2004 Projects
Surasi Kusolwong
Thai artist Surasi Kusolwong is one of the leading artists to emerge from the extension of the contemporary art field beyond its Western boundaries over the last 10 years. His work draws on Thai and Western art traditions, as recent cultural and social changes in both situations and bears a close relationship to western modernism.
Kusolwong draws on
a stock of European and North American modernist aesthetics in ways that
could be interpreted as homage to western success and appears to be done
in a spirit of celebration, translating the legacy of the Western art
canon into his own language. He is also deeply concerned with the experience
of the visitor, seeking a different kind of engagement than the normally
passive consumption of images in a museum. Another important element of
his work is the act of hospitality, inspired by the mixing of European
and Asian cultural expectation.
Surasi Kusolwong is one of the key artists in the National Sculpture Factory’s
Cork Caucus project for 2005. His Lecture was preceded by a short
talk by Charles Esche, a Curator for Cork Caucus, who outlined the
curatorial strategies employed in his curatorial work and in Cork Caucus.
Granary Theatre
6pm Friday November 3
Maria Eichhorn
Maria Eichhorn lives and works in Berlin. Much of her work involves collaborating
with others, often groups of people. Her work often addresses social and
political issues and utilises the gathering of information and the creation
of a space for dialogue and information sharing.
Maria Eichhorn will be a featured artist in Cork Caucus, the NSF’s
major Cork 2005 project.
“Their, (the visitors) autonomy should be accepted. I always attempt
to leave them the freedom to decide whether they want to relate actively
or passively to my works … I don’t want to create an exceptional
situation” Maria Eichhorn
Recent and Current exhibitions include:
16 Factures, CASM, Barcelona 2004, Liverpool Biennial 2004, Liverpool
(Current), 1st International Biennale, Lodz (Current), 3rd Berlin Biennial
for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2004.
The Open City, Kokerei Zollverein | Zeitgenössische Kunst und Kritik,
Essen 2003
Adorno, Frankfurter Kunstverein, Frankfurt/Main 2003, Prohibited Imports,
Masataka Hayakawa Gallery, Tokyo.
Maria Eichhorn spoke about her recent work and the issues that underpin
it
The Crawford Gallery Lecture Theatre, Emmet Place, Cork
6pm, Thursday 25 November 2004
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Julian Stallabrass
‘Art Incorporated’
Julian Stallabrass is one of Britain’s foremost writers on contemporary
art. He is recognised as a key interpreter of contemporary culture, establishing
this position through a series of books, articles and catalogue essays
dealing with issues such the influence of the Internet on arts practice
and art markets, the affects of globalisation and trans-national capitalism
on art, and the rise of the ‘star’ artist syndrome in Britain
in the nineties. Key works by Stallabrass include: 'Internet Art': The Online
Clash of Culture and Commerce', 'Art Now - Art and Money Online', 'Shopping
- A Century of Art and Culture' and 'High Art Lite - British Art in the
1990s', which was the first comprehensive critical analysis of the
work of the yBA (young British) artists who arose during the nineties
out of Goldsmith’s College and were strongly supported by collector
Charles Saatchi. This book was described as “inflammatory” at
the time of its publication and is regarded as a standard text in any
consideration of the yBA phenomenon. His various other publications have
also reflected his awareness of how artists have embraced the tools and
forms of mass culture to develop new work and a new relationship with
both art history, as well as formulating a new image of the place of the
artist within contemporary culture.
Continuing the theme of issues of globalisation and mass culture, and
the place of contemporary art within that, in October 2004, Stallabrass
recently published his latest book, 'Art Incorporated'. His Lecture addressed the issues considered in this book. Julian Stallabrass currently
lectures at the Courtauld Institute in London.
Crawford Municipal Gallery Lecture Theatre, Emmet Place, Cork
6pm, 21 October, 2004
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Michael Landy In Conversation with Mick Wilson
‘Yes we’re mad - no, we’re not joking’
Michael Landy was born in London in 1963, where he continues to live and
work. He studied at Loughborough College of Art and Goldsmiths College,
London. He participated in the group exhibition 'Freeze' (1988), subsequently
becoming a key figure in the generation of British artists whose work
grew in prominence throughout the 1990’s. His major works include
'Break Down' (1991), in which he meticulously catalogued and then systematically
destroyed and recycled all of his possessions (including artworks by Tracey Emin and Damien Hirst),
'Scrapheap Services' (1995) – a room-sized
installation satirising sanitised society, and a set of etchings of weeds
entitled Nourishment. His most recent work, 'Semi-detached' (2004), an installation
at the Tate’s Duveen Galleries, recreated his parents’ house
with videos depicting the current life of his ex-miner father, laid off
after an industrial accident in 1977. It continues Landy’s exploration
of the ways in which contemporary society regards, validates and locates
the individual, an ongoing thread in most of Landy’s work.
Crawford Municipal Gallery Lecture Theatre, Emmet Place, Cork
6pm, 29 September, 2004
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A Public Conversation with Elia Zenghelis
Renowned Architect and Teacher Elia Zenghelis will speak as part
of the National Sculpture Factory’s 2004 Lecture series. Zenghelis
was a founder of OMA with Rem Koolhaas. In 1987 he established Gigantes
Zenghelis Architects in Athens and Brussels with Eleni Gigantes. He has
taught at the Berlage institute for more than ten years and also has been
visiting Professor at Düsseldorf Academy of Fine Arts and has taught
at Princeton, EPFL, Lausanne the ETH in Zürich and currently at the
Accademia di Archittetura in Mendrisio. He was awarded the RIBA Annie
Spink Award for outstanding contribution to architectural education in
2001. His current practice includes the Flemish Administration Centre
in Leuven and other work in Belgium, the Netherlands and Albania.
“He is one of the few who has the capacity and inspiration to
convey concepts, issues and practical ideas; he has the technique to unlock
a world of architectural experimentation … a quality I have rarely
seen in others” Zaha Hadid
A public conversation with Elia Zenghelis
1pm – 2.15pm, July 14, Granary Theatre
Elia Zenghelis engaged in conversation with architect John Tuomey,
alongside invited guests; architect and critic Shane O’Toole, artist
Corban Walker, poet Tom McCarthy and architects Sean O’Laoire and
Tom de Paor. Venue: Upstairs Meeting Room, Granary Theatre, Dyke Parade,
Mardyke, Cork, Note: Audience Limit - 50)
Lecture by Elia Zenghelis
6:30pm, July 14, Granary Theatre
Elia Zenghelis’ lecture was entitled ‘Architecture and Territory’
and was presented at the Granary Theatre, Cork, at 6.30 pm on July 14.
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David Toop Lecture
David Toop is a musician, curator of sound exhibitions and an important
writer in the field of contemporary music and sound art. His solo albums
include: 'Screen Ceremonies', 'Pink Noir', 'Spirit World', 'Museum of Fruit' and
'Hot Pants Idol'. His first album, 'New and Rediscovered Musical Instruments',
was released on Brain Eno’s ‘Obscure’ label. He has curated
five acclaimed compilations for Virgin records. He has performed on Top
of the Pops with the Flying Lizards and worked with musicians such as
Brian Eno, John Zorn, John Hassell, Max Eastley, Derek Bailey, Scanner
and Akio Suzuki.
David Toop has also composed the soundtrack for 'Acqua Matrix' which
closed every night of Lisbon Expo’98, in 2000 he exhibited the sound
installation 'Dreaming of Inscription on Skin' and in 2002 his 'Ocean Volumes'
installation was exhibited in the WAV Festival in Bruges. He curated Sonic
Boom, the UK’s largest ever exhibition of sound art, displayed at
the Hayward Gallery, London in 2000.
He has written for many major music publications, newspapers and journals
and has published four books, currently translated into six languages;
'Rap Attack', 'Ocean of Sound', 'Exotica', (Winner of the 21st annual American
Books awards 2000), and Haunted Weather-Music, Silence and Memory, released
in May this year.
David Toop spoke about the issues covered in his recently-published book Haunted
Weather.
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Adam Page
Artist Adam Page works in collaboration with Eva Hertzsch. They develop
prototypes and systems with their work reflecting on the corporate strategies
and hierarchies that define today’s urban experience. Most of their
work is conceived for public space.
Hertzsch and Page use the corporate practice of hijacking forms belonging
to their opposition. They give low budget materials a big business finish.
What seems to be product placement is in fact a political attitude. They
occupy pubic space in competition with commercialism, in an attempt to
win back territory for individual expression and DIY.
Page will report on various projects and interventions, including their
'INCORPORATED CITIZENS' FUTURES' (ICF)-(2001) consultancy programme
for cities, like Cork, planning crowd-pulling events. ICF seeks to ensure
that the benefit flows of an event are passed on directly, in cash, to
local people.
Projects like the 'EVENT-MANAGER© System' (2000) seek ways
of releasing the positive potential of areas commonly defined as urban
wastelands, proposing the use of redundant land as free venues. EVENT-MANAGER
is a giant balloon in the shape of a camcorder, flown above the wasteland.
A real CCTV camera attached to the balloon sends live surveillance
pictures to monitors on the ground. The resultant surveillance has more to
do with wind movement and the 'Spassgesellschaft' than control.
Triskel Arts Centre 6pm Tuesday April 27
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The National Sculpture Factory is generously supported by The Arts Council,
FÁS and the Cork City Council
Synergies and Signatures:
Collaboration, chaos and interdisciplinary arts practice
Saturday 6th November 2004
10am – 5pm
A one-day symposium at the Granary Theatre, Cork.
‘Interdisciplinary’ or ‘cross-disciplinary’ work in
arts practice has increased significantly over recent years, both in Ireland
and internationally. Artists collaborating with representatives from other
disciplines, other sectors and areas of expertise, as well as with other artforms, represent a growing mode of practice, which is now being examined
and promoted through formal educational courses.
“Art aims to change what we expect from it” - Seth Sieeglaub
Like many developments throughout history, what ‘interdisciplinary’,
(‘cross disciplinary’ or ‘transdisciplinary’) means
or seeks to mean, is widely disputed. Its motivations, the role of collaboration
within it, its hierarchies and authorities are all questionable, as are
the factors influencing its mediation and practice.
With cultural production moving further outside of traditional arts practice,
the urge to work outside of one’s experience / education, is increasingly
an attractive trajectory. This symposium will address all of these issues,
focussing on interdisciplinary work between artists and other disciplines
such as art/science/technology, as well as interdisciplinary work between
traditionally defined artforms.
This symposium was of interest to artists involved in collaborations
or working with other disciplines, artists working with non-art disciplines,
those practising on the fringes of cross or interdisciplinary work, students
and practitioners from a range of practices including theatre, dance,
technology and the sciences.
Speakers and Presenters
Jan Verwoert (Keynote)
Jan Verwoert lives in Hamburg and works as a freelance writer for frieze,
Springerin, Afterall and Camera Austria. He is a Sputnik (member of the
advisory board) of the Kunstverein Munich and guest professor of contemporary
art and theory at the Academy of Umeå.
half/angel is an arts and performance production company based
in Ireland and England. The company was formed in 1995 by Jools Gilson-Ellis
and Richard Povall and has developed a distinctive body of work characterised
by a poetic use of new and emerging technologies, through the long-term
interdisciplinary partnership of its co-directors.
Anna Hill is a practicing artist and is CEO of Space Synapse Ltd.
She completed her BA in Fine Art Sculpture at Saint Martins School of
Art in 1990 and later an MA in Fine Art Sculpture at the Royal College
of Art. She has been resident in Dublin Ireland for four years, working
as artist in residence at the Irish Museum of Modern Art and later at
Fire Station Artists Studios. She developed her ‘Space Synapse’
Project during this time following her MA thesis on the relationship of
Mind to Matter and quantum consciousness
Catherine Owens is an Irish multi media artist, living and working
in New York City. Her work is installation based, the installations originating
from drawings and ideas that evolve through sculpture, photography sound
and video. Owens has collaborated with the Irish Band U2, the American
group Kronos Quartet, and on a series of projects at Lincoln Center in
New York.
Fearghus O Conchuir is a choreographer, dancer and writer whose
work has been performed both nationally and internationally including
‘Tearmann’ (2003) and ‘An dá thrá’ (2004).
He has worked with a number of artists in other disciplines, and is currently
working with director Jason Byrne and composer Julie Feeney, on a project
called ‘Cosain Dearg’. He recently represented Ireland in Eurofuturoscope.
Daphne Wright is an artist who has exhibited widely both nationally
and internationally. Recent solo exhibitions include: ‘Croon’,
an interdisciplinary project commissioned by the National Sculpture Factory
and Meridian Theatre company (2004), ’Sires’ Frith Street Gallery,
London (2003/ 04), ‘Shine’, The Lowry Centre, Salford Quays
(2002), and ‘Where Do Broken Hearts Go?’, Douglas Hyde Gallery,
Dublin (2000).
Johnny Hanrahan is playwright and director. He is artistic director
of Meridian Theatre Company and has written and/or directed numerous pieces
for the Company. Recent Work includes ‘Croon’ (with sculptor
Daphne Wright), ‘Russian Tales’, ‘The River’, ‘The
Mistress of Silence’, and ‘Craving’ (Meridian), ‘Chair’
(Peacock Theatre), ‘The Fourth Wise Man’ and ‘The Pied
Piper’ (The Ark).
‘Synergies and Signatures’ will also feature a Video
screening of ACCUMULATOR by Andrew Stones (2003) A Document of the site-specific,
live video/audio event, commissioned by the National Sculpture Factory,
originally presented in full at NSF on 4,5,6, December 2003 and a live
performance by half/angel
“The way out is the way through” - William S Burroughs
The National Sculpture Factory is grateful to The Granary Theatre for
its generous assistance in presenting this seminar.
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Jennifer Walshe Commission
‘A Fyne Prospeckte: Jim and Christine Sheenan’s Chateau, Tamworth’
Jennifer Walshe was artist in residence at the National Sculpture
Factory in Cork during 2004. She was commissioned by the National
Sculpture Factory to compose
a new work for presentation at the National Sculpture Factory, working with Cork artists and students in a series of sound workshops
and presentations throughout 2004. Her residency culminated in a ‘concert’
evening within the Factory space at the National Sculpture Factory,
Friday, November 4, at 7pm. Works by John Cage, Alvin Lucier and Amnon Wolman
were presented
by Walshe and workshop participants, followed by the premiere of ‘A
Fyne Prospekte’ by Walsh, assisted by local sound artists, Danny
McCarthy, Mick O’Shea and Giordai O’Laoire.
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