Flora Fairbairn & Co have partnered with curator and art advisor Katie Heller on Once Upon a Time…, a presentation exploring folklore, myths and fairytales. This group exhibition brings together a wide selection of artists at various stages of their careers to explore the traditions, beliefs, customs, and stories that have shaped our collective cultural histories, and the roles they play today.
Folklore, myths and fairytales examine the light and the dark in human nature. They provide a vessel for our own inventions and our interconnected journeys. As cultural products of the legacy of storytelling, we identify with these narratives and continue to add and refine, elaborating and translating for new audiences. They engage us with lessons in morality and coach us in perseverance. Stories provide comfort, excitement and humour, as well as a thread that connects each of us through the history of the spoken word.
Once Upon a Time… presents a selection of new and existing works, primarily paintings, drawings, photographs, installation and works on paper, that highlight some of the many diverse perspectives on folklore from different parts of the world throughout the ages. The exhibition runs from 6th – 25th May 2022 in a wonderful 2-storey double fronted space on Chiltern Street, courtesy of The Portman Estate. From 25th May – 31st August, an expanded version of the exhibition will then run online on the Flora Fairbairn & Co. website. A percentage of profits from the exhibition will be donated to the Disaster Emergency Committee’s Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.
