Unpopular Culture: Grayson Perry curates at Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Taking advantage of my friend’s car, I escaped the city this weekend to visit the unique environment of Yorkshire Sculpture Park. It’s a fantastic summer day out with the country’s best permanent collection from the movers and shakers of modernism such as Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth, to contemporary giants of sculpture Anthony Gormley and Winter/Hörbelt. These are sculptures which belong in the open air, and it’s so rare to see them in such a setting – weathered by the elements in a way that only serves to enhance their beauty.

But that’s for another blog, I’d wanted to stop by the Sculpture Park to catch the new indoor exhibition, Unpopular Culture, after interviewing its curator, Grayson Perry earlier in July. Perry’s reputation precedes him, but what is special about his work as a curator is how irrelevant much of the preoccupations on Perry as an artist seem to be. Interviewing Perry, it is clear that he is attracted to the quieter side of art, the unassuming Britishness which makes up our national heritage and jars discordantly with the shouty sensationalism of contemporary art

The works on show question our view of the past and the invert the rose-tinted nostalgia of the good old days. With works including photography, painting and sculpture, Perry has included his own thoughts on many of the pieces and explains their appeal from among the Art Council’s extensive collection of home-grown art. Paintings such as Carel Weight’s The World We Live In, are typical of their time – kitchen sink representational art that highlights the hardships of a very particular moment in South London. Before gentrification, willowy figures amble aimlessly in a windswept yard, they are swayed by the wind in a manner that alludes to feelings of worthlessness and worklessness during the deep recession of the 1970s.

Photographical studies of the long-term unemployed in Newcastle Upon Tyne, and Martin Parr’s distinctive record of British grit, accompany the paintings and sculptures and visitors are invited to lounge in easy chairs and browse a collection of books on the period captured, and the artists involved. Perry himself has created two new works for the exhibition, one of which, Queen’s Bitter, showcases his trademark craftsmanship with an acerbic wit, and highlights that Perry is not as removed from the showmanship of contemporary art as he’d like us to believe, daubing the image of his alter ego, Claire, over the ceramic alongside further representations of our green and pleasant land. Unpopular Culture makes us aware of the flipside of British nostalgia – the grey times of unemployment and want that tempered the post-war UK. Perry notes: “Somehow people feel that they’re working towards a golden moment when everything will be all right. That doesn’t exist and people need to be reminded that life is a work in progress and there isn’t any solution at the end of it.” It’s a fascinating exhibition, expertly collected by one of British art’s leading figures in an effort to criticise itself.

There’s a full feature on Unpopular Culture, as well as the accompanying film screenings from the British Film Institute archive, Nostalgia for the Bad Times, in the new issue of Aesthetica out now – available at WH Smith, Borders and selected newsagents. Or click here to order your copy now

[Image credits: Henry Moore, Bryan Kneale, Carel Weight]

REVEALED: THE BEST OF MANCHESTER 2009

With over 250 entries and a judging panel that includes some of the biggest names in British art, music and fashion, Urbis has announced the winners of this year’s Best of Manchester Awards.

We all love Manchester, there’s something of a northern cool about this place, look at its history with music – Joy Division, New Order, Happy Mondays, Stone Roses, Oasis, Badly Drawn Boy – need I say more? There’s also the uber cool Afflecks Palace and a host of museums and galleries, as well as the Manchester International Festival. You’ve got to admit, there’s something special about Manchester.


The Best of Manchester Awards, organised by Urbis, celebrate innovation in art, music and fashion. Open to anyone that lives or works in Manchester, candidates this year stood a chance of having their work judged by a panel of industry experts that included Peter Saville, Wayne Hemingway, the Turner Prize winning artist, Jeremy Deller, Tim Marlow (White Cube, London), Miranda Sawyer, Yvette Livesey (In The City) and Luke Bainbridge (Observer Music Monthly). Together, the panel of judges selected just three winners:

THE WINNER OF THE BEST OF MANCHESTER ART AWARD 2009 IS OWL PROJECT.

Owl Project is an art collective comprised of three artists: Simon Blackmore, Antony Hall and Steve Symons. Drawing on a wide range of influences and interests – including woodwork, hobby-style electronics and open source software - Owl Project has produced a range of semi-sculptural musical instruments that have been exhibited across Europe and premiered at events such as the Sonic Arts Network EXPO, Lovebytes and Futuresonic. These portable ‘rustic’ instruments, with names such as the iLog, m-Log and the Log1k, are working digital instruments that mimic popular handheld gadgets such as the ubiquitous iPod. The only difference is that Owl Project’s instruments are crafted from simple, untreated pieces of wood.



The Log1k was Owl Project’s first such foray into art, electronics and woodwork. ‘There was something about the image of the performer standing behind a log that made us laugh,’ said the collective, describing an artwork created at a time when many musicians were using laptops during live performances. ‘But it also felt really natural to be working with the raw materials of wood, batteries and switches.’ The Log1k evolved from pastiche to an instrument capable of producing complex polyrhythms, and drew interest from musicians, designers and software developers. ‘It stands in resistance to music made within the rigid structures of commercial audio software,’ said the collective.


THE JOINT WINNERS OF THE BEST OF MANCHESTER MUSIC AWARD 2009 IS JAYNE COMPTON AND MAX MORAN

For the first time, the Best of Manchester judges have decided to award a joint first place in the music category. This decision reflects the very high standard of entries, and the complimentary, but equally impressive, skills of both winners.

Jayne Compton was selected by the judges because of a diverse portfolio of work that includes the long-running experimental club night, Club Brenda, ‘a genuinely uncompromising underground art happening’, according to Compton, which blends live music, art and performance. Compton also won praise for her Switchflicker Records label and an upcoming Arts Council book, Strange Trees (which incidentally features illustration from BOMA art nominee, Rachel Goodyear). ‘Established in 2000, Switchflicker has given voice to some of Manchester’s most esoteric performers, such as Divine David and Chloe Poems, whilst remaining tuned into new pop talent, including 2008’s surprise hit, the Ting Tings, who launched their career at the label,’ said Compton. Compton’s current signing, Magic Arm, is fast becoming one of the most talked about acts in the country, while Compton herself says, ‘We bring Manchester’s contemporary art scene together with the underground music scene – following in Manchester’s punk/art tradition.’


Max Moran was selected by the judges for an energetic portfolio of work that includes the video-based music blog, ThisTownSounds.com, his sell-out club night, Hot Club, its laid back sister session, Hat Club and, more recently, Moran’s burgeoning record label, Hit Club. Running since 2007, ThisTownSounds has premiered White Lies’ first ever filmed interview, as well as early performances from the likes of Florence & The Machine. Moran won particular praise for his entrepreneurial attitude and his contribution to the music scene in Manchester as a whole. As well as managing much of the filming and writing for his blog, Moran also puts on club nights, handles their promotion, runs a weekly Friday night session at Trof in Fallowfield and is in the early stages of setting up a record label. ‘Hot Club has been constantly involved in the evolution of the Manchester music scene,’ said Moran, ‘whether it be its involvement with new venues such as Blink, The Chapel, Redrum and The Corner or its support of new local bands and artists.’

THE WINNER OF THE BEST OF MANCHESTER FASHION AWARD 2009 IS HOLLY RUSSELL

Holly Russell is an alumnus of Manchester School of Art whose shimmering, stunning graduate collection features hundreds of hand-sewn scarab beetle wings. Russell has also collaborated with a metal worker to incorporate aluminium into her designs and an astronomer to create embellished digital prints. ‘Working with unusual materials I am able to create interesting surface textures, which helps make my designs very bold and distinctive,’ said Russell. ‘I do not conform to creating generic clothing…I prefer to look at the body almost as a plinth to display beautiful designs and creations. When worn, I consider my garments as works of art that come to life.’ Hugely ambitious but with a realistic approach to the fashion industry, Russell has already taken part in a placement at the independent label, Aminaka Wilmont and, later this year, hopes to take up an MA in Fashion Womenswear at the renowned Royal College of Art.

Each category winner received £2,000, as well as a 12-month professional development package - designed to help them kick-start their career with the kind of contacts and professional development that money can’t buy. It’s well worth a visit, because, based on the stellar work of these individuals, I think we’ll be seeing much more of them in the future.

The Best of Manchester exhibition runs until 20 September.

www.urbis.org.uk

Photography is dead - The International Photographic Review

A series of events to mark the 10th anniversary of the International Photographic Review will be unveiled from 30th July – 2nd August 2009.


The International Photographic Review, organised by Rhubarb Rhubarb celebrates its 10th anniversary this year by posing the provocative statement Photography is dead…Rhubarb has combined retrospectives with up and coming photographers, plus such renowned names as Nadav Kander, to create a high profile gathering of contemporary photographic talent and public participation, promoting a real appreciation of how photography can and does influence our lives.

It’s rather interesting that Rhubarb Rhubarb have organised, at Aesthetica we’ve been focusing on photography in all is wonderful guises from the venerable Rankin(special feature on Rankin Live in the August issue) to our forthcoming feature on Martin Parr (Oct issue). Also we have our Aesthetica Creative Works Competition running at the moment, which is attracting some very high profile entries from around the world. Last year’s winner was Jacquelyn Noelle Unpinco, a very young talented photographer.



40 of the most acclaimed international gallerists, photographic publishers and agents arrive in Birmingham as the guests of the International Photographic Review and for three days meet aspiring photographers from all over the world. This year’s experts include: Alison Nordstrom – Curator of Photographs, George Eastman House, Rochester, USA; Alasdair Foster, Director, Australian Centre for Photography, Sydney; Natalie Matutschovsky, Photo Editor – New Yorker; Stephen Mayes, CEO VII Photo Agency, New York; Maarten Schilt, Mets & Schilt Publishers/LUX Photo Gallery, NL, and Chris Littlewood, Curator of Photographs, Flowers Gallery, London.



Rhonda Wilson, Creative Director of Rhubarb-Rhubarb, said: “Generosity of spirit, avid enthusiasm, collective will, a little risk and the collaboration of a very eclectic private and public partnership in 2009 have all come together to create what we think is our most inspiring event of the last ten years. At a time when traditional photography is disappearing, the digital is being embraced by those outside the professional sector, and fine art photo artists are producing amazing work at an increasingly younger age, we are in the most fascinating, complex and contradictory time for photography, its makers, and for those who regard it for pleasure or economics. We hope that the programme inspires and ignites a passion in those who come and join us.”



Photography is dead… presents an eclectic collection of photographic shows, images to buy, debates to attend and events to visit, all with the aim for the public to consider, debate and enjoy the state of photographic art in the contemporary world.






International Photographic Review events:

Portfolio Promenade
Radisson Hotel, Birmingham City Centre
Saturday 1st August, 8.30pm-11pm
Free but tickets must be booked in advance
This event provides collectors, and would be collectors, an opportunity to view or buy the very best in international fine art photography as well as a chance to engage with artists and their images from around the world.


I’m one of Obama’s People
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
Saturday 25th July – 11am-4pm and Sunday 26th July – 1pm-4pm.
Free but please call ahead to book slot on 0121 773 7889
Participants can be photographed as one of Obama’s Administration Team, inspired by the hugely successful show at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery Obama’s People by Nadav Kander. Visitors are asked to make up their title and bring props to represent the fictional role. Part of the Cultural Olympiad Open Weekend this Rhubarb Rhubarb event offers ten minute slots for each portrait, maximum of three people in each.

Photography is dead…the show
Three White Walls Gallery
30th July – 2nd August 2009
Free
Ten year retrospective show at in the city’s Mailbox centre, brings together images by Andy Lock, Antony Crossfield, Astrid Kruse Jensen, Chino Otsuka, Elaine Duigenan, Ferit Kuyas, Han Sungpil, Michael Lundgren, Penny Klepuszewska, Simon Roberts, Stuart Whipps, Toby Smith – all chosen by international curators and publishers from their visits to the Rhubarb International Review over the last decade.

Photography is Dead…the debate
Radisson Hotel, Birmingham City Centre
Thursday 30th July, 1pm
Call Rhubarb on 0121 773 7889
Tickets £15
Chaired by Stephen Mayes, Image Future Forecaster and CEO of VII Photo Agency, who will be joined by Alison Nordstrom, Curator of Photographs at George Eastman House, Rochester, USA; Jon Levy , publisher, Foto8, London; MaryAnn Camilleri, Magenta Publishing for the Arts, Toronto; John Cross, Peter Bailey Company,
Photographer & Digital Artist Agents, London; Brian Griffin, photographer extraordinaire, London.

Hungry
Wolverhampton Art Gallery
Show runs until 29 Aug 09
Monday to Saturdays 10-5pm. Closed Bank Holidays.
Free
‘Hungry’ satisfies those looking for new and upcoming photographic talent. The result of the Arts Council England/Rhubarb New Bursary Awards, the winners were chosen from 148 entries by an esteemed panel of curators. The award's show is surprisingly even in both concept and creativity – proving that photographers are peaking with their practices at an increasingly younger age. The Jackson Twins, Lucinda Chua, Dominic Hawgood, Nicky Walsh, Moira Lovell, Peter Ainsworth, Elizabeth Hingley, Toby De Silva, Chris Shaw and Colin Gray.

Observance
St Martins Church in the Bullring
14th July – 9th August 2009
Monday to Saturday: 10am - 4.30pm, Sunday: 10am - 7.30pm
Free
Nicola Dove presents ‘Observance’, a fascinating portrait study of how photography can capture faith. Using a fifteen second exposure and getting her sitters, who include Ela Ghandi (Ghandi’s granddaughter), Yonah Metzger (Chief Rabbi of Israel), and His Holiness Karmapa Trinlay Thaye Dorje (Head of the Karma Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism), to look into the lens, we are prompted to ask just who is being looked at and by whom....

Hereford College of Arts Graduate Show
Hereford College of Arts
31st July – 2nd August
8.00 – 24.00
Free
Hereford College of Arts Photographic Degree Students profile their work in a show reel on site in the lounge at Aston Business School.

For further details visit www.rhubarb-rhubarb.net

Image credits
Picture 1
Artist - © Antony Crossfield
Title of photograph - Inversion
Body of work - God's Eye View
From - Photography is Dead ...
Rhubarb-Rhubarb 2009

Picture 2
Artist @Jaskson Twins
Title of photograph - The Echo of Footfalls heightened her Flourishing Hysteria
From - Hungry
Rhubarb-Rhubarb 2009

Picture 3 Artist - © Liz Hingley
Title of photograph - The Adina's Church Hat
Body of work - Under Gods
From - Hungry
Rhubarb-Rhubarb 2009

Picture 5
Artist - © Christopher Privett
Title - Seaside View
Body of work - Seaside Towns, Barry Island
From - Hereford college show-reel
Rhubarb-Rhubarb 2009