In Tokyo 1966, The Beatles create Images of a Woman, the only known painting they ever made.
It’s amazing to think that this incredible, abstract composition was painted by the ‘Fab Four’ simply to pass the time. Flying in at the height of Beatlemania, The Beatles arrived in Tokyo ready to play five concerts at the Budokan, Japan’s premier martial arts arena. Because of security fears for the band’s safety and protests against their intrusion into such an iconic Japanese venue, all four were kept on lockdown inside the Tokyo Hilton between shows. To keep them entertained, manager Brian Epstein brought in a set of art supplies, laid a large paper canvas on a table and placed a lamp in the centre. He then left four of the most famous men in the world to get creative.
Inspired by Images of a Woman, ART IN A CORNER has invited some of the world’s biggest bands and solo-artists to follow in The Beatles’ footsteps to create their own Images of… paintings.
Each participating group received a special ART IN A CORNER art kit – supplied by art specialists Cass Art – containing materials matching those used by The Beatles in 1966.
The completed paintings will be brought together for a series of special exhibitions. Featured artwork will also include backstage images from The Beatles’ time in Japan, captured by renowned British photographer Robert Whitaker, as well as limited edition project prints and posters, produced in collaboration with the ART IN A CORNER participants.
THE ART IN A CORNER paintings will be shown in a series of exhibitions across the UK – held throughout September and October, 2016 – before being sold in support of two of the country’s leading arts and music charities.
Further exhibition information
Cass Art
From 28th September to 30th October, ART IN A CORNER paintings from XX will be on show at Cass
Art’s Islington store.
Cass Art, 66-67 Colebrooke Row, London N1 8AB
Pretty Green
From 29th September to 20th October, Pretty Green will showcase a large selection of rare Beatles prints captured by Robert Whittaker while the band were on their tour in Japan in 1966. These will be showcased alongside Jann Haworth and her daughters’, Daisy and Liberty Blake’s ART IN A CORNER painting. Haworth co-created the album cover for The Beatles’ Sgt, Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
On Thursday 29th September, 6-8pm, there will also be a special private view in the store for the public.
Pretty Green, 56-57 Carnaby St, London W1F 9QF
All involved artists include Brian Wilson and his band, John Illsley (Dire Straits), Years & Years, The Libertines, Wolf Alice, Florence Welch, Jerry Dammers (The Specials), Boy George, Marillion, Imagine Dragons, The Bangles, Circa Waves, The Wombats, Level 42, The Bootleg Beatles, The Pretty Things, Jann Haworth and her daughters Daisy and Liberty Blake, and The Right Hand Lovers, who are the college band of Charlie Higson and Paul Whitehouse, before they went on to appear in The Fast Show. Also included in this painting is James Bond movie score composer David Arnold and comedy writers Simon Day and Dave Cummings.
