Works by Anish Kapoor will be on display at the newly regenerated Pitzhanger Manor in Ealing tomorrow.
The gallery will hold three exhibitions over the course of the year in tribute to Sir John Soane’s legacy, with the first presented by Mr Kapoor, who attended a preview event at the Manor yesterday.
Echoing Sir John’s use of light and reflection, Kapoor’s work uses highly polished reflections and angles to distort vision and perspective.
Speaking on the similarities between his and Sir John’s work at the gallery’s preview, Mr Kapoor said: “It has a conversation with Soane’s idea of repeated mirrors. These points of overlap occur. All one can do is let the conversation happen by itself.”
After a £12m, three-year conservation and renovation project the Grade 1 listed country home of Sir John Soane has been restored to his original designs for the first time in 150 years.
The adjoining library, built in 1939 on the site of the original kitchen block has been converted into a 225 square metre gallery, which will house Mr Kapoor’s 2016 Red to Blue, and 2018 Glisten Eclipse and Untitled.
Director of Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery Trust, Clare Gough, said: “The exhibition will fascinate and inspire visitors to Pitzhanger and encourage visitors to look at Soane’s designs in a new light.”
When it was designed and built in 1800-1804, Pitzhanger was used as a show house, hosting parties and meetings and presenting grand architectural designs.
Recently the house has been largely forgotten with Dulwich Picture Gallery, the Bank of England and his city home Lincoln’s Inn Field doing more to carry Sir John’s legacy.
Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery Trust was established in 2012 with the aim of re-establishing Pitzhanger as a destination for heritage and culture.
The conservation and restoration project was led by renowned architects Jestico & Whiles with support from heritage experts, Julian Harrap Architects, and specialist craftspeople.
Jestico and Whiles director, Heinz Richardson, said: “Pitzhanger Manor is a once-in-a-lifetime project.
“For us it presented the opportunity to peel back many layers to reveal Soane’s life and his architecture.”
Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery re-opens on 16 March and will feature gardens, an observatory overlooking Walpole Park and a Sir John Soane inspired Café.
Anish Kapoor’s exhibition will run until 18 August.
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