Taymour Grahne Projects is pleased to present The Gulf by London-based artist Evie O'Connor opening on May 25th between 6 - 8 pm at the Holland Park space (10 Portland Road) as part of a joint opening across our 3 spaces.

For her latest body of work, The Gulf, O’Connor has magnified her interest in class divides by examining the gap we observe and internalise through the consumption of “wealth porn”, specifically through the contained environment of London’s elite five star hotels documented in the pervasive brand of programming broadcast in the UK.

Stills from these shows are used as a starting point to highlight the dynamic between guests and workers. The chosen imagery meditates on the labour that goes into presenting these spaces for the fortunate few. Gilded spaces present a curated reality of immaculate fruit bowls, pristine uniforms and glistening tea services. Beyond this, the work has seeped out into examining the world of posturing and performance that goes hand in hand by having access to these spaces and what this signals to others about your social position or aspirations.

In a nod to the acts of service depicted in the imagery, O’Connor has presented several paintings on found antique serving trays. Worker’s identities are cut off or masked, a reflection on the treatment of those in the service sector. A hierarchy must be established for the environment to flourish. This perverse dynamic is nothing new but is concentrated and heightened within the confines of the hotel, where luxury appears to have no ceiling and expectations have no bounds.

Empty waters, a recurring motif in her work can be seen through the depiction of London’s private rooftop pools. The heavily lit, untouched water, a mainstay prop for high end hotels striving for exclusivity by granting guests access to areas hidden from the public. An idyllic backdrop of conspicuous leisure.

Her interest in reflecting society continues through challenging the content we’re creating, how it's digested and what it says about us. The power it has to untether us from reality and skew our perception of our own lives and the lives of others.

Accompanying the exhibition is a limited run, 16-page folded publication featuring a new short story by Ethan O’Connor. Designed by Ben Mclaughlin.

Evie O Connor (b. 1993, Derbyshire, UK) is an artist living and working in London. She received a MA from the Glasgow School of Art and a BA from London College of Fashion. Recent exhibitions include at Maruani Mercier (Belgium), Galeria Pelaires (Mallorca), Woaw Gallery (Hong Kong), Served, Sarabande: The Lee Alexander McQueen Foundation (London), Taymour Grahne Projects, London and OOF Gallery, London.