Art of alcohol

An Edge Hill University arts graduate is using Liverpool's night life and drinking habits as the focus of a new exhibition.

Alice Lenkiewicz graduated in 2001 with a BA hons in Art and Design and English, followed by a MA in Writing Studies in 2003.

Her new exhibition, Gin Lane, Liverpool, takes its inspiration from the 18^th century artist William Hogarth. He created a series of works in the 1750s entitled Beer Street and Gin Lane which were based on so-called ‘modern moral subjects', after observing people on the streets and studying the drinking culture of the time.

Alice said: "I recognised parallels with our own contemporary city and decided that because of the effect of drinking culture on our present society, it would be interesting to do something similar.

"I drew people from all walks of life, drinking and socialising at night, and turned these into oil paintings and further studies. I went into various popular venues in Liverpool and I would draw inside of the pubs and clubs, or create paintings of specific street scenes. Sometimes it was quite ghostly as I felt as if nothing had changed from Hogarth's time on the social scene."

Alice's examination of real people also echoes the human subjects of her late father, Robert Lenkiewicz, who was famed for his controversial paintings of tramps. However, her Gin Lane subjects ranged from the heavy drinkers to those who didn't drink alcohol at all and she says her new exhibition forms a social commentary on the city's drinking trends.

She added: "More than 8% of Liverpool's population are drinking at levels that will lead to them significantly harming their physical and mental health and that of others, and this show questions whether we have moved on as a society since similar concerns over ‘binge drinking' in the 18th century.

"This project taught me that night-life culture is very important for allowing people to express themselves and to have fun but it is also important that people are fully educated of the problems that arise from over abuse of alcohol and drink dependency. However, I noticed many people who were not consuming vast amounts of alcohol and this sets a role model for enjoyment without the need for self abuse or abuse towards others."

As well as focusing on her painting, Alice writes poetry and her first collection of poems and drawing, Men Hate Blondes, has just been published.

Gin Street runs until Friday 27 November at the dot-art gallery, 16 Queen Avenue, Castle Street, Liverpool, L2 4TX. It is open from noon to 6pm Monday to Friday or by appointment by calling 0845 0176660.