1 September – 30 September 2006, BEARSPACE, London , UK

SARAH BAKER/JULIA ROSA CLARK/ANDY HSU/MANDY LEE JANDRELL/NICOLAS LAIZ PLACERES

“We are the Knights of New Utopia, in the exercise of our own sovereignty and desirous of the greatest possible degree of liberty independence, in order to form a more perfect government, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this ‘Constitution for the Principality of New Utopia.’” Constitution of the Principality of New Utopia, www.carbonfusion.com/utopia

New Utopia brings together a group of artists whose work reflects on the fairytale and self-fulfilling aspirations of utopian imagineers. This exhibition explores the follies of bootleggers and buccaneers, who subvert and celebrate the desire that gives rise to the vision of a purist society. Each artist separately draws on the tension between real and imaginary aspirations of those dissatisfied with their society, pinpointing the moment when vision for utopia becomes something else…

Mandy Lee Jandrell’s photographs from a series entitled “Eidyllion” explore landscape idylls as found within the constructed leisure environments of theme parks and zoos in various countries. Her lush images question our unblinking acceptance of idealistic visual language within the built environment. Jandrell’s work was seen on the East End Academy at The Whitechapel gallery. Based in the UK, she has exhibited extensively both locally and internationally.

A Limited edition numbered poster by Damien Poulain to accompany the exhibition is available from: www.damienpoulain.com