ICA off-site project at Dover street market, London

Between 1950 and 1968, the Institute of Contemporary Arts was based at 17-18 Dover Street (now Dover Street Market) before moving to The Mall. Created as an alternative to the traditional museum, the ICA was one of the few organisations in London to promote international contemporary art, ultimately becoming a home for the British avant-garde. From its base on Dover Street, the ICA became known as the birthplace of Pop Art, Op Art and Brutalist Architecture, as well as being the founding place of the Independant Group, whose members included artists Richard Hamilton and Eduardo Paolozzi, alongside architects such as Alison and Peter Smithson. Working in collaboration with Dover Street Market and the design studio Julia, the ICA has invaded all six floors of its former premises with large-scale reproductions of archival images spanning the eighteen years when it occupied this building, including invitation cards, private view photographs,n installation shots and bulletins. This exhibition coincides with Richard Hamilton at ICA and the first book devoted to the ICA first twenty years, Institute of Contemporary Arts: 1946 – 1968, produced by art historian Anne Massey and Executive Director Gregor Muir. Photo Ekaterina Bazhenova