Collaboration1
took form on the night of the preview with the space being used as close to our intentions as it was possible on the Private View Evening 25.06.2010. As is usual with my work I end up right amongst the work taking the role of ‘director’. James Pepper pointed out the differences in the time scales relating to installation/private views etc that we each create our work. Rob Hunt’s decisions are made pre installation within the canvas, The majority of James’ decisions are made during installation within the set up of the work and mine are set up during both periods and then executed as close to the point of viewing as possible.
This variation of stages of creation filter into how the space is used with the ‘collaborative zone’ and how the over all exhibition comes together. Being in the middle of my performance under the disguise of photographer (which was not intentional but obvious that that is who people thought I was) was a fantastic position to be in. I heard honest and unedited reactions to the work and caught all of the discussion that our space prompted and housed. This room for discussion within our collaborative space is very important to us so I was glad to see that our piece ended up being the central gathering point for viewers. Unfortunately the curator of the show had decided that one of our central pieces that pulled the space for discussion together was to be taken out of the show. This piece was a gazebo with 3 chairs in a fantastic viewing point with a small collection of each of our pieces (samples) and some magazines. So we didn’t get to see it in action but we guessed from the response to the rest of our space that it would have worked.
People have been asking me about the benefits of being in a group or why be in a group? and I think usually if something seems like the less easy option it is probably the right one. We all just want to be challenged and to develop our ideas, thinking, working, considering outside of own constructed languages and restrictions.
There was an artist at the show at some point over the last week who made a comment about being uncertain about the decision to work in art gallery straight from finishing art school which if i was quicker off the mark I would have said that I work in an art gallery because I am interested in art and not just my own art. I feel the same is true of being in an art group- if I continued on my own path my influences would stay within my already marked out interests within the art world and I would circulate within the bubble I have created so far amongst the vast art world. Whereas being in a group gives you an immediate link to one or more artists outside of yourself and to make it a success you have to make engaging and communicating a priority. Being engaged is one of the most important things to me.
The experience of our first show together has really brought together what our shared interests are and has prompted our group name, which is now…
This or That Eagle
visit new URL for slide show of collaboration1:
http://thisorthateagle.blogspot.com/
email: [email protected] for futher info.
Background on current reading, theory and orientation of group name coming up…
The set up of the ‘All Systems Go’ show ended up being what the Curator Louise Ashcroft called a mini residency. There are 35 artists in the show altogether and meeting most of them and getting to chat to the other artists during installation has been a brilliant experience.
We proposed our work as being an exploration into collaborative space:
“As a group we aim to re claim the exhibition as a tool that is necessary to take contemporary art practice into new areas rather than be an end in itself. Our proposed piece would utilise the advantages of having a large space and really bring out our interests in site specific areas of our practice.”
I have found this statement difficult to stand by within this show and our tendencies as a group towards not being a finished packaged piece of explainable contemporary art have been brought into question. This has furthered my interest and our interest as a group into explanations that are linked to a piece of art. We always want to retain the platform for intelligibility.
The experience of questioning these areas within the set up of the show has made my piece feel more relevant as it highlights the idea of the presence of the artist within their work and how much of a direct message from the artist is really necessary for the viewer when experiencing/viewing a piece.
As a group the conversations about shared space have interesting and it has been challenging to make joint decisions which I find more interesting than us all having the exact same opinion and then pulling it off with ease.
Overall the set up of the show has been an invaluable experience that will definitely contribute to the shaping of the group.
Now for the ‘Private View’ and event ‘Going Any Where Nice On Your Holidays’- as part of my work:
Friday 25th June 6.30-9.30 pm
Departure Gallery,7 Trident Way, The International Trading Estate, Brent Road, Southall, UB2 5LF
See website for details on event with free haircuts:
http://rosannerobertson.art.officelive.com/UAGAllSystemsGo.aspx
Gallery Website:
http://www.departuregallery.com/
UAG have spent their first 2-3 months looking into the fundamentals of being an art group.
Instead of looking for similarities in our work we have taken our initial bonding ‘thing’ to be that we have differences. We have an abstract painter, an artist who uses objects and a conceptual artist with time based tendencies.
We have taken this as an opportunity to see things from a different artistic stand point and to learn/read outside of our initial influences in order to gain a more balanced and informed approach to our work.
Our first collaborative show with the fitting title of All Systems Go will see our first exploration into shared space. We will be spending every minute of the day together for the length of a 4-5 day installation and sleeping in the art space for a refreshing indulgence of our art. Looking into areas of viewing space and public space with an installed collaboration named Collaboration 1 we aim to see for ourselves what we are made of.
All Systems Go- Departure Gallery brings together a diverse group of artists who work in relation to physical and conceptual systems, which they have created or adapted as frameworks for artistic experimentation. Patterns, rules, collaborative techniques, interventions, mechanical systems and improvisation provide structured starting points which open up a multitude of possibilities for exciting artistic outcomes.This show is the latest in Departure Gallery’s acclaimed series of exhibitions and residencies on The International Trading Estate, Southall. The exhibition explores the contradictions and parallels between systematic experimentation in contemporary art and the industrial systems used in the factories and distribution units surrounding our vast warehouse space.
Address: Departure Gallery, 7 Trident Way, The International Trading Estate, Brent Road, Southall, UB2 5LF.
Read More…
http://www.departuregallery.com/html/news.html
