The International 3

Preview

18th September 6pm - 8pm

Exhibition Continues

19th September - 31st October

Exhibition Opening Times

Wednesday - Friday, 12pm - 5pm (Other times by appointment)

SEAN PENLINGTON / Hmhm, Haha and JOE FLETCHER ORR / Under the Thumb

Two concurrent, first-time solo exhibitions across two spaces.

After almost twelve months in our current temporary location, The International 3 is pleased to announce our move to new permanent premises. Located adjacent to the building that we currently occupy and with no change of address required, our new space will enable The International 3 to seamlessly continue its important role of supporting emerging and mid-career artists by bringing their work to the attention of audiences locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. To celebrate our move and to mark this transition , The International 3 presents two concurrent solo exhibitions across two spaces. Joe Fletcher Orr’s first solo show, Under the Thumb will be the final show in our temporary location, whilst Sean Penlington’s first solo show Hmhm, Haha, will launch our new space. Sean Penlington’s exhibition is accompanied by a Q&A undertaken between the artist and Paulette Terry Brien (The International 3 Co-director) and Joe Fletcher Orr’s exhibition is accompanied by a commissioned text by Daniel McMillan.

SEAN PENLINGTON / Hmhm, Haha

The paintings that make up the exhibition, Hmhm, Haha are consciously about the act of looking at painting; the title itself alludes to a well-known cartoon by Ad Reinhardt which depicts a painting answering back to its viewer. The title also suggests a verbalisation of rumination then realisation of the solution to the puzzles that the paintings present.

With wit and charm, Sean investigates the inherent qualities of his materials and the boundaries of his chosen medium, to create dynamic 2D and 3D works that are thoughtful and surprising in equal measure

Sean Penlington (born Liverpool, 1987), graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University in 2010 with a first class BA (Hons) Fine Art. He graduated from Chelsea College of Art and Design in 2013 with an MA Fine Art. Group exhibitions include The Creative Cities Collection at Barbican Art Gallery, London and The Olympic Gallery, Beijing and Saatchi Gallery / Channel 4 New Sensations 2010.

Sean Penlington Q&A

JOE FLETCHER ORR / Under the Thumb

 From deadpan puns (“The Bouncer” – a bouncy castle inflated in the courtyard of a gallery guarded by a bouncer to prevent the private-view go-er from bouncing on it) to tongue-in-cheek one-up-man-ship (“Turnt Down” – the punchline to an exhibition from which Joe was previously dismissed), Liverpool born Orr’s work is, in the words of one recent commentator, ‘permeated by a particularly Scouse sense of humour’.

In his first solo show Joe continues to draw parallels between the craft of comedy and the process of art making. Through in-gallery interventions and sculptural re appropriations of 21st century tat, Joe uses ‘the joke’ as a means to dissect notions of taste and to challenge the authority of the commodity-driven art market.

 Joe Fletcher Orr (born 1991, Liverpool) graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University in 2013 with a BA (Hons) Fine Art. Since then he has exhibited in group exhibitions across the U.K. most recently at Castlefield Gallery, Manchester. Joe was a Catlin Guide 2013 selected artist. He is also the director of Cactus Gallery in Liverpool one of the gallery participants in The Manchester Contemporary 2014.

The International 3 is supported by its founder Patrons, Robert Devereux, Jo and Allan Melzack, Dr. Sezgin Ismail, Bob and Hazel Miller, Martyn and Valerie Torevell and Founder Artist Patron, Rachel Goodyear as well as those that wish to remain anonymous. The International 3 is supported using public funding by the National Lottery, through Arts Council England.

For more information  and images please contact Paulette Terry Brien / ptb@international3.com or 07981 389 591

Daniel McMillan text