La Boîte à Merveilles - an exhibition of new works on paper by HORMAZD NARIELWALLA

H O R MA Z D NA R IE LWALLA L a Bo îte à Me r ve ille s RAILINGS GALLERY 5 New Cavendish Street London W1G 8UT

10th September – 4th October 2019

La Boîte à Merveilles An exhibition of new works on paper by

HORMAZD NARIELWALLA 10th September – 4th October

RAILINGS GALLERY LONDON Opening hours: 10:00-18:00 Monday – Saturday & 11:00-17:00 Sundays

5 New Cavendish Street, London W1G 8UT 020 7 935 1114

info@railings-gallery.com

www.railings-gallery.com | www.narielwalla.com

La Boîte à Merveilles The work of artist Hormazd Narielwalla mines the past to find inspiration in the present. His unique practice of meticulously collaging hand-made, painted or found papers onto vintage sewing patterns, brings a contemporary language of abstraction to traditional compositions for the body. The resulting visual imagery is uniquely Narielwalla’s, whilst offering signposts to his great loves of art, design and fashion.

Narielwalla’s career as an artist began during his Masters in Fashion Design, that led him to research bespoke tailoring during a residency with Dege and Skinner, one of London’s longest established tailors on Savile Row. During his time there, he learnt that the tailor would fold and discard a customer’s patterns only once they had passed away.

This had a profound effect on Narielwalla, prompting him to want to explore creating pictures and sculptures using the posthumously discarded patterns.

This immersion in the traditions of tailoring in part informs Narielwalla’s sensitive handling of material and its manipulation into forms sympathetic to the human body. The resulting imagery recalls the great masters of 20th Century Modernism; from Picasso’s Cubism to Matisse’s prolific ‘cut-out’ works. Many of the patterns that act as Narielwalla’s canvas belong to people long since gone but in his application of new forms and colour, the surface becomes reanimated, breathing life into materials once confined to history.

Earlier this year, Narielwalla spent a month in Marrakech, a City with a long and rich history of attracting European artists and designers. On his return to his studio in London, Narielwalla produced the body of work in this exhibition, drawing from his experiences and memories of the City.

Narielwalla describes Marrakech as a place of strong contrasts, where order and disorder intersect. The opulent gardens, majestic palaces, and thriving marketplaces are meeting places of bustling human activity set against dazzling geometric ceramic tiles, perfectly symmetrical and ordered in their patterning.

In works such as La Vie dans la Cour (Life in the Courtyard), Narielwalla interprets the experience of exploring Marrakech’s Riads, whose exteriors, clad with clay, are often simply painted in one block colour. Walking through the modest entrances, you emerge into stunning courtyards, where the dazzling colours and designs of tiles merge with people, birds and plant life. This interplay of the abstract and figurative particularly interests Narielwalla, whose own work invites the viewer to interpret which elements describe the movement of bodies and which are flat abstraction.

In Marrakech, an intensity of colour is found everywhere; in the textiles and tiles of Riad interiors, to stalls selling spices and shops selling pigments - the most famous being the luminous ‘Majorelle Blue’, a colour that Narielwalla has used prominently in many of the new works in this exhibition. Named after its maker, Jacques Majorelle, this intense lapis lazuli blue adorns walls, fountains and features in the famous garden of his design, created in 1923.

By the 1980s, the Majorelle Gardens had fallen into disrepair and might have continued to decay were it not rediscovered by the great Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé who, together, bought and restored the garden.

Featured in this exhibition are a group of works in which Narielwalla pays homage to Yves Saint Laurent; intense ‘pops’ of colour are set against bold black designs, a nod to some of the designs created by the couturier during his numerous stays in Marrakech and in recollection of Saint Laurent’s famous declaration that “Marrakech taught me colour. Before Marrakech everything was black.”

Entitled La Boîte à Merveilles, this exhibition presents us with a box of wonders, which Narielwalla has filled with artworks celebrating his love of colour, pattern and shape.

Catalogue of Works

La Vie dans la Cour I Paper collage on sewing pattern  75 x 55.5 cm

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La Vie dans la Cour II Paper collage on sewing pattern  75 x 55.5 cm

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La Vie dans la Cour I & II

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La Vie dans la Cour I & II Framed size 86 x 66 cm each

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Le Maitre d'Épices Paper collage on sewing patterns  104 x 78 cm

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Le Maitre d'Épices Paper collage on sewing patterns  Framed size 119 x 92 cm

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La Musique dans la Cour I Hand painted collage on sewing pattern  78 x 54.5 cm

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La Musique dans la Cour III Hand painted collage on sewing pattern  78 x 54.5 cm

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La Musique dans la Cour II Hand painted collage on sewing pattern  78 x 54.5 cm

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La Musique dans la Cour I Hand painted collage on sewing pattern  Framed size 90 x 67 cm

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La Musique dans la Cour III Hand painted collage on sewing pattern  Framed size 90 x 67 cm

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La Musique dans la Cour II Hand painted collage on sewing pattern  Framed size 90 x 67 cm

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Le Palais de la Géométrie I Hand painted collage on sewing pattern 75 x 55.5 cm

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Le Palais de la Géométrie IV Hand painted collage on sewing pattern 75 x 55.5 cm

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Le Palais de la Géométrie III Hand painted collage on sewing pattern 55.5 x 75 cm

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Le Palais de la Géométrie II Hand painted collage on sewing pattern 55.5 x 75 cm

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Le Palais de la Géométrie I Hand painted collage on sewing pattern Framed size 84 x 65 cm

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Le Palais de la Géométrie IV Hand painted collage on sewing pattern Framed size 84 x 65 cm

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Le Palais de la Géométrie III Hand painted collage on sewing pattern Framed size 65 x 84 cm

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Le Palais de la Géométrie II Hand painted collage on sewing pattern Framed size 65 x 84 cm

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Le Jardin EnchantĂŠ I Paper collage on sewing pattern  55 x 38 cm

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Le Jardin EnchantĂŠ II Paper collage on sewing pattern  55 x 38 cm

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Le Jardin EnchantĂŠ III Paper collage on sewing pattern  55 x 38 cm

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Le Jardin EnchantĂŠ IV Paper collage on sewing pattern  55 x 38 cm

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Le Jardin EnchantĂŠ V Paper collage on sewing pattern  55 x 38 cm

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Le Jardin EnchantĂŠ VI Paper collage on sewing pattern  55 x 38 cm

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Le Jardin EnchantĂŠ VII Paper collage on sewing pattern  55 x 38 cm

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Le Jardin EnchantĂŠ VIII Paper collage on sewing pattern  55 x 38 cm

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Le Jardin Enchanté SET I – VIII

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Le Jardin Enchanté SET I – VIII

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Le Jardin Enchanté SET I – VIII Framed size 65 x 47 cm each

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Le Pop – Noir et Pourpre Paper collage on sewing pattern 61 x 68 cm

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Le Pop – Noir et Bleue Paper collage on sewing pattern 61 x 68 cm

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Le Pop – Noir et Jaune Paper collage on sewing pattern  61 x 68 cm

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Top: Le Pop – Noir et Jaune Paper collage on sewing pattern 61 x 68 cm

Middle: Le Pop – Noir et Pourpre Paper collage on sewing pattern 61 x 68 cm

Bottom: Le Pop – Noir et Bleue Paper collage on sewing pattern 61 x 68 cm

Top: Le Pop – Noir et Jaune Paper collage on sewing pattern Framed size 71 x 80 cm

Middle: Le Pop – Noir et Pourpre Paper collage on sewing pattern Framed size 71 x 80 cm

Bottom: Le Pop – Noir et Bleue Paper collage on sewing pattern Framed size 71 x 80 cm

Hommage à YSL – Orange Paper collage on sewing pattern 54.5 x 39 cm

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Hommage à YSL – Bleue Paper collage on sewing pattern 54.5 x 39 cm

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Hommage à YSL – Indigo Paper collage on sewing pattern 54.5 x 39 cm

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Hommage à YSL – Orange Paper collage on sewing pattern Framed size 63 x 48 cm

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Hommage à YSL – Bleue Paper collage on sewing pattern Framed size 63 x 48 cm

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Hommage à YSL – Indigo Paper collage on sewing pattern Framed size 63 x 48 cm

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Hommage à YSL – Bleue Hommage à YSL – Orange Hommage à YSL – Indigo

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Hommage à YSL – Bleue Hommage à YSL – Orange Hommage à YSL – Indigo

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Catalogue of Artworks 1.

La Vie dans la Cour I & II (Pair)

Paper collage on sewing pattern

Each 75 x 55.5 cm

2.

Le Maitre d'Épices

Paper collage on sewing pattern

104 x 78 cm

3.

La Musique dans la Cour I

Hand painted collage on sewing pattern

78 x 54.5 cm

4.

La Musique dans la Cour II

Hand painted collage on sewing pattern

78 x 54.5 cm

5.

La Musique dans la Cour III

Hand painted collage on sewing pattern

78 x 54.5 cm

6.

Le Palais de la Géométrie I

Hand painted collage on sewing pattern

75 x 55.5 cm

7.

Le Palais de la Géométrie II

Hand painted collage on sewing pattern

55.5 x 75 cm

8.

Le Palais de la Géométrie III

Hand painted collage on sewing pattern

55.5 x 75 cm

9.

Le Palais de la Géométrie IV

Hand painted collage on sewing pattern

75 x 55.5 cm

10.

Le Jardin Enchanté I

Paper collage on sewing pattern

55 x 38 cm

11.

Le Jardin Enchanté II

Paper collage on sewing pattern

55 x 38 cm

12.

Le Jardin Enchanté III

Paper collage on sewing pattern

55 x 38 cm

13.

Le Jardin Enchanté IV

Paper collage on sewing pattern

55 x 38 cm

14.

Le Jardin Enchanté V

Paper collage on sewing pattern

55 x 38 cm

15.

Le Jardin Enchanté VI

Paper collage on sewing pattern

55 x 38 cm

16.

Le Jardin Enchanté VII

Paper collage on sewing pattern

55 x 38 cm

17.

Le Jardin Enchanté VIII

Paper collage on sewing pattern

55 x 38 cm

18.

Le Pop – Noir et Jaune

Paper collage on sewing pattern

61 x 68 cm

19.

Le Pop – Noir et Pourpre

Paper collage on sewing pattern

61 x 68 cm

20. Le Pop – Noir et Bleue

Paper collage on sewing pattern

61 x 68 cm

21.

Paper collage on sewing pattern

54.5 x 39 cm

22. Hommage à YSL – Bleue

Paper collage on sewing pattern

54.5 x 39 cm

23. Hommage à YSL – Indigo

Paper collage on sewing pattern

54.5 x 39 cm

Hommage à YSL – Orange

All dimensions are for the unframed artworks, height before width For information on prices and availability of the artworks featured in this catalogue, please contact the gallery on 020 7 935 114 or email info@railings-gallery.com

HORMAZD NARIELWALLA Hormazd Narielwalla (b.1979, Mumbai) is a London-based artist who primarily works in the medium of collage.

His practice also compasses original prints, artist books, and sculpture. He was first inspired when studying a Masters in Fashion Communications at the University of Westminster (2006). He met a Savile Row Tailor, who described the shredding of bespoke paper tailoring patterns of customers who have died. The idea of something so personal and detailed yet ghostly and impermanent led Narielwalla to retrieve a set of patterns, which inspired his first book – Dead Man’s Patterns (2008). The first edition was only 100, and collections like the National Art Library, the British Library, and the libraries of the Courtauld Collection acquired copies. 25 other institutions around the UK acquired the artist book for their Special Collections.

The artistic and cultural context of the book attracted the attention of Sir Paul Smith who offered Narielwalla his first solo show (2009). Thereafter Narielwalla was awarded a complete scholarship to embark on a PhD at the University of Arts, London, which he successfully completed in 2014. Since gaining his Doctorate, Narielwalla has built his practice around the extensive use of found materials, namely Saville Row and antique tailoring patterns from Europe which together have created a unique archive which explores ideas around the body and the way we choose to formally clothe it. In 2014 Saatchi Art awarded Narielwalla its annual Showdown Art Prize, which led to his work being acquired by international private collectors.

Since Narielwalla’s first Solo Show, Study on Anansi, exhibited by Sir Paul Smith, he has attracted both critical acclaim and significant profile in the academic and commercial art world alike. His work has been commissioned by the Crafts Council for their national touring exhibit Block Party (2011) and was one of 11 artists to exhibit at the

project space at Collect 13 at the Saatchi Gallery (2013). In 2016 the artist worked on a series titled Lost Gardens, an exploration of the notions of culture and migration, commissioned and exhibited in the summer months by the Southbank Centre. In the autumn of that year Narielwalla won the Paupers Press Prize at the International Print Biennial in Newcastle, UK, resulting in a new commission to be shown at the Royal Academy of Arts London in April 2017. The artist exhibits regularly in London, and has shown work in Melbourne, Stockholm and Athens, and several art fairs across the US. The artist has also gained a network of private collectors in Sao Paulo.

In 2018 The Victoria & Albert Museum commissioned 4 artworks based on the artist’s personal hero – Frida Kahlo, for their blockbuster summer show. Other commissions include Centre of Possible Studies - Serpentine Gallery; Beams Tokyo; Artbelow; Jigsaw; Tiger of Sweden, Aby Hotel Gothenburg, Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill and The Kensington Hotel to name a few. Narielwalla’s work is held in public and private collections worldwide, including the Victoria & Albert Museum, The Ben Uri Museum Collection, the British Library; the National Art Library, the INIVA Collection; Fashion Institute of Technology, New York; and Parsons School of Art & Design, New York.

Narielwalla’s work has also been extensively published. He authored the biography of Master Tailor Michael Skinner, The Savile Row Cutter (Benefactum, 2011). In 2018 co-publishers Sylph Editions and Concentric Editions published Paper Dolls a series of abstract works and figurative self-portraits accompanied by a poem Narielwalla wrote for the book. During his career he has also released several artist books – Study on Anansi (2014), Lost Gardens (2016), and Hungarian Peacocks (2017). Narielwalla’s has also received recognition in international press in magazines and art journals such as Luxure Magazine (2015), Guardian (2016), The World of Interiors Magazine (2017), and was published on the cover of Emirates Magazine. Christies Magazine (September 2018) profiled Narielwalla as one of four Indian artists to watch.

Narielwalla’s artworks propose a new interpretation of tailoring patterns as abstracted drawings of the human form.

Freed from function they are drawings ahead of their time, anthropomorphic in origin and beautifully abstract in isolation.

For more information about Hormazd Narielwalla visit www.narielwalla.com

E-catalogue published and produced by Railings Gallery 5 New Cavendish Street, London W1G 8UT Telephone: 020 7935 1114 E-mail: info@railings-gallery.com For the 2019 e-catalogue ‘La Boîte à Merveilles’ All artworks © Hormazd Narielwalla Illustrations and Text © Railings Gallery Designed by Ingrid Freeman

RAILINGS GALLERY LONDON 5 New Cavendish Street, London W1G 8UT 020 7 935 1114

info@railings-gallery.com

Opening hours: 10:00-18:00 Monday – Saturday & 11:00-17:00 Sundays