Berriman Blog

This October I made a trip to Eindhoven, invited by one of my mentors, Annie Fletcher, to attend the Arte Util seminar at the Van Abbemuseum.

Arte Util is a project initiated by Tania Bruguera that looks at art as a tool. My interests in this area are connected to not only art as a practical tool but as a tool for looking at art itself, i.e. how can a sculpture be used a tool for understanding more about sculpture and form. We could also consider how looking at methods of art production could be helpful in appraoches to surviving the current public funding cuts and shifting attitudes to the place of art in education.

Tania Bruguera attended the semina as did Annie Fletcher, and Clare Butcher who is the curator of the Sceographies exhibition at Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam. A list of attendees is going to be circulated so I’ll be able to give a list of other antendees.

The discussion was very varied and open, with a generous attitude from all involved. I found it really refreshing to be out of the UK taking part in a discussion with people who share different reference points to myself, and who are not in the same social circle.

As with many events of this kind a lot of interesting chat took place once the actual seminar was over. Anecdotes, contacts and references shared over a post-discussion wine were very rich and varied.

Arte Util at the Van Abbemuseum

Link to show http://vanabbemuseum.nl/en/browse-all/?tx_vabdisplay_pi1%5Bptype%5D=18&tx_vabdisplay_pi1%5Bproject%5D=1200&cHash=1447bee3530cdbca9b856a1bd8d9ec7c

Link to the seminar that I attended http://vanabbemuseum.nl/en/browse-all/?tx_vabdisplay_pi1%5Bptype%5D=20&tx_vabdisplay_pi1%5Bproject%5D=1238&cHash=df0e45896d5a1f99c31d7348d75dc90e

The Arte Util website http://arteutil.net

Tania Bruguera website http://www.taniabruguera.com/cms/

I have had some incredible conversations with Bridget, Annie and Heather this summer. With still more to come.

Later this month I’ll be travelling to Eindhoven, Holland, to meet with Annie there. I’ll also use the trip to visit Hannah James a good artist and friend of mine who’s currently studying at Piet Zwart in Rotterdam.

I’m really looking forward to being out of the UK and seeing what is happening elsewhere.

Something that I have thought about a lot, in fact over the past couple of years is how domestic my activities are, i.e. very UK based. I’ve thought a lot about different levels of confidence and what it takes to base oneself in another country for a period of time. Always in mind is the impact on personal life and those ties and committments. However, time does fly and this year I’ve met many people in and out of the art world who have taken the plunge to spend a chunk of time in another country. It’s making me think…..

I’ve recently completed my Symbol Archive project for Engagement Network http://www.engagementnetworksw.com/#!sovay-berriman–symbol-archive/ctar.

A major question in throughout this project has been where the artwork sits, in the experience or in a more concrete outcome? I arrived at a place where the artwork for me was very much in the relationships between the Contributors, myself and the gallery. However I also feel that it’s useful to have a tangible document of this process, so have produced a drawing, see the image above.

During the mentoring process I’ll be talking with Heather, Annie and Bridget about different aspects of my practice, what I want from it and how I can take it further.

I will detail some of my thinking and the discussions I have with my mentors here. I anticipate it will be a sensitive and stimulating set of discussions.

As a starting point I’ll be looking at my recent work Sepulchre by the Sea, 2013, my interest in applying for PhDs, the ongoing balancing of earning money to live but having enough time to push practice – particularly as I get older.

More soon…..

For my Re:view Bursary I’ll be having some mentoring with…

Annie Fletcher, Curator at the Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven, http://curatorsintl.org/collaborators/annie_fletcher I first met Annie in Penzance in 2007 when I took part in a Paraeducation seminar, find out more here – http://themetropolitancomplex.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/parabook_FINAL1.pdf.

Bridget Crone, independent Curator, who I have worked with in the past as part of her project A Theatre to Address, http://www.cartelgallery.com/crone.html. Bridget’s curatorial framework is Plently Projects http://www.plentyprojects.org/

Heather Philipson is an artist I met through the A-Frame programme at the ICA in 2010. Heather currently has a solo show at Baltic, Newcastle. http://www.heatherphillipson.co.uk/