Art collective SALON (LONDON) have staged exhibitions in vacant Regent Street offices and dilapidated buildings in Clerkenwell. Now, after toying with the idea of holding the third show in her own flat, curator Crystal Bennes has chosen another unusual location – a Georgian mansion that has been converted into offices.

Bennes love of unusual spaces and desire to rip up the art exhibition rule book, stems from her concerns about the over-commercialisation of art. “I find it peculiar that as a society, we seem to have become far more comfortable with the idea that art is for everyone, yet still confine it largely to commercial galleries and museums,” she says. “I’m interested in questioning accepted spaces for the display of art.”

The art on show in Not for Sale cuts across the disciplines of painting, graphic design, science and poetry and true to the exhibition’s name, none of the works will be available to buy.

Bennes is also shunning the traditional private view in favour of a series of invitation-only dinner parties that will revive the spirit of the Symposium. Guests from across the art, academic and scientific worlds, will discuss the works on show, all while being fed by experimental food design group Blanch and Shock. “Private views are about generating publicity or selling works,” says Bennes. “This show is about ideas, but not about ideas from the top down; rather, I want the ideas to come from the people who attend the dinners and the people who see the work.” This rebel show is sure to be the hottest meal in town.

Not for Sale, runs from the 14th March – 3rd April by appointment only at Dalby House, 398 City Road, London EC1V 2QA. Email salonlondon@gmail.com for an appointment.
salonlondon.co.uk

Tags: Crystal Bennes, Not for Sale, Salon