INTRODUCING AN AFFORDABLE LONDON ART SPACE: INTERVIEW WITH DIANA KRILOVA, 5TH BASE GALLERY

Diana Krilova
5th Base Gallery

1. Can you tell us a bit about 5th Base Gallery ?

In early 2012, my partner James and I starting organizing art auctions of artworks made by emerging artists. At the time I was looking for galleries for hire to hold our auctions in and since it was a bit of a struggle to find well located and affordable gallery spaces, we decided to open our own gallery for hire.

 

2. Why choose the name, 5th Base Gallery ?

I am, first of all,  a practicing artist and at the time when we started our auction business, I had an art studio. My art studio was basically a concrete cube with a glass wall on one side. The idea was to use top of my then studio space as a plinth for outdoor sculptural works - so, I named it 5th Plinth (next after the 4th Plinth on Trafalgar Square) and my studio space within it was called 5th Base. The name stuck. After I moved out of that studio space, we named our company 5th Base ltd and when we open our gallery it became 5th Base Gallery.

 

" My art studio was basically a concrete cube with a glass wall on one side. The idea was to use top of my then studio space as a plinth for outdoor sculptural works - so, I named it 5th Plinth (next after the 4th Plinth on Trafalgar Square) and my studio space within it was called 5th Base. "

 

3. What made you decide to make the space available for hire as oppose to follow the classic gallery model ?

Our aim is to promote emerging artists by providing them with affordable exhibition space. Please check my interview with Michael Corbin (The Art Book Guy): http://artbookguy.com/diana-krilova-reinventing-the-art-gallery-_1111.html

 

" Our aim is to promote emerging artists by providing them with affordable exhibition space. "

 

4. Who do you see renting the space the most: students, curators or individual artists ?

Groups of emerging artists and students are renting most, though after renting once, they often come back with solo shows and new group exhibitions.

Image : Dan Kitchener (DANK) in Nov'15 - 'Queen of Neon' (wall painting) was a selected top of top 20 street art pieces 2015

5. Is there a waiting list for your space? When an individual or group hires, do you have any boundaries or rules when it comes to the artwork they wish to exhibit ?

We don't have a waiting list - it all depends how booked we are. Generally we get booked three months in advance. Artists can exhibit any works, we don't ask for proposals - if works are graphic and not suitable for younger visitors then we advertise them as such.

 

6. Any outrageous requests ?

About a year ago we had a request to book our gallery for exhibition of classic cars, they wanted to drive in and have champagne reception - we are way too small for events of that scale.

7. You have held over 200 exhibitions. Which one was the most memorable? Why ?

Cut Scene by Marc Hagan-Guirey (paper Dandy) 8th - 16th Aug 2015 was exceptionally well made: works and their display cases were made to the standard of a perfectionist, pr was brilliant and private view was memorable.

interview with Marc by BBC London at his pv: https://www.facebook.com/BBCLondon/videos/964265366948494/

interview with Marc before his show at 5th Base: https://vimeo.com/135620117

Marc's fb page: https://www.facebook.com/paperdandyart/?fref=ts

 

8. You promote your upcoming exhibitions actively online. Do you have any tips for our creative regarding digital marketing ?

I generally advise to prepare press release three months before the show (or more if possible). We ask for the exhibition outline to be quick and snappy, it needs to tell what the show is about, what media the works are in, who are the artists and why their work matters - all in simple language.

Image needs to jump out when viewed as a thumbnail.

Although we advertise all exhibitions held at 5th Base, we also expect artists to vigorously promote their works themselves.

 

9. Describe the current Art Scene in Shoreditch? How has it changed in the past five years ?

Within the last five years street art took over Shoreditch and Brick Lane - that says it all really. Now we have street art tours and festivals - current popularity of street art is brining many visitors to our part of London, which positively affects all local businesses.

We also take part in street art scene - please check our outside 5th Base page: http://www.5thbase.co.uk/#!outside-5th-base/c218d

 

5th Base Gallery