As Ben Edge's latest exhibition 'Children of Albion' gets underway at London's Fitzrovia Chapel, it's hard not to be struck by the sheer scope and ambition of his work. A self-portrait like no other, with a toy poodle and full-size fibreglass horse galloping through the studio door, Edge's new masterpiece is as much about identity as it is about the search for meaning in our increasingly fractured world.
Edge himself is clear that this latest work is a response to the national identity crisis that seems to be gripping Britain at present. "In this post-Brexit era," he says, "we're all grappling with who we are as a country." With 'Children of Albion', Edge brings together a vast array of images and references - from Stonehenge to Viking raids, and morris dancers to the slave trade - in an attempt to piece together what that identity might look like.
At its heart, 'Albion' is a painting about awakening. According to Edge, it's based on William Blake's personal mythology, where Albion was a sleeping giant who gradually awakens as we accept our own nature and move forward. This idea of awakenings rings true for many viewers, particularly those who have struggled with the sense of disconnection and disillusionment that has come with Brexit.
But what exactly does Edge think is holding us back? For him, it's not just about reconnecting with nature - though this is certainly an important part of his story. Rather, it's about rediscovering our shared human experiences and traditions. "Folk traditions the world over are rooted in universal concerns," he explains. "Birth and death, the changing seasons - these are things that we all experience."
Edge's own journey into folk art has been one of crisis and rebirth. In his early 30s, he was diagnosed with chronic depression and found himself lost in a sea of consumerism and urban isolation. But through rediscovering ancient customs and practices, Edge began to reconnect with the natural world and find a new sense of purpose.
And it's this sense of independence that underpins 'Children of Albion' - not just its art, but the entire project itself. According to Edge, there isn't a gallery or institution that can save you from feeling lost; instead, you need to build your own world. For him, that means creating a body of work that is both personal and universally relatable.
The result is an exhibition that feels at once intimate and expansive - like stepping into the studio of a creative giant who has finally found his true voice. With 'Children of Albion', Ben Edge offers us a glimpse into his own journey towards identity, to his roots in folk culture, and towards his vision for a more inclusive, environmentally conscious Britain. It's an invitation we can't quite refuse - especially at a time when we all need it most.
Edge himself is clear that this latest work is a response to the national identity crisis that seems to be gripping Britain at present. "In this post-Brexit era," he says, "we're all grappling with who we are as a country." With 'Children of Albion', Edge brings together a vast array of images and references - from Stonehenge to Viking raids, and morris dancers to the slave trade - in an attempt to piece together what that identity might look like.
At its heart, 'Albion' is a painting about awakening. According to Edge, it's based on William Blake's personal mythology, where Albion was a sleeping giant who gradually awakens as we accept our own nature and move forward. This idea of awakenings rings true for many viewers, particularly those who have struggled with the sense of disconnection and disillusionment that has come with Brexit.
But what exactly does Edge think is holding us back? For him, it's not just about reconnecting with nature - though this is certainly an important part of his story. Rather, it's about rediscovering our shared human experiences and traditions. "Folk traditions the world over are rooted in universal concerns," he explains. "Birth and death, the changing seasons - these are things that we all experience."
Edge's own journey into folk art has been one of crisis and rebirth. In his early 30s, he was diagnosed with chronic depression and found himself lost in a sea of consumerism and urban isolation. But through rediscovering ancient customs and practices, Edge began to reconnect with the natural world and find a new sense of purpose.
And it's this sense of independence that underpins 'Children of Albion' - not just its art, but the entire project itself. According to Edge, there isn't a gallery or institution that can save you from feeling lost; instead, you need to build your own world. For him, that means creating a body of work that is both personal and universally relatable.
The result is an exhibition that feels at once intimate and expansive - like stepping into the studio of a creative giant who has finally found his true voice. With 'Children of Albion', Ben Edge offers us a glimpse into his own journey towards identity, to his roots in folk culture, and towards his vision for a more inclusive, environmentally conscious Britain. It's an invitation we can't quite refuse - especially at a time when we all need it most.
I'm loving the vibes of Ben Edge's new exhibition 'Children of Albion' so far! 
The way he's woven together these diverse references and imagery to create this massive self-portrait is truly captivating. It feels like he's tapping into this collective unconscious, you know? 
Like, who are we as a nation, right now? And I think Edge is onto something with the idea of awakening – it's not just about personal growth, but also about reconnecting with our shared human experiences and traditions.
. And I love that he's speaking out about the importance of creating your own world – we need more people stepping up and building their own paths, not waiting for others to save them 
.
. We're all feeling so lost and disconnected right now, but Edge's work is offering us something – it's an invitation to join him on his journey towards identity and meaning. Can't wait to see what the rest of the exhibition has to offer! 
. His story of finding himself through rediscovering ancient customs and practices really resonates with me 
. The fact that he's creating a body of work that's both personal and relatable is super inspiring - it feels like he's giving us permission to find our own way in this crazy world 
️. But Edge is trying to tap into this deeper human experience – the connection with nature, our shared traditions... it's all about finding your own way and not relying on external validation 
.
. The whole exhibition feels like an invitation to awaken to who we are and what's truly important – it's not just about the art, but about the journey itself 
. Can't wait to check out 'Children of Albion'! 
. It's like he's saying that we don't have to be lost in a sea of consumerism to find our true selves - we can create our own path 
.
. In a world that feels so fragmented, it's refreshing to see someone embracing the shared struggles & triumphs that bring us all together 
. Can't wait to check out the show! 
his use of symbolism and imagery is so on point he's really tackling the whole identity crisis thing head-on and i think that's what's making it so resonant, especially in this post-brexit era when everyone's feeling a bit lost 
idk about all the historical references but the way he weaves them together feels super organic and intentional to me 
i love how he talks about finding purpose in nature and creating a new sense of identity for himself, its like he's giving us permission to do the same 
what i love most tho is that this exhibition feels like it's not just about edge - its about all of us, feeling lost and disconnected.
.
. The way he weaves together all these images and references is pure genius! 
. The way he's created this exhibition that feels both personal and universally relatable is just wow! 
It's like he's saying 'Hey, we're all in this together' 