Adult retailer Harmony will be adding some novel aesthetic appeal for its Soho customers this spring, with an in-store exhibition of erotic art and photography by renowned artist Robert Babylon. The ‘Far From Grey’ exhibition will open on Tuesday 1st April, and is free to browse during opening hours of the Charing Cross Road branch until the end of May. An evening with the artist will be held on Thursday 3rd April 2014 from 5pm.
Hosting art exhibitions is a first for Harmony, but Simon Pope, buyer for the brand, believes mixing erotic art with intimate items is a formulae that can’t fail: “We sell personal items designed to physically arouse and simulate. Good erotic art is all about stimulating the mind and imagination to get lovers in the mood, which Robert’s work certainly manages to achieve. Combining the physical and the fantasy makes perfect sense and is why hosting an exhibition and selling high-quality erotic art in Harmony works so well. We’re very excited about displaying Robert’s work.”
Robert Babylon is a member of the Guild of Erotic Artists. His award winning neon artwork has been exhibited at locations around the world, with a solo exhibition at the World Erotic Art Museum on South Beach, Miami, and the inclusion of two pieces in the permanent collection of Dr Naomi Wilzig – the 4th largest collection of fine-art erotica in the World. The artist is an established favourite of fetish audiences, with a career spanning two decades and editorial feature spots in the likes of SkinTwo and Jade magazine. Closer to home he has presented a collection of his work in Berlin, Cologne and at the Brighton Fetish Weekend in 2013.
Speaking about the upcoming exhibition, the artist said: “Having my work and my name on display in Soho, which some might say is the original sex capital of the world, is a great plus for me. My work is designed to appeal to all genders and sexualities and I have always believed that erotica should be enjoyed by everyone. By displaying in Harmony’s Soho store I hope it will enable people unfamiliar with erotic artwork to get a taste for it and offer regular visitors to Soho a chance to see something new.”
Babylon’s sexy and unique canvases of UV and fetish photography, and original hand-painted artwork will adorn the boutique’s walls and fuel shoppers’ erotic imaginations for two months among the whips, handcuffs and designer strap-ons found in the basement of Harmony’s new store on the edge of Soho.
‘Far From Grey’ opens on Tuesday 1st of April at Harmony, 99a Charing Cross Road, London, WC2H 0DP. Canvases and prints will be available to order and buy throughout the exhibition, with prices starting from £25. For further information and to RSVP for the evening with the artist event, please contact Rose Crompton on [email protected]
