My nephew, Toby, is a key member of the Baking Blind team: he is the videographer who has captured all the thrills and spills of my cooking adventure over the last year. He was intrepid in accompanying me throughout the world tour and, as himself a professional freelance architectural illustrator, was inspired by China . I am thrilled that the Holman prize (funded by San Francisco’s Lighthouse organisation) has produced this extra outcome – and am very humbled that he has dedicated the exhibition to me.
IN–BETWEEN
The debut solo exhibition by
TTOBY MELVILLE–BROWN
22/03/18 – 28/03/18
Transformative artworks observe the troubling changes to communities in Uk and China.
The project was inspired by a recent trip to China and an active study on the economic upheaval of cities; Chongqing and Shanghai. On returning to the UK, Toby was reminded of more familiar forms of displacement; the young unable to buy property and artists turfed out of studios due to high rents.
The resulting work is an attempt to observe the changes in our communities. Asking what should change and what should remain? Touching on gentrification, migration and preservation. This is a look at our current state and an acknowledgment that society is always in flux, always In-between.
On the Launch Night (22/03/18), the subject of transformation will be brought to life by 8 brand new drawings. Intricately detailed artworks that change under specialist lighting. In the adjacent room, risograph printed posters, celebrating the event will be on sale, along with a live draw, free beers and specially composed acoustics.
The following Saturday (24/03/18), budding creatives, (ages 6 to 15), are invited to the In-between Invisible Ink Workshop. An event in partnership with Little Architect. The afternoon will begin with a short presentation from Toby and Little Architect, followed by a drawing activity, where attendees will then be invited to consider their own surroundings, what it is they enjoy and what they’d like to change. Finally there will be a chance to create a mural which uses invisible inks to convey the transitory nature of the city. Little Architect is an education and learning platform for teaching architecture and sustainability in London’s primary schools led by the Architectural Association School of Architecture.
Toby is most notable for his intricately imagined responses to our built environment. Subjects range from maps to architecture, contexts range from animation to wall murals. He’s been commissioned by Nike, Architectural Review, Imperial War Museum and The Crown Estate.
“Complex, exhilarating, challenging and troubling, local and transnational. Toby’s work‚
In-Between, observes shifting communities and their displacement in China and the UK, across time and space, class, gender and ethnicity. Where are the boundaries between them?”
Harriet Evans University of Westminster/LSE. Prof Evans is a leading voice on contemporary Chinese culture.
In-between is dedicated to Penny Melville-Brown.
In 2017, Penny became a Holman Prize finalist, awarded by LightHouse, enabling a world tour of her YouTube cooking show Baking Blind. Toby joined her as videographer and assistant. It was during their time in China that Toby was inspired to begin this project. As a blind veteran who helps those with disabilities get into work, championing a much marginalised community, Penny is someone Toby values greatly. Visit her Baking Blind YouTube channel here.
Details & links
Further info and press images: Call Laura 07875653402 or email inbetweenpromo@gmail.com
In-between promo video link
Launch Night 22/03/18, 7-10pm RSVP link
Invisible Ink Workshop 24/03/18, 3:30-5pm RSVP link
tobymelvillebrown.com Instagram-@tobymelvillebrown Twitter-@toby_mel_brown #inbetween