Museum of Everything

“London’s first ever space for artists and creators living outside our modern society.”

Location:   on the corner of Regents Park Road
and Sharpleshall Street London NW1

Map

Times: 11:00am/6:30pm
Thursday to Sunday

I visited the ‘Museum of Everything’ today with very little knowledge of what to expect and what I would find there.

The museum is a collection of ‘secret creativity by the unknowns of society’, revealed here as ‘drawings, paintings, sculptures and installations, selected by leading contemporary artists, curators and cultural figures’.

The space is both awkward and ‘kooky’ but it adds to the experience. The work of the following ‘Outsider’ Artist’s really stood out for me;

Charles August Albert Dellschau

Alexandre P Lobanov

Henry Darger

Guo Fengyi

Hiroyuki Doi

GT Miller

I was really struck by Dellschau’s story and vision. I recommend reading this post from The Victor Mourning Blog which somewhat illustrates why. I think it’s a shame that his work is positioned in the shortest and narrowest corridor of the entire building as it makes viewing the work restricting and a bit of a struggle.

I found many of the artist’s stories revealed here overwhelming at times (especially Henry Darger). From the insane, abused, obsessive, self-taught or disabled, each work displayed has it’s own unique legacy.

I feel respect and understanding for the work here is indeed due and I think it’s great to be able to view work that perhaps was never meant to be ‘viewed’ in such a way; work that could’ve easily been lost, unnoticed or forever remained in secrecy.

I recommend visiting and discovering for yourself.

Rich.