In Two Rooms
A visit to the Francis Gallery
After a successful debut in London Marylebone, the Francis Gallery has opened up a permanent location in the city of Bath; home to curator and co-founder of Cereal Magazine, Rosa Park. Housed inside the beautifully restored Grade II listed Georgian townhouse, the Francis Gallery curates works by international artists in a setting informed by Korean aesthetics.
Stepping in, a series of dreamlike compositions by painters Jean-Baptiste Besançon and Spencer Fung take centre stage. Striking brush strokes and muted abstracticisms by both artists invoke a sense of raw curiosity, enhanced by the smoky scent of a nearby burning Perfumer H candle.
Adjacent, a family of portland stone jesmonite sculptures by Japanese artist Mari-Ruth Oda come to life as golden hour sets in, casting a series of intriguing shadows onto the porcelain coloured walls behind. It's difficult to pull myself away, only doing so with the passing by of an obscuring overcast.
The room next door fascinates with equal measure. Unlike the hanging artwork in the main gallery, curved furnishings by London designer Fred Rigby extend a welcoming invitation to be touched. A puffy sofa upholstered with bouclé weave wool and a kidney-shaped desk made from naturally ebonised oak showcases a tactile appreciation for form and texture. Traditional Korean trinkets found across the room further embellish the homely space.
Francis Gallery delights the senses in many respects, the two rooms are curated and exhibited with rigid dichotomy yet when taken as a whole, the space blends together with artful precision: it encourages its visitors to explore the pieces on display in different but meaningful contexts, both as a gallery and a home.
ADDITIONAL READING
