Illuminate! was part of the British Library’s Spring Festival, a celebration of creativity, fashion and design. For one night only, the vast atrium was taken over by an exhibition of 40 of the UK’s most celebrated artists and illustrators.
Illuminate! at British Library
It’s always odd to have to wait to get into a venue that is usually open to the public. Crowded, outside the British Library, it was clear that the event had attracted a young, hip crowd (we were probably the oldest people there).
The space inside was completely transformed, no mean feat given the size of the atrium. Mr Scruff provided the musical backdrop and some projected visuals. There was a busy bar with beer and snacks so we fueled up and began our evening’s viewing.
The skull of a lion (found at Tower of London), Henry VIII’s prayer-scroll, and countless beautifully adorned manuscripts and bibles. Just stunning.
The space was filled with a display of illustrations by some very impressive names, Posy Simmonds and Jamie Hewlett amongst them. Dotted around were drop-in life-drawing classes (with clothed models), typography workshops, printing and painting, digital graffiti, and all sorts of other stuff.
But the highlight, for me, was a chance for a proper look round the Royal Manuscripts exhibition. The skull of a lion (found at Tower of London), Henry VIII¹s prayer-scroll, and countless beautifully adorned manuscripts and bibles. Just stunning.
Assuming that the Spring Festival is their way of putting themselves on the map, alongside the newly opened University of the Arts, the British Library team have done a wonderful job.
Related
2 March ’12
It’s our slightly delayed February Cog Night. Illuminate, a celebration of illustration at British Library.
Glamour Factory: Late Shift at National Portrait Gallery
The National Portrait Gallery was packed for this special late night opening, organised by Contemporary Vintage, an excuse to dress...
Grayson Perry at the British Museum
In a small shrine, in the enoumous chasm of The British Museum's Great Court, Grayson Perry has curated an installation...
10 May ’12
Michael and Ocky are at the opening of British Library’s Writing Britain exhibition. You’ll find them in the gift shop.
10 October ’13
Michael and Ocky are at the British Library, presenting ideas for… well, we can’t tell you that at the moment.
11 May ’11
M+H Awards. Nominated for British Library’s Evolving English.
13 February ’12
Ocky is ill. He’s been out and stocked up on drugs so he can finish tomorrow’s British Library presentation.
14 February ’12
Ocky is still ill so Michael gave the presentation at the British Library. They kindly posed for this photo, looking...
15 August ’13
We’re as pleased as Punch to have secured a new contract with British Library. Michael, Annelise and Ross have been...
24 May ’13
Ross has been to the Hackney Downs ‘Open’ Studios evening. Alongside all of the exciting artwork on display, he spotted...
31 January ’12
Ocky and John have taken over our meeting room and covered the walls in their thinking about a new project...
6 February ’14
Michael and Ocky are at the British Library for a catch up meeting about an ongoing project.
30 April ’12
The first sighting of our new campaign for the British Library’s Writing Britain exhibition, at Angel tube.