Thursday, 13 June 2013

a book is a performance, Centrespace, VRC, 24 April - 26 May


a book is a performance was an exhibition showcasing artists’ books and multiples to explore and expand the twin concepts of performance and performativity. Considering how books stage images, enact ideas and direct experiences to subversive effect, this exhibition presented thoughts and actions grounded in ritual, gesture, mime, documentation and scores through works by Christian Boltanski, Nina Chua, Thomas A. Clark, Marcus Coates, Cullinan Richards, Helen Douglas, Alec Finlay, Ian Hamilton Finlay, Richard Hamilton, Sharon Kivland, Li Yuan-chia, Richard Long, Tracy Mackenna & Edwin Janssen, Bruce McLean, Simon Morris, Yoko Ono, Edgar Schmitz with Ulli Lommel, Hans Waanders, Viola Yeşiltaç among many others.

The exhibition was permeated by two performances to illuminate and evoke the page as live space.












Alec Finlay gave a performance reading, Out of Books, on 24 April, 5 - 7.30pm.
Alec read from his poetry while Roseangle Cafe Arts served green tea, a peaceful, reflective interlude to a typically busy Preview night.

Later Sarah Sanders' Durational performance, I used to, 18 May, 1 - 4.30pm, coincided with Ignite Dundee 2013. Audiences watched and read as she wrote continuously over the afternoon contemplating thoughts or actions she 'used to' have. Many noted they shared these experiences and Sarah's writing remained on the floor until the end of the exhibition allowing others to see the remnants of her performance.

The works featured in the exhibition were selected from the collection and recent acquisitions of CAB (Centre for Artists’ Books) at Visual Research Centre, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design. The exhibition was co-curated by Exhibitions at DJCAD and Dr Lisa Otty, an AHRC Early Career Fellow at The Centre for the History of the Book, University of Edinburgh.

You can read Alex Hetherington's review on Aesthetica Blog and Kate MacRitchie's thoughts on the exhibition published on Pinso.

For more information and photographs please see our website.

Photos: Ross Fraser McLean.

Friday, 31 May 2013

interAction(s)

Current Project


interAction(s) early summer intermezzo

Until 21 June, 2013
 

 

Holding on to the past and yet searching for new pastures, Lada Wilson, visual artist and curator of the Matthew Cabinet, has placed part of her degree show work in the enclosure of Matthew Cabinet. What used to be a nice grassy ‘field’ is now a makeshift landscape where Lada has planted some more grass in the hope that it will grow.

 
This 3-week long project investigates notions of presence and the transience of life.

 
This is a summer intermezzo before an Open Call for interAction(s) 2 goes public in September 2013.

 
The curatorial project interAction(s) was inspired by the physicality of the exhibition venue — the Matthew Cabinet. The first phase of interAction(s), 1 March – 20 May, 2013 highlighted the work of two emerging artists: Rachael Disbury and Liam Dunn.

 

Monday, 20 May 2013

interAction(s) ON REFLECTION





interAction(s)

1 March – 20 May, 2013

Matthew Cabinet

on reflection

 

The curatorial project interAction(s) by Lada Wilson was inspired by the physicality of the exhibition venue — the Matthew Cabinet — and by the work of two emerging artists: Rachael Disbury and Liam Dunn.

The art practices of the two artists are different. They are close friends but never collaborated in the past. The fact that they are friends made for a positive process and outcome and worked well from the start of the project.

The artists mutually agreed to put their verbal communication on halt and “defriended” each other on Facebook, which, as a social medium, supported the project throughout its duration.

 

The starting point of the project was placing Rachael’s work All I’ve Ever Seen, 2006-2010 in the cabinet. Alongside was a small shelf to the left and a slightly longer shelf on the right hand side of the Cabinet: i.e. Liam’s artistic space.

This work was chosen as a ‘constant’ — a static point for what was intended to be a rather dynamic exhibition.

 

From the start, organising the project was a positive but daunting experience. Learning through hard work, mostly on my own, was extremely rewarding. Working together with the two artists was incredibly harmonious and everything worked out so well, sometimes I felt that we did not need to talk or communicate our ideas and still we would have understood each other. I am very thankful to Rachael and Liam for willingness to work with me and all their enthusiasm and creativity they put into the project.

Furthermore I have learned that I have improved my interaction with the social media and advertising. Also, it is never a bad idea to improve the ‘art’ of delegating…

 
 

 


we are all here now, frozen in place. snow is melting. spring is here.
interAction(s), April 2013

 

InterAction(s) is a project that constantly evolves, for me it does not end. At the moment I am putting together all the material to create curator’s notes – a book of notes and images that have played a role in the project. A more formal book, one more like an exhibition catalogue is also planned for the future.

 

 

Overall interAction(s) received a very positive response.

Some, very few, did not understand the concept but were willing to ask and engage in dialogue. For most, the constantly changing visuals were highly interesting.

Happy to receive more feedback on l.k.wilson@dundee.ac.uk

 

I would like to carry on as the curator for interAction(s) in the Matthew Cabinet.

I am writing a proposal for an Open Call for artists (students or graduates) to submit proposals for a visual dialogue in the Matthew Cabinet to take place early in Semester 1, September/October 2013. I am happy to select two artist for interAction(s)2 or even involve one or both artists from the previous interAction(s) to express their opinion and get involved in the selection.

Wednesday, 10 April 2013

STUDENT CURATORIAL TEAM/// Seminar

On Friday 5th April some of the Student Curatorial Team gathered in the Cooper Gallery to share their reflections on the exciting projects they have developed over the course of the year.

Morgan Cahn, who also attended, took these photographs for us.









Monday, 18 March 2013

Notes on Printed Matter and the power of networking.


As Printed Matter comes to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to reflect and talk a little about the project. The Cooper Gallery Program provides a platform for budding student curators such as myself to explore and act upon artistic interests. Anne D'Harnoncourt, director of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, described curators as 'enablers, if you will, as being crazy about art and they want to share their being crazy about art with other people... I think of curators as opening people's eyes to the pleasure of art, to the strength of art, to the subersiveness of art, whatever it is' (D'Harnoncourt 2011). I wouldn't state this definition as absolute. But in the context of Printed Matter I would say this notion comes very close to how I considered myself in relation to the project. I have a passion for the widening position of print within contemporary culture. I hope that by bringing together such a wonderful variety of artists who work closely with print, that the exhibition has contributed to the discourse surrounding print and print process. 






The idea began with an open call inviting artists to propose a work or series of works surrounding the theme Printed Matter/Print Process. I networked the open call across the country and abroad and received an amazing response. Printed Matter was created to explore the physicality of print yet the artistic correspondence and planning exists almost entirely online. I hope that the project emphasises the power of new media and virtual networking. We ran a virtual platform (http://printandprocess.wordpress.com/) for the contributing artists to use however they felt appropriate for the project. I have learnt a great deal from Printed Matter about planning a curatorial project. As I come ever closer to graduation... I encourage anyone reading this with an interest in curatorial practice to get involved with the Cooper Gallery Program as I know I will miss it!
Sean Scott.

Obrist, U. (2011) A Brief History of Curating. Zurich:JRP Ringier.   

interAction(s) Week 2

11th - 15th March


Artist B



Artist A



 Artist B



Artist A



Curator Intervenes





Artist B


Sunday, 10 March 2013

interAction(s)

Week 4 - 10 March
 
Artist A:
Thirty-four on rings and he knew what he was doing.


 
Artist B:
 
 
 
 
Artist A:
Walking in a exaggerated manner around the perimeter of a square.
 
 
The Curator:
A spontaneous decision was to 'interact' and join the two artworks with a red ribbon...
 
 
 
 
 
 
Artist B:
 
 
 
 
 
Artist A:
But not necessarily. Think outside of it.
She paints like Gauguin by the way.