Cj Hendry’s debut London show, titled Epilogue, involves taking over the cathedral-like interiors of the former Holy Trinity Church in Bethnal Green as the stage for her ten-day-long exhibition.
Epilogue has been three years in the making, paused temporarily by the pandemic and located in the UK by serendipity. After initially exploring venue options stateside, Hendry was tipped off about the Bethnal Green church by a friend from her architecture school days. It is comprised by 30 small and medium artworks of flora (flowers), drawn by Hendry in her signature hyper-realistic style. The collection is part two of a series of falling flower petals she completed in colour back in 2020.
The church is a Georgian structure, designed by architect G Austin in the 1830s when congregations were booming and churches plentiful; rivalled in the East End only by the number of pubs. But even among them, Holy Trinity stood head and shoulders above other houses of worship for its vast size. This factor likely hastened its demise and meant the building has been in varying states of disrepair over recent decades.
You can see Hendry’s work at Holy Trinity Church on the corner of Morgan Street and Rhondda Grove, Mile End, E3 5AA
12 May – 22 May – no tickets required.
@hrhqueengld best afternoon I’ve ever spent in a church #London #thingstodoinlondon #art #church #cjhendry