Saatchi Magazine Interview: Michael Petry at the Soane Museum

When architect Sir John Soane bequeathed his London house to the public in 1837, the world gained access to three amalgamated townhouses worth of antiquities, artifacts, books, and artworks, on the strict proviso that nothing left, and nothing was added. But recently a series of creepy, ambiguous, biomorphic glass forms have insinuated themselves into the collection, sensuous yet sinister shapes that loiter on window sills, ooze out from fireplaces and balance precariously off pieces of priceless furniture. These are the result of the second exhibition of resident artist Michael Petry, whose sculptural response to his time at the museum rearticulates Soane’s rather dark family history into a series of glass works that speak of traditional craftsmanship, Soane’s love of contemporary British art and his meticulous design of the building itself, as well as the sex, lies and scandal that saw his whole collection donated to the state. Meeting me at the museum for a guided tour of the beautiful works in this very idiosyncratic setting, Petry told me of the inspiration behind and practicalities of mounting this show… (read interview)

Michael Petry: Bad Seed

Until 12 March

Sir John Soane’s Museum,13 Lincoln’s Inn FieldsLondon, WC2A 3BP http://www.soane.org/