When Mayfair was open countryside and agricultural land, were there any pine trees? If not, there are now – pine trees have come to the elegant 18th century of Mayfair, in stark contrast to the urban landscape, the cyclists and the fast cars outside, in the form of beautiful black and white drawings hung on green walls harking back to the early landscape of the area.
Mayfair’s urban development started around 1686-1688 in the Shepherd Market area for the May Fair (hence the name of the area) which moved from Haymarket due to overcrowding and, by the 18th century, attracted a variety of entertainers and showground attractions, presumably including fortune tellers telling your future with tarot, and probably less desirable activities, until it became a nuisance in the eyes of aristocratic and well-connected residents and was abolished in 1764.
The tarot cards are back with fascinating illustrations, as are some of the more bawdy scenes that may have taken place involving naked girls, and were commonplace in the film industry in the 1960’s and ‘70’s. How much of tarot or any fortune telling is clever suggestionism?
Creator of the cult comic book ‘Tank Girl’ and co-founder of Gorillaz, Jamie Hewlett’s triple bill ‘The Suggestionists’ – Pines, Tarot and Honey – bring his interpretation of these themes to the Lazinc gallery in the heart of 21st century Mayfair, to “shine on the conscious and unconscious, the everyday and the fantastical”.