If you’re having a torrid week and need some sanctuary, some of the spaces in the V&A exhibition might aide you. ‘In-between architecture‘ by Studio Mumbai Architects is a spatially faithful reproduction of a semi permanent shanty house in Mumbai. Not knowing any of that before I entered, it’s full of lovely moments of constricted proportions that wrap themselves around you. Or something – I’m tired, it’s been a long week, it helped me along. Whilst on dinky proportions and dizzying corridors, for more good stuff go experience Mike Nelson’s The Coral Reef at Tate Britain.
The lovely Louise Haywood-Schiefer came and took some photos of me in my studio. She’d been looking through my Twinning series and thought it might be an interesting device to turn upon myself. I was more than game, but in this exact instance she caught me off guard, which more than works.
And here’s one I made earlier: River Dart July 2010 / Gillespie Road nature reserve September 2008.
I went to Plymouth with a box of stuff from my studio and spent a few days making stuff with what I had within the space in which they would be shown. It’s open now if you want to see. If you’re not in the Plymouth area in the next few days, here is a selection of photos of moments. More details at the Project Space 11 website.
I’m making work in a show next month. I’ll be making work in the space the from 7th – 1oth July, which is then shown the following week, the 14th-17th July. Here are some details:
Project Space 11 has invited four artists to respond to the question: ‘How to Look?’. Project Space 11’s prominent and visible position within a busy market brings into question how contemporary art can be accessible to a non-art audience, and how artists can provide a key or tools to assist the audience in engaging with their work. This has long been a concern for visual artists, the notion that there is an over arching ‘thing’ to ‘get’ often dissuading the viewer from engaging with contemporary art. “The problem lies in the word ‘understanding’ and its many levels which cannot be restricted to rational analysis. Imagination, inspiration, and longing all lead people to sense that these other levels also play a part in understanding. This must be the root of reactions to this action, and is why my technique has been to try and seek out the energy points in the human power field, rather than demanding specific knowledge or reactions on the part of the public. I try to bring to light the complexity of creative areas.” Joseph Beuys 1965.
This project does not wish to dictate meaning, but instead aims to illuminate audience engagement with artworks, while emphasizing that there is no one ’correct’ approach. The work produced is more of an open ended, playful pondering of ways of looking, rather than a demonstrative gesture.
23rd June – 22nd July 2010, with work from:
The Hut Project
Townley and Bradbury
Thorsten Knaub
Craig Barnes
About Project Space 11:
Opening in June 2010, Project Space 11 is an artist-led initiative situated in the heart of Plymouth City Market, supported by Plymouth City Council, Arts Council England and Plymouth College of Art. The setting of a traditional indoor market – a microcosm of Plymouth culture and unique in its architecture creates an unusual and challenging arena for visual art. Coordinated by five Plymouth based artists, Project Space 11 strives to critically engage with artist-led practice regionally, nationally and potentially internationally; creating a platform for artist activity in the city. The programme intends to be larger than its physical home; a small market place unit, operating as a Hub for artist led activity, with a rolling programme of events, exhibitions and happenings. Alongside this will be regular opportunities for artist networking, critical discourse and discussion.
Project Space 11 website
