The Triumph of Art: Ed Hall in conversation
Banner maker Ed Hall has been a long-time collaborator of artist Jeremy Deller after a chance meeting at the Lambeth County Show in 1999. Hear Hall discuss his starting points and process for creating contemporary banners with Curator of Italian Paintings before 1500 Imogen Tedbury.
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About
Banner-making and ceremonial ephemera were an important part of public life in the cities of 14th- and 15th-century Italy. They featured in government, military and town life including processions and pageants, state funerals, in guild halls and as military standards.
The Medici family invested in the workshop and livelihood of festive banner painter Giuliano Pesello, who was the grandfather and probably the first master of the artist Pesellino. The skill and craft of creating beautiful, vibrant and easily recognisable iconography has long continued and is still part a tradition of visual arts in society. Hall will bring examples of his hand-crafted banners to share during the conversation.
Filmed on 24 May 2024, this Friday Late was organised in conjunction with ‘The Triumph of Art’, our nationwide commission with artist Jeremy Deller, supported by The Art Fund.
About the speaker
Ed Hall was born in Norwich and studied at Norwich School and went on to study BA Architecture at Sheffield University. His first job was at an Architect's office in Liverpool, but by 1974 he was working for Lambeth Council building council houses. In the early 1980's, major political changes were taking place and Hall became active in his trade union. He became the UNISON Branch Secretary at Lambeth Council representing 16,000 staff and, because he had drawing skills, began to make banners for the campaigns which flourished at the time. Hall has created banners for many of Jeremy Deller’s work including 'Folk Archive', 2005 and 'Procession' in 2009 and produced banners for institutions including the British Council and the Southbank Centre.