the museum of everything goes shopping

The delightfully quirky gallery/ museum/organisation/charity that is the Museum of Everything has just announced its next exhibition – number 4 for those who are counting. Having left – or been chucked out of (we are not sure which) – of its rickety premises at Primrose Hill in January the location of it’s next outing comes as something of a surprise – Selfridges!

To those unfamiliar with the MoE it specifically champions the work of ‘Outsider’ Artists – those that are self-taught working outside the conventional art world and who may be suffering from mental or social problems. The work may perhaps be naive, visionary or folk-orientated but what it is not is dull. MoE’s previous exhibitions have shown a wealth of creativity. Want some truly original art? Forget the Tate, this is where you will find an Aladdins cave of the imaginative, interesting and intricate or perhaps the the beautiful, bizarre and bonkers.

The announcement therefore of an ‘Outsider’ exhibition in the heart of the consumer mecca that is Oxford Street is, on the face of it, somewhat contrary. It seems right to bring ‘Outsider’ work to the creaky fringes of the London art world but not quite so fitting to present it quite so closely with the insider’ world. The delight of exploring the rambling venue that was the Primrose Hill venue contributed much to the pleasure of the experience so I will look forward to the new show with some reservations.

We are promised some fifty such new discoveries, from wrestle-maniac Tomoyuki Shinki’s technicolour ring of combat to the magical flying cities of Teutonic meister Hans-Jorg Georgi. The shop windows will be filled with MoE displays whilst in a downstairs hall we are promised ‘a dive of possibilities, a Willy Wonka sweetshop of aural delight, including paintings, drawings, sculptures, on every wall, in every nook, never before revealed to human eyes.’

Not eschewing the opportunity for at least some financial gain (the entry is free and MoE is a charity) there will also be a shop and an ‘almost free’ cafe. Put it in your diary- it is free, handy for some Christmas shopping and one other thing is for sure – it won’t be dull!

Exhibition #4 opens 2 September 2011 at Selfridges Oxford Street.

www.musevery.com/exhibition4.php