Joshua Richard Compston (1 June 1970 – 5 March 1996) was a London curator and progressive thinker, whose company Factual Nonsense was closely associated with the emergence of the Young British Artists (YBAs).
Compston was born in Putney. The son of a judge, he was educated at St Edward's School, Oxford. Encouraged by his parents, Compston became an enthusiastic collector of antiques and ephemera. In his adolescence, he developed a friendship with Sir Peter Blake, and would bring him gifts of found ephemera.[1]
At the Courtauld he soon became frustrated that the academic lecturing staff were taking insufficient interest in the work of living artists, and that as a result students were ignorant of major figures in 20th century art.[3] Traditionally, students at the Courtauld had been taught in rooms hung with the masterworks from the history of art borrowed from the affiliated Courtauld Gallery. Taking advantage of a relocation of the school t new premises in Somerset House, and newly empty walls in seminar rooms, he leveraged the Courtauld into exhibiting the work of contemporary painters on long-term temporary loan as 'The East Wing Collection' - a practice which continues to this day as 'The East Wing Biennial'. Past exhibitors in the Collection/Biennial include Mel Bochner, Damien Hirst, Howard Hodgkin, Michael Landy, Del LaGrace Volcano, Gilbert and George), Genesis P-Orridge and Martha Rosler.[4] He graduated from the Courtauld in 1992. At this time, he was associated with the American gallerist Maureen Paley.
Joshua Compston first worked in commercial galleries when he became David Taborn’s agent, curating Taborn’s show at Gallery 202, Notting Hill Gate in 1989.[1]
Factual Nonsense
In 1993, he opened a gallery at 44a Charlotte Road, Shoreditch, the first gallery to open in what was then a slightly run-down part of east London. European Dadaist manifestos, 20th century propaganda and the Arts and Crafts Movement were influences in his creation of the Factual Nonsense brand and concept of social philosophy. The name of the gallery and art movement was taken from the title of a painting 'Factual Nonsense' by David Taborn, whose work 'A Guide For The Perplexed' was also used by Compston as the title for the gallery inaugural exhibition.[5][6]
As well as working with many of the artists of the YBA movement, including Gavin Turk, Tracey Emin, Sarah Lucas, Angus Fairhurst and Damien Hirst, Compston's main collaborator was the printer Thomas Shaw, with whom he created numerous Factual Nonsense posters, prints and other printed matter.
Compston organised events in Shoreditch as a part of his deliberate vision: to shape an artistic community and to create an urban regeneration, both of which became his legacy.[7] The events included two summer fetes (A Fete Worse Than Death), and a picnic in Hoxton Square (The Hanging Picnic).[8] Compston's lasting legacy to Shoreditch was celebrated by a revival of A Fete Worse Than Death in 2014. His archive is held by the Tate Gallery.
Death
In 1996, at the age of 25, Compston died as the result of taking ether at his gallery in Charlotte Road, which was also his home. His coffin was painted with a William Morris pattern by Gary Hume and Gavin Turk.[9] His funeral was attended by several hundred mourners including leading figures of the London art scene.[10] He is buried at Kensal Green Cemetery. Compston's tomb, on which he is depicted laid out on his little Thames boat, was carved from Portland stone by the artist and cartoonist Zebedee Helm.[11]
Published biographies
Jeremy Cooper - No Fun Without U: The Art of Factual Nonsense, 2000
Darren Coffield - Factual Nonsense: The Art and Death of Joshua Compston, 2013
References
^Buck, Louisa (14 August 2013). . London: The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 26 October 2013.
^Cohen, David (15 March 1996). "Obituary: Joshua Compston". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
^. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
^"DAVID TABORN | Dafydd Jones". www.dafjones.com. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
^"FACTUAL NONSENSE / A GUIDE FOR THE PERPLEXED - Exhibition at CHART Gallery in London". ArtRabbit. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
^. London: Made In Shoreditch. 19 June 2014. Archived from the original on 14 October 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
^Buck, Louisa (14 August 2013). . London: The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 26 October 2013.
^. Archived from the original on 7 August 2008. Retrieved 30 September 2009.
^Leeming, Robert (20 August 2013). "Factual Nonsense: The Extraordinary Life and Art of Joshua Compston". Manchester: Flux Magazine.
^"The London Dead: Joshua Compston, 1970-1996, Kensal Green". 20 February 2014.
January 31, 2023
joshua, compston, joshua, richard, compston, june, 1970, march, 1996, london, curator, progressive, thinker, whose, company, factual, nonsense, closely, associated, with, emergence, young, british, artists, ybas, bornjoshua, richard, compston, 1970, june, 1970. Joshua Richard Compston 1 June 1970 5 March 1996 was a London curator and progressive thinker whose company Factual Nonsense was closely associated with the emergence of the Young British Artists YBAs Joshua CompstonBornJoshua Richard Compston 1970 06 01 June 1 1970Putney London EnglandDied5 March 1996 1996 03 05 aged 25 Shoreditch London EnglandResting placeKensal Green CemeteryEducationCamberwell School of Art Courtauld Institute of ArtKnown forContemporary artNotable workA Fete Worse Than Death Other Men s FlowersMovementFactual Nonsense Young British ArtistsPatron s Jeremy Fry Charles Booth Clibborn Contents 1 Early life and career beginnings 2 Factual Nonsense 3 Death 4 Published biographies 5 ReferencesEarly life and career beginnings EditCompston was born in Putney The son of a judge he was educated at St Edward s School Oxford Encouraged by his parents Compston became an enthusiastic collector of antiques and ephemera In his adolescence he developed a friendship with Sir Peter Blake and would bring him gifts of found ephemera 1 Compston studied Art Foundation at Camberwell School of Art followed by History of Art at the Courtauld Institute of Art 2 At Camberwell Compston was the contemporary of Darren Coffield who later became his biographer At the Courtauld he soon became frustrated that the academic lecturing staff were taking insufficient interest in the work of living artists and that as a result students were ignorant of major figures in 20th century art 3 Traditionally students at the Courtauld had been taught in rooms hung with the masterworks from the history of art borrowed from the affiliated Courtauld Gallery Taking advantage of a relocation of the school t new premises in Somerset House and newly empty walls in seminar rooms he leveraged the Courtauld into exhibiting the work of contemporary painters on long term temporary loan as The East Wing Collection a practice which continues to this day as The East Wing Biennial Past exhibitors in the Collection Biennial include Mel Bochner Damien Hirst Howard Hodgkin Michael Landy Del LaGrace Volcano Gilbert and George Genesis P Orridge and Martha Rosler 4 He graduated from the Courtauld in 1992 At this time he was associated with the American gallerist Maureen Paley Joshua Compston first worked in commercial galleries when he became David Taborn s agent curating Taborn s show at Gallery 202 Notting Hill Gate in 1989 1 Factual Nonsense EditIn 1993 he opened a gallery at 44a Charlotte Road Shoreditch the first gallery to open in what was then a slightly run down part of east London European Dadaist manifestos 20th century propaganda and the Arts and Crafts Movement were influences in his creation of the Factual Nonsense brand and concept of social philosophy The name of the gallery and art movement was taken from the title of a painting Factual Nonsense by David Taborn whose work A Guide For The Perplexed was also used by Compston as the title for the gallery inaugural exhibition 5 6 As well as working with many of the artists of the YBA movement including Gavin Turk Tracey Emin Sarah Lucas Angus Fairhurst and Damien Hirst Compston s main collaborator was the printer Thomas Shaw with whom he created numerous Factual Nonsense posters prints and other printed matter Compston organised events in Shoreditch as a part of his deliberate vision to shape an artistic community and to create an urban regeneration both of which became his legacy 7 The events included two summer fetes A Fete Worse Than Death and a picnic in Hoxton Square The Hanging Picnic 8 Compston s lasting legacy to Shoreditch was celebrated by a revival of A Fete Worse Than Death in 2014 His archive is held by the Tate Gallery Death EditIn 1996 at the age of 25 Compston died as the result of taking ether at his gallery in Charlotte Road which was also his home His coffin was painted with a William Morris pattern by Gary Hume and Gavin Turk 9 His funeral was attended by several hundred mourners including leading figures of the London art scene 10 He is buried at Kensal Green Cemetery Compston s tomb on which he is depicted laid out on his little Thames boat was carved from Portland stone by the artist and cartoonist Zebedee Helm 11 Published biographies EditJeremy Cooper No Fun Without U The Art of Factual Nonsense 2000 Darren Coffield Factual Nonsense The Art and Death of Joshua Compston 2013References Edit Buck Louisa 14 August 2013 Factual Nonsense The Art And Death of Joshua Compston London The Telegraph Archived from the original on 26 October 2013 Cohen David 15 March 1996 Obituary Joshua Compston The Independent London Archived from the original on 17 June 2022 Retrieved 1 January 2013 Darren Coffield on Joshua Compston East Wing Biennial Archived from the original on 18 January 2017 Retrieved 4 October 2016 About East Wing Biennial Archived from the original on 17 March 2014 DAVID TABORN Dafydd Jones www dafjones com Retrieved 27 May 2021 FACTUAL NONSENSE A GUIDE FOR THE PERPLEXED Exhibition at CHART Gallery in London ArtRabbit Retrieved 27 May 2021 A Fete Worse Than Death London Made In Shoreditch 19 June 2014 Archived from the original on 14 October 2016 Retrieved 4 October 2016 Buck Louisa 14 August 2013 Factual Nonsense The Art And Death of Joshua Compston London The Telegraph Archived from the original on 26 October 2013 Charlie Varley the Daily Telegraph Archived from the original on 7 August 2008 Retrieved 30 September 2009 Leeming Robert 20 August 2013 Factual Nonsense The Extraordinary Life and Art of Joshua Compston Manchester Flux Magazine The London Dead Joshua Compston 1970 1996 Kensal Green 20 February 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Joshua Compston amp oldid 1106094876, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
