“If I could say it in words there would be no reason to paint” – Edward Hopper
In celebration of International Women’s Day, the contemporary luxury hotelier ME London and Gone Rogue have presented an art exhibition titled ‘Second Skin’.
Painted by London based fine artist Sophie Derrick, the ‘Second Skin’ exhibition takes you on an emotional journey that is vast, personal and thought provoking. Beginning each piece, Derrick uses her skin as the canvas whilst placing impasto paint sculpturally onto her face before using digital photography to then create the renders. The image is then re-animated by thick lashings of paint which is applied heavily across the mounted surface.
Of the collection itself, Derrick, a graduate with an MA in Fine Art from Wimbledon College of Art in 2012, notes that “the work in ‘Second Skin’ really feeds into the name of the show as the intention of my paintings is to create a mask. A second skin upon myself, using the transformative properties of paint to do so.”
Notable highlights from the collection include:
- THE SPACE BETWEEN – Cerulean V1, a diasec print with overlying acrylic paint
- MIRRORED CASE – Negate & Gild Black, a digital archival print on Hahnemuhle pearl paper, mounted on aluminium with overlying acrylic paint
- SHEER NOTHINGNESS #3, a silk print stretched over a wooden frame with a painted backboard beneath.
The exhibition is on display in ME London’s Marconi Lounge for a limited time only from early March 2023. Available to both residents of the hotel and members of the public, the ‘Second Skin’ collection is the latest in an exciting installation in Gone Rogue’s ‘Woman is Art’ campaign.
Known for its design, art, music and fashion connections, ME London has positioned itself as a social hub offering its guests exclusive experiences in the heart of central London. The flagship property for the ME by Meliá brand, ME London is located on the Strand and is in close proximity to notable London hotspots such as Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square and the City of London.
ME London is also home to the renowned Radio Rooftop with panoramic views of the city’s skyline from Tower Bridge to the Houses of Parliament. With 157 chic guestrooms, 15 luxurious suites and its signature duplex penthouse Suite ME, the hotel also boasts a world-famous steak house STK and Italian restaurant Luciano by Gino D’Acampo.
Check out the Marconi Lounge now and indulge in a cocktail or two whilst enjoying the wonderful artwork on display.
ME London address: Strand, London WC2R 1HA
Edward Lumley is Editor-in-Chief for Of Wealth & Life and a Freelance Men’s Fashion Writer. Edward has written for publications such as FashionBeans, Harrods and a variety of online outlets specialising in Men’s fashion for the past eight years. Follow Edward on Instagram.
