Viewing Hugh Mendes at Charlie Smith London

Newspaper design and layout can be the prompt for a flood of memories and it’s the power of news headlines that Hugh Mendes seizes upon in his work. Charlie Smith Gallery at the Truman Brewery in East London is presenting over 100 paintings spanning 20 years of work with a hypnotic line up of Mendes’ political and obituary painting that spin the visual language of newspapers with trompe l’oeil effects.

Mendes found his oeuvre while studying for an MA at City & Guilds of London Art School. The first show of his collaged, juxtaposed newspaper clippings works was on 9/11 2001 when the Twin Towers were struck in a world-shattering act of terrorism. The images of Osama Bin Laden left an indelible mark on Mendes mind and he followed through with an exhibition entitled Into Manhattan’s Memory. It included a pencil on paper piece for which Mendes handwrote the names of all the 3,000 who died in the event. Many of these seminal works feature in the show that also includes his artist obituary series.

Far from locked in time, the work offers up a meditation on the role of the artist in society and a way of recording it through the lives of individuals. On Saturday 11th, Mendes will be leading a Meditation for Peace at the gallery – an opportunity to reflect on the last 20 years of global history. Book direct@charliesmithlondon.com. The exhibition runs from 8 – 12 September.