Decima Gallery - Decima Street 1997-2000

Decima Street 1997-2000

The group's name originates from the address of their first gallery space which was officially launched in February 1998 at 3 Decima Studios, Decima Street, London SE1.

The gallery was first occupied on 31 August 1997 by Guy Hilton, Philip Hunt, Alex Chappel and Matthew John Andrew. Guy Hilton left before the first show (he later went on to found the Guy Hilton Gallery with Angela Friese in London's East End, in 2005.) On 12 February 1998 the gallery was launched with a show named "Scott", which was organised by Matthew John Andrew and Philip Hunt.

In April 1998, Decima was reported to stage "Fuckart & Pimp, a show that purported to feature a female artist producing paintings while having sex with clients .

With delicious predictability, the Great British Public were incensed." The show was in fact a hoax.

Philip Hunt and Matthew John Andrew left in November 1998 after which, Decima was managed by Alex Chappel and David C. West.

On 21 August 1998, Decima sent a fax to the Tate informing them that they would be bringing a real cow to the Gallery to "show where food and sex connect with the world of art". It turned out to be the artists themselves as a Pantomime Cow. At this time, the artist Derrick Welsh was represented by and closely affiliated to Decima.

In April 1999, Decima attempted to cause another splash with a show entitled "Was Jesus a Homosexual?" which was organised in conjunction with political philosopher Richard Morley. The Independent's Pandora column reported "Gilbert and George have installed part of a 100-year-old fountain they purchased recently, which featured the inscription "Jesus said if any man thirst let him come to me and let him drink". This now reads "Jesus said let him come". Another exhibitor, Piers Wardle, has made a crucifix with wooden balls attached by a "string that can be played with" and called it The Miracle of Holy Balls. Charles Sayer's canvas of a naked woman, legs apart, is displayed alongside eight framed biblical texts and entitled Anti-Christ I awake thee. The piece de resistance is Andrew Putland's untitled triptych depicting a black Jesus and black disciples engaged in fellatio with Christ." The exhibition also featured Swedish artist Anna Livia Löwendahl-Atomic.

When the original gallery space closed in January 2000 the name Decima continued to be used by Chappel and West for art projects.