DAVID RHYS JONES: IN AND AROUND THE INNS OF COURT
Private views Wednesday 25 September 6-8pm and Sunday 29 September 2-4pm
Please note that The Rectory Gallery is open by appointment only at all other times except for First Thursdays of the month 1-9pm.
This exhibition focuses on London’s Inns of Court, these being Lincoln’s Inn, Inner Temple, Middle Temple and Gray’s Inn. These are professional associations for barristers in England and Wales and the buildings provide accommodation for its members. Steeped in history, the Inns of Court have existed since the 14th century, and their grand interiors feature many fascinating details.
David Rhys Jones’ work begins with photography and he gathers images whilst making journeys or exploring certain areas. He then transfers this imagery onto ceramics, of various shapes and sizes, resulting in collections of ceramics which document the details encountered along his journey. David Rhys Jones has explored the layers of history within the inns themselves, but also incorporated imagery of the areas surrounding the Inns, in particular, the local pubs.
For this exhibition, David Rhys Jones has been allowed special access around some of the Inns, in particular Gray’s Inn. His imagery will offer a great insight into these buildings which are home to its residents. The works are also of interest to historians and those with any curiosity over what lies behind the closed doors of these areas. Some of the features of the inns have remained almost unaltered since the time they were built, such as in the Great Hall in Middle Temple (built in 1562). Today these places remain important parts of day to day life in the Inn, as meeting areas in the evenings or for lunch. David Rhys Jones has been struck in particular by the strong sense of identity within each of the different inns, and hopes to reflect this aspect throughout this series of work.
