January 25 - September 6, 2020
Somerset
In order to share a safe and positive experience, we ask that you book a timed reservation to visit our current exhibitions at Hauser & Wirth Somerset. Please visit our location page to plan your visit.
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Join us for the opening reception of ‘Don McCullin. The Stillness of Life’ at our Somerset gallery. Forming a focused presentation of over sixty landscape photographs, the exhibition maps Sir Don McCullin CBE’s intimate relationship with the local landscape of Somerset and continued passion for global travel since the sixties. Regarded as one of the most accomplished war photographers of recent times, McCullin has spent the last six decades travelling to remote locations and witnessing harrowing scenes of conflict and destruction. Often referring to the British countryside as his greatest salvation, McCullin demonstrates the full mastery of his medium with stark black and white images resonating with human emotion. This personal survey depicts scenes across the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia, revealing McCullin’s innermost feelings through powerful compositions of wild heavens, haunting vistas and meditative still lifes. Having been evacuated to the safety of Somerset during the Blitz, McCullin has had a lifelong connection with the open farmland and hill country of the South West, feeling at peace within the solitude of the expansive landscape. The largest body of work featured in the exhibition explores local areas within walking distance of the photographer’s home, including ‘The River Alham near my house, Somerset’ (2007), ‘The Dew Pond, Somerset’ (1988) and ‘Batcombe Vale’ (1992-93). McCullin is able to evoke dramatic painterly representations of his home county with quiet confidence, shifting between the flooded lowlands of the Somerset levels to woodland streams, nearby monuments and historic hill forts. This is a free event, all welcome. No booking necessary. _ We are encouraging visitors and our local residents to be as mindful as possible when travelling to the gallery during the opening receptions, as we are expecting a lot of visitors and car parking at the gallery is limited. A shuttle bus service will be running from Godminster Cheese car park (BA10 0EH) to the gallery every 5 minutes from 5.45 – 8.15 pm. We also ask that visitors consider car sharing and public transport links to minimise traffic during the evening. Bruton train station is 5 minutes walk away and designated public car parks are at Higher Backway, Station Road and the Jubilee Park playground, with a public footpath running from Bruton through our community allotments. Please be aware that if you do not use the shuttle bus service you may be caught in a queue for some time to enter the gallery site.
Join us for the opportunity to view ‘Don McCullin. The Stillness of Life’ and ‘Not Vital. SCARCH’ in a private view just for teachers and lecturers. There will also be the chance to collect the latest resources produced to support education visits to Hauser & Wirth Somerset. We hope the session will provide the opportunity to relax and enjoy the exhibitions and to share thoughts and ideas inspired by the artwork. Debbie Hillyerd, Director of Education, will lead the tour and be available to discuss any visit requirements including group bookings. 5 pm Welcome and glass of wine 5.30 pm Tour of exhibitions This is a free event, however it is only available to teaching staff. Booking is essential: please email education@hauserwirth.com or call +44 (0) 174 981 4060.
Join us for a tour of the exhibitions ‘Don McCullin. The Stillness of Life’ and ‘Not Vital. SCARCH’ with Hauser & Wirth Somerset Director, Dea Vanagan. The walking tour will lead guests through the galleries whilst discussing significant works and themes in the exhibitions. The tour runs from 5 – 6 pm at Hauser & Wirth Somerset. This is a free event, but must be booked in advance. This event has now sold out. View our next Exhibition Tour on 20 March.
Please note we have taken the decision to postpone this event. We apologise for any inconvenience caused, however the safety of our staff and visitors is our highest priority. We will be in touch with a full refund to those who have purchased tickets. Dinner reservations at Roth Bar & Grill will continue as planned and the gallery will remain open as normal. We hope to welcome you soon. On the occasion of the exhibition ‘Don McCullin. The Stillness of Life’ at Hauser & Wirth Somerset, we are delighted to welcome writer, broadcaster and art historian Tim Marlow to be in conversation with the renowned photographer, Don McCullin, in his home county of Somerset. The discussion will explore the life and work of Sir Don McCullin CBE, and his intimate relationship with landscape, both in the United Kingdom and further afield. ‘Don McCullin. The Stillness of Life’ follows McCullin’s major retrospective at Tate Britain in Spring 2019, featuring over 250 photographs that celebrate the scope and achievements of his entire career. This comprehensive survey will travel to Tate Liverpool in June 2020. Tickets are £15. This event will take place in the Rhoades Gallery at Hauser & Wirth Somerset. Roth Bar & Grill will be open from 6 pm, please note that no red wine can be taken into the gallery. _ This event has now sold out. _ About Don McCullin Sir Don McCullin CBE is one of the most important photographers of the late twentieth century. In 2017, he was knighted in the New Year Honours for his lifetime services to photography and in 1993 was the first photojournalist to be honoured with a CBE for his sustained and significant contribution. In 1977, he was made a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society, followed by the Royal Photographic Society’s Special 150th Anniversary Medal and Honorary Fellowship (HonFRPS) in 2003. Between 1966 and 1984, he worked for The Sunday Times Magazine under Editor-in-Chief Harold Evans and Art Editor David King. It was during this time he released his most celebrated images. About Tim Marlow Tim Marlow is Chief Executive and Director of the Design Museum, London. Most recently, Marlow was Artistic Director of the Royal Academy of Arts and before that, Director of Exhibitions at White Cube for over 10 years. He has been involved in the contemporary art world for the past thirty as a curator, writer and broadcaster. He has worked with many of the most important and influential artists of our time to deliver wide-ranging and popular programmes and brings a commitment to diverse and engaging exhibitions to his new role showcasing the transformational capability of design. Marlow sits on the Board of Trustees for the Imperial War Museum, Sadler’s Wells, Art on the Underground Advisory Board and Cultureshock Media.
Join us for an exclusive screening of the film ‘McCullin’ (2012), held to coincide with the current exhibition ‘Don McCullin. The Stillness of Life’ at Hauser & Wirth Somerset. The documentary film is a candid portrayal of Don McCullin’s life and work in photojournalism over the past six decades and offers an insight into the rich history and ethics of this challenging profession. This is a free event, however advanced booking is essential. The screening will take place at the Hauser & Wirth Recital Hall at King’s Bruton School. Film length: 1h 35 min Parking is available at Blue 18 or Blue 21 on this map. The Hauser & Wirth Recital Hall is fully accessible and has disabled toilets and a lift to the balcony level. _ This event has now sold out
‘When human beings are suffering, they tend to look up, as if hoping for salvation. And that’s when I press the button.’—Don McCullin
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