Art&Culture
John&George
George is more than just John Dolan’s best friend. He is John’s inspiration and saviour. Howard Griffin Gallery’s current exhibition, John and George, pays homage to their friendship.
s READ MORE
CLOSE
CLOSE
John&George
John Dolan, a fixture on the streets of Shoreditch in East London for the past three years, acquired George in an exchange for the price of a can of beer.
The Staffordshire bull terrier became John’s constant companion, sitting patiently next to him as John sketched streetscapes in an effort to pass his time on the streets. With George by his side, John struck up conversations with passers-by about his life and as well as his relationship with his sidekick.
John soon began to sell his drawings, and in the process, established himself as one of east London’s most recognisable artists, and now has two exhibitions and an autobiographical book under his belt.
John credits George with helping him to realise his artistic potential and enabling him to escape from a 20-year cycle of prison recidivism and homelessness. His current show, John and George—set in a room recreated to resemble the street the pair used to occupy every day—presents 700 drawings of George. It is, John says, an homage to the one thing in his life he could rely on totally.
Dolan says he uses repetition to encourage viewers to hit pause in their busy lives and take a moment to see things in a different way. The subtle variations in each drawing also document a quiet and unassuming friendship.
—
John and George is on show at the Howard Griffin Gallery until 17 August.
Proceeds from the exhibition are being donated to The Big Issue Foundation and Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.
The biography, John and George: The Dog Who Changed My Life, is available now.
—
Images by Marcus Peel, courtesy of Howard Griffin Gallery
howardgriffingallery.com
randomhouse.co.uk
DOG-FRIENDLY: TAKE THE LEAD
We are thrilled to introduce Dog-Friendly, a collection of city guides for dog-loving people, created together with our long-time contributor, photographer Winnie Au, and fellow enthusiasts, indie publisher Hoxton Mini Press. Available for purchase here.
August 25, 2021
PACK OF DOGS
Have you ever imagined Amy Winehouse or Nick Cave as a Chihuahua, Neil Young as a Vizsla, or PJ Harvey as an Afghan hound? That’s exactly what San Francisco-based artist Michael Gillette has done through his unique illustration project, blending beloved, iconic music legends, both past and present, with their dog counterparts. Pack of Dogs, our first foray into book publishing, is a celebration of pup and pop culture for music and dog lovers alike.
August 25, 2020
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
Spanish photographer Sara Monsalve strives to ‘capture your memories’—to immortalise the beauty, innocence and wisdom of our pets.
November 8, 2023
BETWEEN THE LINES
French artist Jochen Gerner distils the magic and energy of dogs using disarmingly simple techniques, relying on felt pens and school notebooks.
November 3, 2023
JUMP FOR JOY
Photographer Rebecca Rinaldi knows that to capture a dog’s true essence, play is the key ingredient.
July 13, 2023
PLAY DATE
An antidote to mass-produced dog accessories, MiaCara’s range of carefully crafted toys are designed to surprise, endure and delight.
July 12, 2023
REALLY GOOD DOGS
Photographer Randal Ford’s fierce clarity draws dogs’ personality to the fore to reveal each animal’s “true essence”.
June 8, 2023
JET SET PET
Moving your buddy from A to be B becomes an exercise in style, comfort and convenience with Cloud7’s Travel Collection.
June 2, 2023
NATURAL INSTINCT
In his series ‘Kinetic’, San Diego-based photographer James Lee celebrates dogs at full speed.
May 7, 2023
POODLE ELITE
Jouk Oosterhof photographs Amsterdam’s beloved family members (with a dash of lifestyle accessory).
May 3, 2023
TEAM EFFORT
What started as a fundraising effort to save photographer Kristoffer Paulsen’s beloved dog Josie, morphed into Melbourne’s most in-demand pet portraits.
March 31, 2023
KINGDOM OF HOUNDS
For decades, legendary Irish documentary photographer Tony O’Shea has captured the country’s annual drag hunt, and a country’s rich history along with it.
March 24, 2023
Loading more posts...