For the past 50 or so years, artistic duo Gilbert and George have made a habit of traversing the streets of London. Both well into their eighth decade, the pair have made the decision to self-isolate in accordance with government guidelines in their house on Fournier Street. These unusual circumstgilnces have by no means deprived them of artistic inspiration.
Indeed, the pair are offering a glimpse into their infamously private lives, filming a daily clip for the White Cube gallery, regarding their daily activities amid the pandemic. The first on Sunday shows them walking around their studio, entitled “Our new normal walk”. No longer able to safely wander the streets of the city, they are nonetheless keen to remain active in spite of present circumstances.
In the words of Jonathan Jones: “They’ve lost the world, but the walk goes on.”
The video diary for Monday exhibited the duo doing what they referred to as “Our New Normal Relaxing.” George is in the background reading some weighty tome, while Gilbert appears in the foreground exercising, though still in his suit.
Jones summarises the endeavour best of all: “These patriotic artists present their own cheerful manifesto for the coronavirus spirit, the new East End proving as courageous as the old one was in the 1940s.
“And yet there is a tension to this endurance, an undercutting hint of the absurd. We’re fine, their studied normality insists. Absolutely FINE.”
The next five instalments of the projects will surely inform us further as to how both Gilbert and George respond to the pandemic. The good cheer of the pair will tide us over, at least for some time to come.
The online diary of Gilbert and George can be viewed on the White Cube’s Instagram page.
