The Alfreda Benge retrospective opened at Space last night, a delightful show that captured a unique time and place, a spirit, a show that smiles in such a friendly way….

You find Space on Mare Street, Hackney, just by the London Fields pub and right by the 48/55/26 bus stop.  Space is one of the more formal and traditional old school art spaces in East London, they may not be that friendly and welcoming, but they do have a fine space and they do put on some interesting shows

Alfreda Benge: P.L.A.  Paintings, illustrations and lyrics by Alfreda Benge (b. 1940). Drawing from her long-standing collaboration with the musician Robert Wyatt (b. 1945), as well as other projects, P.L.A. is Benge’s first exhibition in a UK institution.  Private view: Saturday 7 Feb, 6 – 9pm, the show runs until April 5th. More about the show here

Last night’s open was a delight, the art, the music of Robert Wyatt (who was there chatting with people), a glance at a world that almost feels lost, a delightful show……

Here’s some wiki – Alfreda Benge is a lyricist and illustrator. She was born in 1940 in Austria to a Polish mother, and came to England in 1947. She has been married to musician Robert Wyatt since 1974. She has contributed lyrics to many of his compositions, and has written lyrics for French musician/producer Bertrand Burgalat, and for Brazilian singer Monica Vasconcelos.

Benge studied painting at Camberwell Art School, Graphics at the London School of Printing, Film at the RCA, worked in film, and served as an assistant to the editor Graeme Clifford for Nicolas Roeg‘s Don’t Look Now (1973). She has provided cover artwork for all Wyatt’s solo albums since 1974, as well as for other musicians including Gravity by Fred Frith, Alice by Klimperei and Spanish Dance Troupe by Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci. She has illustrated two children’s books written by Ivor Cutler.