"Grockles at Sea" will present works which explores issues of redundancy, recycling, regeneration, failure, and desire. For this reason, Folkestone would be a perfect space in which to explore these issues. Folkestone can be perceived as a redundant town. The image it portrayed of an idyllic, picturesque seaside town is out of date, and is no longer required from it. It is currently in a run down state, and there are many attempts to regenerate its centre. But what is the goal of this regeneration? To reconstruct the town into the picturesque postcard image it was, or into something new? Is it not questionable to reconstruct the image of Folkestone using a redundant ideal?
The works presented unravel many of these thematic issues, which find their roots in England’s Romantic past.
It is interesting to think that at the moment the four artists are working in different towns around Kent for a show that will be set in Folkestone. I believe that factor is also relevant to the works that will be presented in the show.
