|
connecting
principle |
|
Encompassing performance, sound, installation, video, interventions and web-based media, connecting principle featured time-based work by over 20 artists and musicians and took place continuously over 48 hours in and around the Fine Art Department of Newcastle University. In addition to the scheduled works, the programme included an opening talk by Richard Grayson, Artist & Curator of the 2002 Sydney Biennale, video screenings, unannounced events and informal presentations and conversations in the Lounge with guests such as Alec Finlay, currently Artist and Publisher in Residence at Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art and Sophie Cameron of New Work Network. Timed to coincide with Platform 00000001, connecting principle presented the work of established practitioners alongside those of younger artists. At the heart of proceedings was the Lounge, a socially discursive space where publications and internet access provided the means to further explore the works presented, as well as the practice of the artists and contributing guests, at a different pace. This space proved to be a vital focus where regional and national visitors, students, colleagues and artists came together for informal discussion in an atmosphere that was relaxed but critically attuned. connecting
principle was initiated by AHRB Fellow Monica Ross in discussion
with AHRB Fellows David Cunningham and Jorn Ebner, Henry Moore Fellow
Joel Fisher and Baltic Professor Susan Hiller. Michelle Hirschhorn,
a freelance curator based in Newcastle who has been centrally involved
in developing Live Arts work in the Northern Arts region, was invited
to bring her extensive experience of related practice to the curation
of the project and its contextualisation. Works were contributed by an art historian, sculptors, painters & musicians, whilst on-line work was integrated with performance, durational and continuing projects. A number of projects were piloted within this experimental framework. Other long term projects were further developed, including Suzy Treister's extensive research project: Golem Loew- Artificial Life, David Cunningham's Listening Room and Joel Fisher's The Generation Sequences. A number of works also initiated new collaborations; Jorn Ebner and Volker Eichelmann's 8b Columbia Rd to 37a Cecilia Rd - 37a Cecilia Rd to 8b Columbia Rd, Wolfgang Weileder's House, a labour-intensive project executed in collaboration with fine art, architecture and bricklaying students over 24 hours and Principal Connections by Matthew Sansom, an ambitious vocal performance developed and presented with students and music colleagues. Several works, such as Running Machine by Lisa Watts, Speaking Without Words by Tony Halliday, and in no particular order! By Sneha Solanki, radically addressed questions of how pedagogical knowledge is structured and acted out, on or by, the physical body. Presenting connecting principle within an educational environment advantaged an experimental, research-based approach to presenting artworks, thus extending the encounter into that of an event produced and continuing in time, drawing attention to the different time based processes of thought and production within which artists engage and present their work. From a drawing initiated by Roxy Walsh & produced collectively over several days, to the delicately timed performance structure of Fiona Wright's one to one work, softly, stolen/dream crawl, to the transformations and accumulations of durational pieces such as Monica Ross' connectionscript, Sneha Solanki's in no particular order, and Foriegn Investment's The morning after a revolution. Students also made an invaluable contribution as assistants by directly interfacing with the public on behalf of the project. A web based element was an integral aspect of the project from the outset and this is a key component of several works. For the event, the connecting principle website is designed by Sneha Solanki. The site provides both specific information about the event and acts as a portal to related artists, events and research sites. The website continues to develop as part of the activities of the connecting principle research group at Newcastle - so please visit the site for further information on both the October event and those of continuing and future activities. Michelle Hirschhorn
/Monica Ross The above text
is published in live art magazine new
work network, pages 14,15, |
 |
