Bedlam

Lazarides in association with HTC cordially invites you the launch of Bedlam, the 3rd and final in the trilogy of exhibitions held in The Old Vic Tunnels.

Lazarides artists and special guests inspired by London’s infamous asylum will transform the five tunnels with their own creative pandemonium.

The exhibition will run from the 9th to the 21st October and feature work by the following artists: Antony Micallef, Artists Anonymous, ATMA, Conor Harrington, Dan Witz, Doug Foster, Ian Francis, Karim Zeriahen, Kelsey Brookes, Klaus Weiskopf, Lucy McLauchlan, Michael Najjar, Nachev, Tessa Farmer, Tina Tsang, Tobias Klein, War Boutique and 3D.

Admission is free however booking is essential. To book a time slot please visit the Bedlam website.

Following the astounding success of Hell’s Half Acre in 2010 and Minotaur in 2011, Lazarides Gallery and The Old Vic Tunnels are joining artistic forces for the third and final time coinciding with this coming Frieze Art Fair, running from 9 – 21 October.

This exhibition goes against the grain of society to bring you ‘Bedlam’ a term coined from ‘Bethlam’ London’s Hospital for the mad.  The infamous mental institute is the oldest in the country of which came to epitomise the brutality long associated with lunatic asylums all over the country dating back to 1247.

The meeting of minds between Lazarides Gallery within London’s foremost artistic platform The Old Vic Tunnels will creatively explore the well-intended beginnings of this legendary institution, to its final disgrace and reform. It will certainly leave you questioning your ‘compos mentis’ an experience that will showcase the line between genius and madness has never been so thin.

Artists so far confirmed to contribute include: Vhils, Conor Harrington, Doug Foster, Ian Francis, Kelsey Brookes, Karim Zeriahen, Klaus Weiskopf, Lucy McLauchlan, Artists Anonymous, Michael Najjar, Till Rabus, Jonathan Yeo and Antony Micallef.

“Bedlam over the years has become synonymous with madness, chaos and pandemonium, it seemed like the perfect theme for a world gone mad. Be afraid.” Steve Lazarides, Owner, Lazarides Gallery

 ‘Most people that work in theatre are MAD, everyone involved in the art world is crazy, Steve Lazarides is probably the craziest of them all, which is why Bedlam,  the historic mental asylum, is the perfect backdrop for an art show, a stones throw from the original site. Built around the same time as the Old Vic Theatre it drew almost as many crowds; for a penny one could peer into their cells, view the freaks of the “show of Bethlehem” and laugh at their antics. I guess nothing changes….’ Hamish Jenkinson – Director, The Old Vic Tunnels 

Please note this is a free event. Bedlam tickets will be released this Friday 5 October, sign up to the mailing list at http://www.lazaridesbedlam.com/ and we’ll email you once they’re available.

Lazarides: Rathbone Place, London
11 Rathbone Place, London, W1T 1HR Tel (+44) (0)207 636 5443

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