charity is hoping to open its own exhibition rooms in Plymouth later in the year and to set up an educational archive based on the life and work of the painter.

TLF are also reaching out to enthusiasts for Robert’s work in an effort to ensure that the charity is responsive to the wishes of its core audience. The re-launched ‘Friends of The Lenkiewicz Foundation’ aims to provide a forum for those interested in Lenkiewicz’s legacy, where like-minded people can meet for informal discussion or enjoy programmed educational events that will hopefully deepen everyone’s appreciation of the artist.

In the spirit of this democratic engagement with its audience, the Friends will enjoy constitutional rights, including the right to send a representative to the Annual General Meetings of the charity, where they can participate in the election of trustees, etc. The charity has also signalled its intention to draw on the expertise and commitment of its supporters by inviting nominations for trustees from any interested quarter.

On Saturday 16 May, the Friends and absolutely anyone with an interest in things Lenkiewicz will be welcomed at Delamore House, near Cornwood, for an informal  gathering to chat about the future of the legacy, or just to enjoy the idyllic surroundings or the wine and food provided by event sponsor Edmond Davari (proprietor of Zucca! and Souk).  The splendid house, built in 1859, hosts a permanent art exhibition and the picturesque grounds include a sculpture park.

Admission for Friends who have paid their subscription is FREE, but anyone wishing to come along can pay a £5 entrance fee, which is refundable if they later decide to become a member. To reserve your place or to find out more, just e-mail TLF at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it (Please note that you must inform TLF in advance if you are going so that sufficient wine & food can be laid on!).

In this decisive year, when many aspects of the future of The Lenkiewicz Foundation are still to be decided, you can be part of that decision making process. So whether you’re interested in the grand strategy or just want to get the latest gossip, please see the show at Plymouth City Museum and come to Delamore House — from here on, the future of the legacy is what we, and you, make of it.

The Lenkiewicz Foundation

Museum exhibition to showcase the legacy of Lenkiewicz

A new exhibition of works by Robert Lenkiewicz, which opens at Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery on Wednesday 8 April, will present the first ever showing of the legacy of artistic works that the artist bequeathed to the Lenkiewicz Foundation upon his death in 2002.

‘Lenkiewicz: The Legacy’ will be on display at Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery from 8 April to 11 July. The exhibition will be open from 10am to 5.30pm Tuesday to Friday and 10am to 5pm on Saturday and Bank Holiday Mondays. Admission is free. For enquiries and further information visit www.plymouthmuseum.gov.uk, call 01752 304774 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

UPDATE 18 APRIL: TLF has made a press release on the censoring of the exhibition. The press release is published in full in the News section of this site.