I've made mentions in the past about the wilder side of the Hackney commercial gallery scene. The show I went to see at the Resistance Gallery though, was as hilarious as it was deranged. The commercial gallery show that topped this was when a friend from Melbourne went to a show, at which they had two competing artists, made up as bare knuckle boxers fighting each other as a prelude to the preview party.
It was a Friday night and I arrived there an hour late to find the huge, sprawling grey-and white walled warehouse full of unrecognisably abstract sculptures, lots of white flour (or something similar) scattered on the floor, ropes, twigs, and an enraged artist, for reasons I shall explain later.
The Resistance is nearly impossible to find by day; it's on a row of what looks like battered old garages and industrial buildings, with a tiny sign on the door signifying its existence. By night though Poyster Street comes alive; there's a constant swarm of tight black jeans, leather, black hi-top Reebok classics and floppy haircuts milling around the place. It also has a bar (what happened to the free drinks!?) some thrashing alt rock music; although I couldn't find the source of said music throughout the two floor venue. It must have been from someone's iPod. There were no wall texts, press releases documenting the context of their pieces with the wider body of their work; but there was 'clubby' lighting and a well-stocked bar. This place was definitely more 'party' that it was 'arty'.
I missed the best of it, sadly, but I do have photographic evidence. According to the artist who was putting on the headlining performance piece (described by my friend as 'a really funny pastiche of S&M or something)'; the event for him involved a case of accidental abandonment (by the mate who was supposed to be guarding him), suspension (intentional) and an 'un-asked for' spanking while he was blindfolded. Hence the understandable rage. It turns out they have a repertoire for outrageous performances - the current one being this guy. I wouldn't chance your arm on going here during the day as they sometimes don't answer the bell, but as for First Thursdays and selected Friday nights? Hells yeah! read more