Jack White. You probably only know him as a a musician: drummer, guitarist, founder member of the White Stripes, the Raconteurs and the Dead Weather. But there is more to Jack Antony Gilles – his real name – than music.
White has just debuted his own art at the Damien Hirst-owned Newport Street Gallery in London. Six large rooms of the gallery are taken up by his sculptures, statues, colourful pallets , found objects, a musical Masonic sofa, re-upholstered furniture and screenprints. You may have seen pictures of some of these art works if you watchws Stephen Colbert’s Late Night show on a regular basis. White has been on the show at least five times and ha´s talked about his art and his various side projects.
That’s Jack in black, next to a couple of sculptures of young Jack Antony Gilles riffing on a ukulele, and these statues come in all colours and sizes. There’s an Hawaiian version as well, which is culturally very appropriate.
Mr White also made a tree sculpture, a 30 foot flaming red tree. There are plenty of found objects, turned into art objects.
I do like some of the pallets turned into wall decorations, saving them form ending up in landfills or on bonfires. There’s a brightly Children’s Xylophone pallet. Then there’s the Ambulance pallet,. The Fruit Pallet. The Presidential White House Model with the Home Depot’s finest French Style Gold moulding and blistering paint.
The highlight of this show is the Furniture room. At 15, Jack apprenticed to become an upholsterer, six years later he had opened his own shop Third Man upholstery.
He upcycled this art deco armchair and called it the Warrior Chair.
In each piece that Jack upholsters he hides some humorous message, in the stuffing: a poem or if you’re lucky, a vinyl record.
Then there’s this little chair with Damien Hirst’s signature, spin, splatter motif.
Jack White turns out to be a master at re-purposing. Well, his biggest hit to date Seven Nation Army – the 7 note riff is very reminiscent of the main theme of Bruckner’s 5th symphony.
