In an elegant space just off Denmark Hill lies GX Gallery. Lazy afternoon sunrays light up the gallery space, while Massive Attack is playing gently in the background. The walls are occupied by big, uncanny photographs from post-war Kosovo taken by one of YBA’s less known artists, Lala Meredith-Vula.
Alice Phillimore, who became the manager of GX Gallery four months ago, has spent almost a decade working in the art world. She finds helping new artists and introducing them to collectors very rewarding.
“Each artist has their own voice and it is never the same. Even if the process of putting a show together does not change really, you are always dealing with different images, different ideas, different characters,” Alice says enthusiastically.
All dressed in black and with big friendly eyes, she overlooks the first floor of the Gallery from her desk. Alice has known already from the age of 16 that her career would have something to do with art.
Despite its relatively modest size, Camberwell has a very rich arts scene, which is a big part of the local community. In addition to being the starting point for the YBA movement, Camberwell also houses the much acclaimed South London Gallery and Camberwell University of the Arts.
“GX Gallery is quite different to where I have worked previously. It deals more with emerging artists, many of whom are linked to the community, which I think is important,” Alice explains.
She has met several interesting new talents since she started her job in Camberwell. The Gallery is also involved in a project called Float Art, which aims to help the best art graduates off to a good start with the Float prize.
“The most challenging part of being a gallery manager is reaching new clients and creating a market for new artists. The beginning is always demanding, but that is what makes it rewarding, kind of slowly building up collectors for the artist. It is the most exciting bit, because you get to introduce news artists to collectors, “ Alice says.
Sooner or later every art enthusiast will come across people who claim simply not to understand art as if it were some mystical language, comprehensible only to a few chosen ones. Alice, who has a degree in History of Art, explains that having a basic knowledge of the artist’s background can sometimes make a big difference.
“You can look at an image and get a certain amount from it, but you really need to know the background as well. You can understand it on a certain level, but there is a lot more behind the piece, so getting to know the artist and hearing their point of view about the work helps a lot.”
She disagrees that art is less accessible than music or film as you can still enjoy it visually and aesthetically on a certain level. “It depends on what you are looking at really,” she adds. “Some works are much more conceptual, so you obviously need to understand the concepts behind it and the background.”
Alice has worked with many emerging artists over the years. Research is vital if you want to make it as a new artist, she explains.
“Not all galleries are going to be right for you. Research what other artists they are showing and see if you fit. It is a two-way thing. There is no point in getting with just any gallery, because it can probably do you more harm than good if it is not the right one for you.”
