Proud Galleries, is hosting The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society, an exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary multi-format release of The Kinks’ sixth studio album, The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society.
The Kinks, Hampstead Heath, London, 1968, Barrie Wentzell
On display is a selection of rare collector’s items including specially commissioned artworks by members of the band and vintage memorabilia, together with a collection of photographs documenting this remarkable period in the band’s history. Each work is hand- signed by surviving band members Ray Davies, Dave Davies and Mick Avory. The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society explores the album’s defiantly British sensibilities and commemorates what is now considered to be the high point of The Kinks’ outstanding career.
Friends, Dave Davies, 2018
The Village Green was originally released by The Kinks in November 1968 and became the final album from the original quartet: Ray Davies, Dave Davies, Pete Quaife and Mick Avory. Despite a positive critical reception upon its release, the album did not performwell commercially, perhaps due to the band’s deliberate step away from the musical trends of the era. In retrospect, audiences have come to value the album’s timeless quality, with Pete Townshend of The Who describing it as, ‘Ray’s masterpiece… what makes him the definitive pop poet laureate’.
The Kinks, press photo, 1968 LFI/Avalon
Defying the 60’s typical approach to rock ‘n’ roll, The Village Green offers an affectionate and charming ode to the countryside through vignettes of English life. The album is adored by fans due to its ageless wit and multi- layered musical innovation and has become a definitive piece of British pop culture, created by a band that refused to follow fashion.
The exhibition, running from 4th October until 18th Novembera features photography from the album artwork photoshoot in Hampstead Heath, captured by established music photojournalist Barrie Wentzell. The original quartet lounge on the grass against the historic backdrop of Kenwood House, which, according to Wentzell, was “Ray’s favourite location to film”.
Wonderboy (Artist’s Impression), 2018, Morgan Howell
Presented alongside prints and memorabilia is a special edition, supersized artwork produced by Morgan Howell to commemorate the album’s box set release. The artist reinterprets the bonus track Wonderboy as a three dimensional sculpture in his trademark style, using paint and canvas to mimic the creases and wear of a 50 year-old vinyl sleeve. Admirers of the band will be given the unique opportunity to view and acquire a variety of these rare pieces, each hand-signed by The Kinks.
The Kinks performing ‘Days’ on BBC TV Top Of The Pops, August 1968, The Kinks Photo Archive (LFI/Avalon)
The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society coincides with BMG’s 26th October 2018 multi-format reissues of The Village Green album, presenting an extensive collection of works relating to this iconic record. These include newly remastered CDs, LPs, digital albums and a beautifully produced Deluxe Box Set containing remastered versions of the original album on CD and LP, a wealth of previously unreleased bonus audio material, a hardback photobook with new band interviews and previously unseenphotos, 7” singles and reproduced memorabilia.
The exhibition aims to reintroduce the nostalgia of the Kinks’ most memorable album to a 21st Century audience and offers an insight into the enduring escapism the band created 50 years ago. When asked to describe the record, Ray Davies has said that; ‘everybody’s got their own Village Green, somewhere you go to, when the world gets too much’.
The exhibition runs from 4th October tp 18th November 2018 at Proud Central 32 John Adam Street, London, WC2N 6BP.