Myself and Lisa have been pushing forward, trying to find and secure spaces to show our work collaboratively in. We are keen to explore interesting, less obvious spaces as well as the typical white cube space. There is something interesting bout showing work in less obvious spaces. The space feeds into the work. It blurs the boundaries between artwork and exhibition space. It can sometimes feel like the wall and the space becomes an extension of the artwork. I think an artwork can communicate different ideas depending on the context within which it is viewed. I suppose that is the purpose of the white wall- to remove any possible associations. To allow the viewer to experience only the artwork. I think showing the work in different spaces can provide the opportunity for the artist, (and the viewer) to see another facet to the world. To get to know another part of it’s personality. To really understand what it is and what it does as an artwork.
So, back to the progress we have made; we have submitted proposals and we are due to meet someone for a discussion about a potential quirky space above a pub, but it was during a discussion with Mark Gubb that I realised that whilst we are looking for alternative spaces we are not pushing the boundaries of what an exhibition can be. Mark told me about how along with a friend he had turned their student house into an exhibition. An installation occupied the living room. Windows boarded up with peep holes so people could stand outside and look in. The artwork extended into the upstairs bathroom. Listening about how Mark had pushed boundaries inspired me to rethink what or where an exhibition could be. We joked about how you could even tell everyone to get on the number 23 bus and that we could occupy the back seat!
This has really expanded my thinking. Whilst discussing it with Lisa we both talked of how we think there is something exciting about interrupting the normal with art. Placing art in a place where it is not expected, there is something very exciting about that notion. So, moving forward, maybe we need to think outside the box. We both want to make something exciting, something challenging within our work, so why not mirror that with the way we exhibit?!
