Eileen Agar's guest appearances

Eileen Agar

Front Row

The Great Women Artists

Hear, Now. A Podcast from Whitechapel Gallery.

Louise Bourgeois

Phyllida Barlow

Marina Abramović

Es Devlin

Griselda Pollock

Cornelia Parker

Jessie Burton

Georgia O'Keeffe

Frances Morris

Barbara Hepworth

Magdalene Odundo

Tacita Dean

Dora Maar

Charlotte Salomon

Olivia Laing

OwlTail

Celebrating the work of pioneering artist Eileen Agar, Whitechapel Gallery Curator Laura Smith and Assistant Curator Grace Storey share reflections on her legacy, alongside special guests including artist Lucy Stein, poet Daisy Lafarge and designer Beca Lipscombe, who tell us why the multi-talented Agar remains a leading light for contemporary creatives.For more information: www.whitechapelgallery.org/exhibitions/eileen-agarTranscript avaliable: www.whitechapelgallery.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Hear-Now-Episode-7-Transcript.pdf

Celebrating the work of pioneering artist Eileen Agar, Whitechapel Gallery Curator Laura Smith and Assistant Curator Grace Storey share reflections on her legacy, alongside special guests including artist Lucy Stein, poet Daisy Lafarge and designer Beca Lipscombe, who tell us why the multi-talented Agar remains a leading light for contemporary creatives. For more information: <a href="http://www.whitechapelgallery.org/exhibitions/eileen-agar" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.whitechapelgallery.org/exhibitions/eileen-agar</a> Transcript avaliable: <a href="http://www.whitechapelgallery.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Hear-Now-Episode-7-Transcript.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.whitechapelgallery.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Hear-Now-Episode-7-Transcript.pdf</a>

Hear, Now. Episode 7: Eileen Agar: Angel of Anarchy

Roxanna Panufnik

The new album of compositions by Roxanna Panufnik performed by the Saconni Quartet features a surprising range of subject material; letters written home during the First World War, Ashkenazi Jewish cantorial chant, Aung San Suu Kyi’s musings on Burma, a celebration of Poland’s EU presidency, a 14th century love story and the heartbeat of a Bulgarian dancing bear. We talk to her about the stories behind Heartfelt.Following their residency at Cern, the European Laboratory for Particle Physics in Geneva, the Brighton-based artist duo Semiconductor have created a multisensory installation Halo, showing as part of the Brighton Festival. Ruth Jarman and Joe Gerhardt discuss their immersive artwork of sound and light, which takes the form of an intricate mechanical structure containing a 360-degree projection of scientific data and 380 resonating taut piano wires. Eileen Agar: Angel of Anarchy is a major retrospective of the Cubist and Surrealist artist (1899-1991) at the Whitechapel Gallery in London. Louisa Buck joins us to discuss the show and gives us her own selection of exhibitions across the UK that she’s looking forward to, which can finally now open.  Presenter: Tom SutcliffeProducer: Oliver JonesStudio Manager: John BolandMain image: Albie the bear, whose recorded heartbeat was used on one of Heartfelt's tracks. Image credit: Jordan jones/Wild Place Project,

The new album of compositions by Roxanna Panufnik performed by the Saconni Quartet features a surprising range of subject material; letters written home during the First World War, Ashkenazi Jewish cantorial chant, Aung San Suu Kyi’s musings on Burma, a celebration of Poland’s EU presidency, a 14th century love story and the heartbeat of a Bulgarian dancing bear. We talk to her about the stories behind Heartfelt. Following their residency at Cern, the European Laboratory for Particle Physics in Geneva, the Brighton-based artist duo Semiconductor have created a multisensory installation Halo, showing as part of the Brighton Festival. Ruth Jarman and Joe Gerhardt discuss their immersive artwork of sound and light, which takes the form of an intricate mechanical structure containing a 360-degree projection of scientific data and 380 resonating taut piano wires. Eileen Agar: Angel of Anarchy is a major retrospective of the Cubist and Surrealist artist (1899-1991) at the Whitechapel Gallery in London. Louisa Buck joins us to discuss the show and gives us her own selection of exhibitions across the UK that she’s looking forward to, which can finally now open. Presenter: Tom Sutcliffe Producer: Oliver Jones Studio Manager: John Boland Main image: Albie the bear, whose recorded heartbeat was used on one of Heartfelt's tracks. Image credit: Jordan jones/Wild Place Project,

Composer Roxanna Panufnik, Science meets music at The Brighton Festival, Eileen Agar retrospective

Laura Smith

In Episode 21 of The Great Women Artists Podcast, Katy Hessel interviews the brilliant Whitechapel Gallery curator, Laura Smith on the acclaimed surrealist EILEEN AGAR!One of THE leading artists of the 20th century, Agar’s extensive seven-decade career spanned vibrant painting, collage, and found objects. It saw her create monumental four-metre wide canvases, to plaster heads, infused with feathers, diamonds, ribbons, and bows that defied all gender stereotypes. Born in Buenos Aires in 1899, Agar grew up in a strict, traditional household with a mother who wanted her to be married off. But Eileen had different thoughts. Running away to The Slade in the 1920s, Eileen was taken with the flamboyancy and eccentricity artists had to offer. But again, she was fed up with the traditions of art, and fled to Paris after destroying all her art prior to 1926. In Paris she thrived. Mixing with the Cubists and Surrealists, with whom she learned composition, form, and juxtaposition of colour. Returning to London in 1930, Agar created some of her most pivotal artworks, such as Three Symbols – a colossal painting that fused Greek antiquity, industrial modernity, to the feminist statement of the ‘three patriarchal pillars’ – Angel of Anarchy, and The Autobiography of an Embryo.Always experimenting in the most bizarre and wonderful of ways, obsessing over found objects which she fused together to create a whole new dialogue and language, Agar was always inherently surreal without even meaning to be. In the 30s she garnered huge critical success and was included in the monumental Surrealist exhibitions around the world. However, with the imminence and outbreak of war. Everything changed. I LOVED interviewing Laura for this episode, who has curated Eileen’s work in numerous exhibitions including the staggering, Virginia Woolf: An Exhibition Inspired by Her Writings. Listen now to discover the eccentric life of one of the greatest – and sometimes overlooked – artist who deserved every recognition possible! Thank you for listening!! Works discussed in this episode: https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/agar-three-symbols-t00707 https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/agar-the-autobiography-of-an-embryo-t05024 https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/agar-angel-of-anarchy-t03809 https://www.wikiart.org/en/eileen-agar/ladybird-1936 https://www.tate.org.uk/art/archive/items/tga-8927-8-12/agar-photograph-of-lee-miller-and-roland-penrose-on-the-beachThis episode is sponsored by the National Art Pass and the Affordable Art Fair!@artfund: https://www.artfund.org/katy-hesselTo receive a free tote bag with your National Art Pass, enter the code GREAT at checkout! @affordableartfairuk: https://affordableartfair.com/Follow us:Katy Hessel: @thegreatwomenartists / @katy.hesselSound editing by Amber Miller (@amber_m.iller)Artwork by @thisisaliceskinnerMusic by Ben Wetherfieldhttps://www.thegreatwomenartists.com/

In Episode 21 of The Great Women Artists Podcast, Katy Hessel interviews the brilliant Whitechapel Gallery curator, Laura Smith on the acclaimed surrealist EILEEN AGAR! One of THE leading artists of the 20th century, Agar’s extensive seven-decade career spanned vibrant painting, collage, and found objects. It saw her create monumental four-metre wide canvases, to plaster heads, infused with feathers, diamonds, ribbons, and bows that defied all gender stereotypes. Born in Buenos Aires in 1899, Agar grew up in a strict, traditional household with a mother who wanted her to be married off. But Eileen had different thoughts. Running away to The Slade in the 1920s, Eileen was taken with the flamboyancy and eccentricity artists had to offer. But again, she was fed up with the traditions of art, and fled to Paris after destroying all her art prior to 1926. In Paris she thrived. Mixing with the Cubists and Surrealists, with whom she learned composition, form, and juxtaposition of colour. Returning to London in 1930, Agar created some of her most pivotal artworks, such as Three Symbols – a colossal painting that fused Greek antiquity, industrial modernity, to the feminist statement of the ‘three patriarchal pillars’ – Angel of Anarchy, and The Autobiography of an Embryo. Always experimenting in the most bizarre and wonderful of ways, obsessing over found objects which she fused together to create a whole new dialogue and language, Agar was always inherently surreal without even meaning to be. In the 30s she garnered huge critical success and was included in the monumental Surrealist exhibitions around the world. However, with the imminence and outbreak of war. Everything changed. I LOVED interviewing Laura for this episode, who has curated Eileen’s work in numerous exhibitions including the staggering, Virginia Woolf: An Exhibition Inspired by Her Writings. Listen now to discover the eccentric life of one of the greatest – and sometimes overlooked – artist who deserved every recognition possible! Thank you for listening!! Works discussed in this episode: <a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/agar-three-symbols-t00707" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/agar-three-symbols-t00707</a> <a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/agar-the-autobiography-of-an-embryo-t05024" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/agar-the-autobiography-of-an-embryo-t05024</a> <a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/agar-angel-of-anarchy-t03809" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/agar-angel-of-anarchy-t03809</a> <a href="https://www.wikiart.org/en/eileen-agar/ladybird-1936" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.wikiart.org/en/eileen-agar/ladybird-1936</a> <a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/archive/items/tga-8927-8-12/agar-photograph-of-lee-miller-and-roland-penrose-on-the-beach" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.tate.org.uk/art/archive/items/tga-8927-8-12/agar-photograph-of-lee-miller-and-roland-penrose-on-the-beach</a> This episode is sponsored by the National Art Pass and the Affordable Art Fair! @artfund: <a href="https://www.artfund.org/katy-hessel" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.artfund.org/katy-hessel</a> To receive a free tote bag with your National Art Pass, enter the code GREAT at checkout! @affordableartfairuk: <a href="https://affordableartfair.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://affordableartfair.com/</a> Follow us: Katy Hessel: @thegreatwomenartists / @katy.hessel Sound editing by Amber Miller (@amber_m.iller) Artwork by @thisisaliceskinner Music by Ben Wetherfield <a href="https://www.thegreatwomenartists.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.thegreatwomenartists.com/</a>

Laura Smith on Eileen Agar