By art world conventions, Riflemaker is completely unsuitable as a gallery. Yet, its founders Tot Taylor and Virginia Damtsa have been astounded at the success they have had showing art in a space that they openly admit is ‘a shed, covered in filth and dust’. Since opening in 2004, the former gun shop on Beak Street, has been a runaway success as an art space, to the extent that the last seven private views have been closed down by the police. More than 1,200 people turned up for the opening of Julie Verhoeven’s show in autumn 2007 and around 4,000 for the Indica, over the four nights it was open.
Taylor puts their success down to breaking the rules, and holding events which give people more of a connection with the work. Riflemaker is popular with artists as well as audiences, and the gallery has been able to attract well known names such as Gavin Turk. In July, Turk created four piss paintings at Riflemaker. During the production of the pieces, around 100 people urinated in the galleries and during Frieze week in October the paintings were hung in the toilets at Sothebys.
As a result of the success, Taylor and Damtsa have had to look for new spaces in which to show larger works, and to accommodate the ever-growing audience for their live events. On 3 December they open their second gallery in a grand seventeenth century mansion on the corner of Soho Square, a building that was the inspiration for scenes in Charles Dickens’ novel, A Tale of Two Cities.
The Grade I listed House of St Barnabas which dates back to 1746, will provide a very different setting to the shabby, low-ceilinged rooms of 79 Beak Street. Exhibitions of large freestanding work will take place on the first floor at the top of a ‘crinoline’ staircase, and film screenings, talks and performances in the adjoining mourning chapel, parts of which, according to Taylor, date back to the 11th century.
Taylor and Damtsa are interested in the history of the house and synergy with artists’ work. From the mid-nineteenth century the mansion was one of two hostels on Soho Square for the homeless poor of London, run by the Charity, the House of St Barnabas-in-Soho.
The inaugural exhibition will show abstract paintings by Spanish artist Marta Marcé, who is interested in ideas of chance and destiny. One of her recent works, produced while artist-in-residence at the Camden Arts Centre this summer, is a giant, brightly coloured floor puzzle, which is laid on the floor and can be rearranged in many permutations. Certain puzzle pieces, transposed to board and canvas, form the basis of six Diadem paintings. Another series of work is a game named Mikado, in which players throw sticks to determine their destiny.
Riflemaker has grand plans for 2008, which include mounting a play about the life of Francis Bacon by the Irish playwright Brian McAvera, author of the BBC’s controversial television production of The Troubles. According to Taylor some ‘big names’ will star in the play, which will coincide with the Tate’s summer blockbuster.
Riflemaker will not alter the fabric of the house or chapel – as with its original gallery, they will work with what they find. Paintings and drawings will continue to be shown at Beak Street, with works hung high on the walls above eye level (another break with convention). Forthcoming shows include a ‘disco remix’ of Andrey Bartenev’s installation at the Venice Art Biennale (7 January to March 2008). Over at the House of St Barnabas, Riflemaker has plans to show a series of giant, 4m x 4m paintings by the Venezuelan artist Jaime Gili. Exhibitions there will occupy three main rooms – the Withdrawing Room, Council Room and Records Room. Perhaps the only conventional plan Riflemaker has for next year is to open a cafe within a walled garden where Charles Dickens once sat to write.
Riflemaker Soho Square opens on 3 December. Go to www.riflemaker.org for more details.
