An exhibition of paintings by Ricky Romain
'In memory of Daniel Pearl' (detail). Click the image to enlarge
Tooks Chambers, London
7th December 2006 - 28th February 2007
By appointment (020 7841 6100)
The Exhibition
Ricky Romain's paintings and works on paper evoke subjects connecting to migration, asylum, alienation and displacement. The exhibition locates these images inside the walls of an organization that advances justice and is eminently proactive in the protection of human rights. The chambers are also, and primarily, a workplace. Triarchy's involvement in this project has developed alongside our interest in the multi-faceted processes of reciprocal intervention: on the one hand, how will the experience of exhibiting in a public space affect the artist and his subsequent work and, on the other, how will the exhibition, the very presence of the works of art and the public interacting with them, affect Tooks Chambers - the organization, the workers and the clients?
Amnesty International and Bail for Immigration Detainees (BID) will receive donations from the sales of Ricky Romain's work in lieu of a gallery commission.
'in the absence of justice...' is a unique and collaborative project exploring human rights and civil liberties in the context of art and organizational practice. The project will run for one year - from this Human Rights Day to the next - and is an imaginative partnership between internationally renowned artist Ricky Romain, Tooks Chambers, Amnesty International, Bail for Immigration Detainees (BID), Dartington creative Enterprise and Triarchy Press.
Seminar Events at Tooks Chambers
Triarchy Press Seminar - Monday 5th February 2007
Title: The Shadow Organisation: Human rights and the absence of justice in the workplace and beyond
Focus: Exploring the spectrums between human rights abuse and organisational abuse
Panel: Specialists working in the areas of justice, the arts, asylum and migration and organisational studies.
More about the Triarchy seminar
Amnesty International Seminar - Wednesday 17th January 2007
Focus: Human rights and unlawful detentions
The event: Against the background of paintings by Ricky Romain, speakers from Amnesty and Tooks Chambers will be joined by those who have suffered from the policies which lead to such detentions.
More about Amnesty International
Dartington Creative Enterprise (DCE) / Ricky Romain Seminar - Wednesday 28th February 2007
Title: The Artist's Vision: Alienation and Integration in Organisations and Businesses
The Event: A panel drawn from the arts, higher education and business will use Ricky Romain's exhibition as a starting point for debate about the dilemma of how to exist as an artist while working with political themes.
More about DCE
Michael Mansfield's Plea for Political Art
The exhibition preview took place on 6th December 2006 at Tooks Chambers.
The exhibition was opened by Michael Mansfield QC.
Read about his impassioned plea for political art.
Participants
Amnesty International campaign for internationally recognised human rights to be respected and protected.
Bail for Immigration Detainees (BID) is an independent charity working on behalf of immigration detainees, asylum seekers and migrants.
Dartington Creative Enterprise support new and established arts practitioners, creative businesses and arts organisations: from solo artists to major companies. DCE provide high quality, specialist knowledge to the creative industries in the South West.
Tooks Chambers offers services across a wide range of civil and criminal law, but is still driven by the profound belief in human rights and civil liberties for all.
Ricky Romain and Triarchy Press have received an investment from Arts and Business South West to further develop their creative partnership.
Professional photographer Andy Aitchison attended the preview and took photographs .
New People
The project has introduced us to new people and organisations that share an interest in justice, human rights, asylum, the arts and organizational studies.
If you would like to contribute your thoughts on any of the issues raised by the project, or to communicate related work that you do - either as an individual or as an organization - please send us a short piece and we will do our best to include it here. Email
* A representative of RSG Devon attended the preview. This is what they do:
RSG (Refugee Support Group) provides support and information direct to refugees and asylum seekers living in Exeter and wider Devon. The aims of RSG are to promote the well being of all asylum seekers and refugees in the locality, provide a voice for this community and encourage positive contribution in the wider society.