Richard Chivers: OFF-Grid

Gareth Gardner Gallery
Enclave 10, 50 Resolution Way
London SE8 4AL

16 June–02 July

LATEST OPENING DATES/HOURS

16/17/18/23/24/25/30 June 2pm–6pm
1/2 July 2pm–6pm

LIMITED-EDITION PRINTS AND PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE HERE.

Proud to be part of London Festival of Architecture 2023.

'Chivers' work on the industrial architectural icons has never been exhibited before, and here visitors can experience both colour and black and white visuals in an enticing mix.' – Wallpaper* magazine's 'London architecture exhibitions 2023: a guide to the best shows this month' and subsequently  listed as a highlight of the London Festival of Architecture. 

OFF-grid

Since the Victorian era, circular gas holders became commonplace industrial icons on our urban skylines. The design of vast telescoping tanks to store coal (town) gas was at the vanguard of civil engineering. They represented a modernising Britain, and for three decades after World War II were visible icons of our nationalised utilities, metal symbols for a vital infrastructure held in common for the public good.

In 1965, North Sea natural gas was discovered. The UK supply network was converted from coal gas, and gas holders were only required for additional storage. As network capacity grew, gas holder utilisation dwindled.

By the 1990s they were redundant; widespread dismantling of the metal giants began in 2000.

Architectural photographer Richard Chivers has spent eight years capturing these iconic structures before they disappear.

Many have distinctive and intricate designs, each slightly different. Although defunct, those remaining continue to act as prominent landmarks, provoking a debate about their preservation and reuse. They are a reminder of our industrial heritage, a communal architectural experience that provokes awe in a way that few other structures inspire.

Read Sebastian Fry's essay about gasholders, written for the exhibition, here.

The exhibition features a soundscape composed especially for OFF-grid by Solomon Onyemere.

We are grateful for the ongoing support of the following organisations in helping us to realise this exhibition:
Framing: Nielsen Frames
Printing: Permajet paper
Printing: Binartem Qimage One