Guests looking at framed photographs along a white gallery wall during the private view — Private view, Stephen Lawrence Gallery, 18 May 2024. Photo: Kevin D Chalarca

A framed photograph of a tower block above a torn print of coral, on a white wall under a blue light — Installation view. Photo: Julia Chwalinska

Aquascaping

Artist: Javier Galera, debut solo show
Context: Katharsis83, an art collective I co-developed
Venue: Stephen Lawrence Gallery, University of Greenwich
Private view: 18 May 2024
Role: Identity, curation, production, installation photography

Javier spent three summers photographing Shadwell Basin, an East London dock where people swim under signs telling them not to. My job was to give his first solo show a world to sit in.

I designed the Katharsis83 blackletter wordmark and the KS monogram, co-developed the rest of the identity (an engraved figure mark, acid green and black), and carried it through every touchpoint: invitation, gallery web banners, press text, price list, and the thank-you card that went out with each sold print.

I curated the hang, produced the private view and photographed the installation.

Guests: c. 100 at the private view
Sales: Every print in the show sold

Identity: wordmark and KS monogram designed by me01

Aquascaping invitation in acid green — Invitation and press text

Thank-you card sent with each sold print — Thank-you card, sent with each sold print

Exhibition wall text with acid green barriers — Wall text and acid green barriers, on site

Web banner for the University of Greenwich galleries site — Web banner, University of Greenwich Galleries

The night. All photographs: Kevin D Chalarca02

Queue outside the gallery before the doors opened — Before the doors

Visitors seen from behind, looking at framed prints

Guests watching a projection of the London skyline

Around forty guests gathered for a group photo at the private view — The private view

On the walls. Photographs by Javier Galera03

The empty gallery: white walls, small framed prints, a concrete floor and the Aquascaping wall text at the far end — Installation view, before opening. Photo: Julia Chwalinska

Black and white photograph of swimmers diving into the basin — Javier Galera

A swimmer sitting on the dock by a chain — Javier Galera

Swimmers and an inflatable duck in front of a tower block — Javier Galera

Sign at Shadwell Basin warning that swimming is forbidden — Javier Galera

Credits04

Artist: Javier Galera
Identity: Wordmark and KS monogram, Julia Chwalinska; system co-developed with Katharsis83
Curation: Julia Chwalinska
Production: Julia Chwalinska
Photography: Julia Chwalinska (installation), Kevin D Chalarca (events)
Venue: Stephen Lawrence Gallery, University of Greenwich