Live art collective The Neo Naturists are combining forces with seminal post-punk band and ‘Godmothers of Grunge’ The Raincoats in celebration of the launch of House of Voltaire’s Christmas Shop and the unveiling of The Neo Naturists’ Christmas Tree. This special seasonal celebration will include a live performance and music evoking the spirit of the group’s original anarchic innocence.
The Neo Naturists are an important live art collective initiated in 1981 by Jennifer Binnie, Christine Binnie and Wilma Johnson. Their performances celebrate anarchic innocence and primitivism and use body painting as a means to explore body image and identity. The group emerged as a part of London’s subculture that arose from the creative community in the aftermath of Punk and the emergence of the New Romantic club scene and the advent of Thatcherism. During this time a creative energy developed
in the UK that sat outside established institutional practices of the time, creating its own network of activities, events, economies and personalities including BodyMap, Leigh Bowery, Michael Clark, Peter Doig, Boy George, John Maybury, Andrew Logan, Grayson Perry, Derek Jarman, Princess Julia, Marilyn and Cerith Wyn Evans.
The Raincoats, fresh from their 40th-anniversary tour, will perform acoustic Christmas Carols. All hosted by guest shopkeepers art critic Louisa Buck, Curator of British Art at Tate, Linsey Young, Curator of British Art at Tate, and artist Julie Verhoeven. This event celebrates the opening of House of Voltaire’s Christmas Shop, selling over 150 new and exclusive unique artworks, limited edition prints, homewares, clothing, furniture and objects by worldrenowned artists and designers. Everything in the store is one of a kind or limited edition, and exclusive to House of Voltaire.
The Neo Naturists will launch their collection of limited-edition House of Voltaire Christmas products, including hand-painted baubles, bespoke Christmas crackers, tea towels, stickers and hanging decorations. All proceeds directly support arts and education charity Studio Voltaire’s exhibition and learning programmes.
The House of Voltaire Christmas Shop is open from Wednesday 20 November to Sunday 21 December 2019 on 11 am–6 pm plus special events.
Generously supported by Cork Street Galleries.
House of Voltaire commissions and sells unique artworks, limited edition prints, homewares, fashion, ceramics, books, furniture and objects by leading contemporary artists and designers. Drawing inspiration from influential artist’s shops including Keith Haring’s Pop Shop and the Bloomsbury Group’s Omega Workshop, House of Voltaire offers a new way for audiences to engage with, and purchase, art, fashion and design.
Studio Voltaire is currently undertaking a £2.4 million capital project, the most ambitious transition in their 25–year history. This timely and transformative development will provide 42% more affordable artists’ studios, increase public space by 233%, establish a new dedicated Participation & Events Space, create a new public courtyard garden and café, establish two Artists’ Apartments to house visiting artists and curators on site for the first time, fully renovate their buildings to appropriate standards and install heating for the first time, make the organisation more environmentally and financially sustainable, and establish the first-ever permanent House of Voltaire. Studio Voltaire is a registered charity and part of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio.
