The second part of the ACE report –
The exhibition ‘Redirection and Network Timeout’, will also be shown at the Constance Howard Research Centre Gallery, Goldsmiths College, London, SE14 6NW from 6th September 2011 until 6th October 2011. There will be an Artists Talk and Closing Event at the CHRC. I will also exhibit the works in the Riverside Gallery at Waterman’s Art Centre, in December 2011/ January 2012, also accompanied by an Artists Talk. I will additionally exhibit work that develops ideas researched in the residency at a 3person show, ‘MULTIPLE OCCUPANCY’, at Hatch Space, London from the 19th October -29th October 2011. Since returning to the UK, I have presented an Artists Talk at the Camden Arts Centre (23rd July 2011) to 12 practicing artists, a conference paper on the research at INTERFACE 2011 Digital Humanities Conference at UCL, London, WC1E 6BT (28th July 2011) to over 100 delegates, and an Artists Talk to my Artists Crit Group of Goldsmiths MFA Graduates at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, SE11 8XX (29th July 2011).
My research paper ‘Redirection and Network Timeout’ was selected for the RE-wire Conference, FACT/ Liverpool John Moore’s University (L1 4DQ), and I will present my paper on the 28th September 2011.
I disseminated my residency project through daily posting on a-n blog, informative emails to my mailing list, posting blog entries on the Chinese Art Centre blog, listings on UAL ‘what’s on’ database, a feature in the Axis Members News for June 2011 and social network posts through Twitter and Facebook when possible (due to censorship bans in China).
I managed to produce more practice based work than anticipated – creating 4 final drawings, and 4 external installations outside of my original proposed outcomes. I found it difficult to find suitable discarded found objects for installations, as there was little that could be used locally. For the external installations, I utilised spray paint in a stencil graffiti style which I have never used before. This process was a response to the heavy graffiti over the architecture in the local area which was encouraged by the government.
Although I was very productive, I do feel that I would have been able to make more of the experience of living and working in China if the residency period was longer. Much time in the first few weeks was taken up by acquainting myself with local logistics, amenities and customs. I believe a time period of least 2 months for a residency in foreign country is required to allow deeper assimilation of the culture and more in depth research outcomes.
I also encountered problems with the quality of the recording of the Artists Talks and presentations. I used my own equipment for these purposes, and would like to have these done professionally in the future.
I also did not anticipate building such strong connections with local artists, lecturers and curators, which I have continued through email exchange since returning to the UK. As previously mentioned, I intend to set up an online forum for Chongqing and UK base artists for posting and discussing information relating to their practice and Fine Art in general. I have discussed the potential of organising a symposium in Chongqing for all previous Artists in Residence on the programme with the 501 Director, Yan Yan. I will support funding research for this activity from the UK.
The practice of daily blogging was also very helping in providing an outlet for my ideas and promoting exchange with those outside of Chongqing. It was a pleasant surprise that the blog was so popular and so many engaged with the research and on-going narrative. I have continued the blog whilst in the UK undertaking Artists Talks and Presentations.
I also intend to produce an on-line written and visual publication of my research from the residency in late 2011,inviting artists and others involved to contribute.
The research and studio based practice has suggested multiple routes of enquiry for further engagement with Chinese Society, other foreign countries, and well as location specific research to cities within the UK – to examine the relationship between our occupation and movement within digital space and physical space.
