Installations

Wednesday 31 August 2011

Less is less and more is more...?

There are several conflicting maxims in life, that I often consider, when reflecting on the levels of effort, time and quantity in relation to the success of an art practice.  With regards to presentation and content, we are often  told - 'Less is More'.  To achieve development through production - 'Practice makes Perfect'.  And the ultimate, undoubtable, recipe for achievement; which was embedded in my psyche by a sign above my school teachers door, which promised and preached that  - 'Success is 10 per cent inspiration, and 90 per cent perspiration'.

I went to see a solo show at the end of July 2011, 'Bower' by Jason Kerley at the Toilet Gallery in Kingston Upon Thames, which made me question notions of effort and quantity when presenting work. 

The Toilet Gallery is a disused public space, that has exhibited small shows since 2006, and the programme is currently curated by Tristan Rogers, Kate Renwick and Adam Lewis-Jacob.Jason Kerley, a multidisciplinary artist and illustrator, presented/ curated an installation of objects, artworks and ephemera around the small space, with a sound installation in the back gallery space that emitted an overwhelming drone.  Kerley presented all the objects that we hold onto in our various drawers, boxes and bags; pieces of paper and tickets that we like for a whimsical reason and then have difficulty letting go of. The objects were held together by drawing and painting, careful placement within a three dimensional collage.  The result was a collection of imagery and kind of wonderkammer that is both intriguing and suffocating.  The everyday throwaway nature of the objects drew in viewers closer to read the text, so that we engage longer with the work.  The collections of objects around the space sometimes seemed to be driven by colour co-ordination or some other kind of personal grouping.  'Artwork' within frames was hung without cohesion.

'Bower', Toilet Gallery, July 2011



'Bower', Toilet Gallery, July 2011

The sense that the objects are cluttering ephemera, is ignited again by the artists post exhibition practice of mailing parts of the exhibition to visitors, if they hand write their address upon one of the assorted envelopes at the back of the space.  Through this process, the items can be released with a new sense of purpose or recylced identity.

I discussed the presentation of the work with the artist.  Kerley said, "Usually I work in post-minimalist, gestural style sculpture.  I came to do the installation, with a whole load of objects, and just kept on going".  It seems that Kerley kept on going, giving MORE time, MORE effort and MORE in the presentation.  Quite adverse to the post minimalist philosophy of considered and minimised visuals and forms, within which he usually works (http://www.jasonkerley.co.uk/), Kerley's previous work is disguised through the maxim of 'less is more' through gestural and minimalist sculpture. 

'Bower', Toilet Gallery, July 2011

'Bower', Toilet Gallery, July 2011



I am left pondering several questions -

How did Kerley find himself following another maxim for his presentation, that emphasised continued, sustained effort, and quantity?

Did this approach benefit his practice and the finish of the work?

Will he continue working in this chaotic, layered, expressive style?

Do we focus more when there is less physical work, or do more objects create more opportunity for response and interpretation?

I can emphasise with these conundrums.  So much of my practice, decision making, when creating my own work, is hung on delicate decision making. Do I include that piece of work in the show? Does it lower the bar of the other works? When do I finish this drawing? When do I stop working on this proposal? When is enough work and effort to ensure success?....

These maxims guide me, but sometimes, it is difficult to know when to trust your judgement, and more often than note there are no guidelines.

Monday 29 August 2011

Installing the exhibition at CHRC....

I am currently in the process of installing my solo show at the Constance Howard Research Centre at Goldsmiths College, London.  You can read more about this on my artists talking blog, here - http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/1266895.

Please read below the press release for the exhibition which opens on the 6th September 2011 and runs until the 6th October 2011.

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'REDIRECTION and NETWORK TIMEOUT' is a solo exhibition by Jenny Steele at the Constance Howard Centre, Goldsmiths, from the 6th September until 6th October 2011. Jenny Steele will showcase works from her recent research residency at the 501 Artspace, Chongqing, China, for the first time to a UK audience. Steele's project at 501 Artspace (1st June- 12th July 2011) researched into how locals navigate physical and digital space, particularly exploring issues of governmental censorship and control. She also investigated how ancient Ming Dynasty walled city layouts reflected the current hierarchical control imposed online by the government of the People’s Republic of China, continuing to control inhabitant’s movements in both digital and physical space.




Within the PRC, Western social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Blogger, YouTube and Posterous are banned, as well as numerous sites that are deemed with content that is sexual, provocative or challenging the PRC government. When a user tries to access these sites, they are redirected to a previous page, or a screen flashes up that tells the ‘netizen’ that the network has 'timed out'. Subsequently, Chinese users are kept separate from a large majority of the supposedly libertarian internet, and they have set up their own versions of social networking sites for Fanfou (Twitter), Renren (Facebook) and QQ (Twitter, Facebook and MSN hybrid). The aforementioned networks are also governed by PRC officials, removing posts and users that are inappropriate. This process of 'redirection and network timeout' divides PRC online users, from all other international users, reflecting the countries historical approach to town planning that controls movement. Through drawing, wood block printmaking, and site specific installations in Chongqing, Jenny Steele sought to map out and chart movements, and redirection, in physical and digital space, by referencing digital interfaces, historical architecture and town planning.



For this exhibition at the CHRC, Jenny Steele presents drawings and woodblock prints, also displaying photographs of site-specific installations, and an architectural model of her installation, 'Attempts to enter the Forbidden City'. The project 'REDIRECTION and NETWORK TIMEOUT', at 501 Artspace, Chongqing, was organised in association with the Chinese Arts Centre, Manchester, and funded by Grants for the Arts, Arts Council England.



Jenny Steele is an artist, researcher, lecturer, and Goldsmiths alumni (MFA Textiles 2007). She has exhibited widely in the UK, as well as within China, Japan and USA. Upcoming events include a presentation at RE-WIRE Conference at FACT, Liverpool (28th Sept 2011), and MULTIPLE OCCUPANCY, a 3-person exhibition at Hatch Space, London (19th- 29th October 2011). Jenny Steele is currently based at Rogue Studios, Manchester.



‘REDIRECTION and NETWORK TIMEOUT’ opens at the Constance Howard Research Centre on the 6th September 2011 and runs until the 6th October 2011.



Please note, the centre is only open Tuesdays and Thursdays only, from 10.00am- 4.30pm.



Constance Howard Centre for Textiles

Goldsmiths, University of London

Deptford Town Hall Building (Basement)

New Cross Road, London

SE14 6AF

Telephone: +44(0)20 7717 2210


For further information on the project, please visit the 'REDIRECTION and NETWORK TIMEOUT' a-n Artists Talking blog - www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/1266895.


For press enquiries, and any other queries, please contact - jennysteelelondon@gmail.com.


http://www.jennysteele.co.uk/





Friday 5 August 2011

Website updated -phew....

I have re-jigged my website with new work from China, so check it out when you get a chance.... http://www.jennysteele.co.uk/.  Have a great weekend...

Xiaonei Map, woodblock print on paper, 2010