C/J
Chloé Maratta and Joanne Robertson

Bonington Gallery is delighted to present C/J, an exhibition of newly commissioned work by Los Angeles-based artist, musician and jewellery designer Chloé Maratta and Glasgow-based artist and musician Joanne Robertson.

Reflecting their shared interests in clothing, both artists have been invited to work with artefacts from Nottingham Trent University’s (NTU) FashionMap Archive, a unique collection of garments and accessories purchased from high street retailers since 2000.

Maratta embeds her practice into her life via a process of gathering clothing and ephemera that she encounters and experiences on a daily basis. Materials are collaged into styled outfits and extended into photography, photo-collage and sculpture.

Robertson works predominantly with painting that frequently extends beyond the canvas to found objects. Presenting racks of clothing alongside her paintings, Robertson objectifies garments in order to emulate the conditions of abstract painting – form, colour, surface and materiality. She’s currently touring her music in New Zealand, and answered a few questions from Undertheradar.co.nz, in which she refers to the upcoming exhibition here at the gallery, as well as discussing the process of collaborating with other artists, and the strong link between her music and visual practices.

Through art production, music and fashion, both artists convey an immediacy and irreverence towards various forms of cultural and social hierarchy, making the involvement of NTU’s high-street fashion archive all the more poignant.

Artwork details

Chloe Maratta

» Look 1: CEM trashy bangle, CEM laurie therapy cuff, CEM Rock&Rose ring. Suit, purse, joggers, and digital timer sweatband from NTU FashionMap Archive

» Look 2: CEM pen rosary. White socks, velvet shorts, sequined net scarf, Sex Pistols shirt, Gold handbag from NTU FashionMap Archive

» Look 3: CEM stud corsage, CEM GOD earring. Grey cable knit leggings, Cream thong, Belly chain, Grey fingerless gloves, Leopard Scarf, from NTU FashionMap Archive

» Look 4: CEM heart rock cuff, CEM ID bangle, CEM rock neck cuff. Marled socks, Chain Maille halter, Grey scarf, Pearls, Flag handbag from NTU FashionMap Archive

» Look 5: CEM LBC cuff, CEM Shell choker, CEM bella2 earring. Ballet flats, jeans, clutch, bag charm, and pantyhose from NTU FashionMap Archive

» Vignette 1: CEM gwen rock bangle, CEM HK rock bangle, CEM flower cuff. Gold bangles and frayed tweed blazer from NTU FashionMap Archive

» Vignette 2: CEM Virgin choker, CEM pick ring, CEM rock ring. Handbag and gloves from NTU FashionMap Archive

JOANNE ROBERTSON

» Phone Numbers 7, oil on canvas, 120 x 90 cm

» Phone Numbers 8, oil on canvas, 120 x 90 cm

» Program, oil on canvas, 160 x 130 cm

» Petrol, oil on canvas, 180 x 150 cm

» Phone Numbers 9, oil on canvas, 50 x 40 cm

» Players, oil on canvas, 200 x 180 cm

» High, oil on canvas, 180 x 150 cm

» Phone Numbers 10, oil on canvas, 50 x 40 cm

» Phone Numbers 11, oil on canvas, 180 x 150 cm

Exhibition photography courtesy of Jules Lister.

ASSOCIATED EVENTS

» C/J: In Conversation
Thursday 9 May, 6 pm – 8 pm

Join us for an “in-conversation” event exploring key themes raised by the exhibition. The discussion will be chaired by Tom Godfrey, and will feature Naomi Braithwaite (Senior Lecturer in the School of Art and Design at NTU and custodian of the FashionMap Archive), Ruby Hoette (Designer and researcher and Programme Leader of MA Design: Expanded Practice at Goldsmiths University) and Caroline Stevenson (Curator, writer and lecturer and Head of Cultural and Historical Studies at London College of Fashion).