Jungle Book exhibition swings into Birmingham gallery
A contemporary art gallery in Birmingham city centre has unveiled an exhibition inspired by popular children’s film The Jungle Book for its spring season.
The exhibition at Ikon Gallery in Oozells Square will begin on Wednesday March 15 and will be formally opened at an evening event.
The installation by British artist Oliver Beer, who hasn’t shown his work at Ikon Gallery since 2011, will give locals the opportunity to see his most recent work, including ‘I Wan’na be Like You’ (2017), which is a re-animation of a popular scene from Walt Disney’s The Jungle Book.
Over 2,500 local school children took part in the installation, which included children in their early years right until the age of 13. The children were asked to draw film stills from the movie in order of their age, so that the animation becomes grown up over time.
By following the exhibition frame by frame, visitors to the gallery can see the scribbles of infants turn into drawings by children and pieces of art by early teens.
Oliver Beer’s aim of the exhibition was to show the passage of time and encourages the viewer to consider what it is to be human.
The gallery is also showcasing a second exhibition for its spring season, which will also open on Wednesday March 15.
The installation by Jean Painlevé (1902-1989) will be his first UK solo exhibition, and will take place until June.
The French photographer and filmmaker has been widely celebrated for his work on marine life, with a range of photographic portraits of octopi, lobsters and starfish.
During the 1920s when Jean first showed his work, the portraits proved popular among other artists and filmmakers in the avant-garde movement of the era, including praise from Fernand Leger, Alexandra Calder and Luis Bunuel.
The exhibition at Ikon Gallery will include a number of films, photographs and jewellery that show the artists passion for making science accessible.
Both exhibitions will take place at the gallery until June 4 2017.
Picture: Jean Painlevé, Female Seahorse, 1936. © Archives Jean Painlevé
