Art Lab at Dean Clough returned after a break over August with a fantastic September line up of David Fennell-Roberts, Gill Crawshaw and our regular slide presentation Robert Donald.
I asked everybody to briefly introduce themselves and then handed over to David. David presented an oeuvre of his work and inspirations which was a great introduction and received an engaged response in the Q&A session. We took a short refreshment break and had the opportunity to look at some of David’s paintings he’d brought.
After the break, Gill talked about her upcoming show in Wakefield produced in response to the Damien Hirst ‘Charity’ sculpture at Yorkshire Sculpture Park as part of Yorkshire Sculpture International (opening 25 September in Wakefield). The Q&A did inevitably focus on Damien Hirst’s work somewhat and Gill noted the reluctance of doing Hirst’s work for him in a sense, but platforming the disabled artist in the show outweighs the attention that her curatorial response gives it. Representation, visibility and
Robert Donald then presented a selection of slide starting with Malevich’s Black Square and through Soviet Russian art as a response to the political mess we find ourselves in now in the UK. He took us through the use of art as propaganda and Stalinist oppression, drawing out comparisons with contemporary British culture (we’re ready for a revolution).
Having three instead of four presenters is definitely a better format and less rushed and time pressured.
If you’re interested in presenting at a future Art Lab please get in touch!
