Art for Guernsey is delighted to announce that its next show, A Renaissance of Victor Hugo, is to be held on the Albert Pier from 23 April until 3 May.
This year Art for Guernsey’s artists in residence are the internationally acclaimed Daniel Hosego (London) and Oleg Mikhailov (St Petersburg). Both artists are incredibly versatile and contemporary in their approach, while still strongly influenced by the Renaissance period. They were tasked with the daunting mission of revisiting the legacy of the ultimate ‘Renaissance Man’ in Guernsey, Victor Hugo. Daniel and Oleg’s astounding artworks were inspired by Toilers of the Sea, Hauteville House, Hugo himself and the myriad symbols and metaphors of the Renaissance.
The free exhibition is to be held in three impressive domes, and will offer a visual feast as well as cultural enrichment for everyone who visits. The Art for Guernsey team doesn’t want to give too many spoilers away but you can expect an immersive experience the likes of which has never before been seen in Guernsey.
The show was originally scheduled for October last year, but had to be postponed at the last minute due to circumstances beyond Art for Guernsey’s control. The delay has resulted in April’s exhibition being even better than was initially planned: Oleg was in Guernsey in October, so he used the opportunity to produce more artworks, and Daniel was also so inspired
by the theme that he continued to work from his London studio. Their new pieces are just as jaw- dropping as the ones they created for the original show.
Mike Hopkins, Director of Marketing & Tourism at VisitGuernsey, is very much looking forward to the show and is confident that it provides an excellent opportunity for cultural tourism. He said: ‘With the re-opening of Hauteville House last April and the increased marketing and PR activities surrounding this, French visits to Guernsey showed healthy growth last year. The theme for Art for Guernsey’s new show couldn’t have been better planned or timed, as the appetite for all things Hugo is high at the moment.
‘We’re delighted to support Art for Guernsey by promoting these important art initiatives off- island, all of which help to establish Guernsey as a centre for cultural excellence.’
David Ummels, Founder of Art for Guernsey, said: ‘Our team has worked so hard on this exhibition, like never before, and the fact that we had to delay the show last October offered us a unique opportunity to create a special bond with Daniel and Oleg, and we can’t wait to be reunited with them. Considering the very strong cultural and heritage narratives, this exhibition has all the ingredients to be an event of national importance for Guernsey.’
Pictured top: Artwork by Daniel Hosego