Newcastle University

Amanda Beech makes artworks, writes and collaborates on curatorial projects. Her research looks to the possibilities of non-foundationalist, new realist critique as proposed by art in the context of a politics of contingency. Within this, her work explores the relationship between democracy and violence in neo-liberalism by scrutinising the forceful rhetoric within narratives of freedom, which play out in philosophy, politics, literature and popular culture.

She is a member of the steering committee for The Political Currency of Art Research Group and a Co-Director of the Curating Video Research Group; both are intercollegiate collaborations. She is Course Director MA Critical Writing Curatorial Practice, Chelsea College of Art, UAL. Recent solo projects in 2008-9 include Statecraft, shown at the Temple of Utopias, Harlow, Essex, and Sanity Assassin, solo exhibit at Spike Island 2010. Group shows include, Greetings Comrades, the Image has now changed its status, Brunswick Arts Centre, Melbourne, Australia, and Arnolfini Gallery. Bristol, curated by Bridget Crone, 2009-10; Let us Pray For Those Now Residing in the Designated Area, DNA Gallery, Berlin, trio exhibition with Roman Vasseur and Diann Bauer, 2009 and The Institute of Pyscholplasmics, Pump House Gallery, curated by Pil and Galia Kollectiv with publication 2008.

She is also editor and contributing author of Sanity Assassin, Urbanomic Press, 2010. Project Biennale, 2009 and Episode, Pleasure and Persuasion in Lens-based Media, Artwords, 2008 (with convened conference of the same name held at Tate Britain, 2008) and has contributed to the various arts journals, publications and exhibition catalogues, most recent of these, the essay “Body Count” in collaboration with Robin Mackay, in Parallax, 2010.