MULTIPLE OCCUPANCY, 19th-29th October 2011, Hatch Space

‘Occupants Will Vary’ by Jenny Steele
2011 Pencil, pen and letter transfer on paper 120 x 260 cm

‘Schematic: Hatch Space 2011’ by Harriet Hill
2011 Felt, wire, expanding foam, paint 240 x 125 cm


MULTIPLE OCCUPANCY is a 2 person exhibition by Harriet Hill and Jenny Steele that explores the in-habitation and use of space within the built environment of the Faircharm Trading Estate and the Hatch Space studios themselves. MULTIPLE OCCUPANCY aims to record, reflect and celebrate the current activity in these mixed-use spaces within this heterogeneous community.

Jenny Steele exhibits a map, ‘Occupants Will Vary’, 2011, that charts movement and spacial use within the micro community of the Faircharm Trading Estate. For the past month, she has spent time questioning and observing the organisations and individuals that occupy this multi-functional block of units. The map ‘Occupants Will Vary’, communicates data regarding use of physical and digital space compiled through an online questionnaire, presenting a sample of potential usage at any one time. The work is informed by social anthropologist Timothy Ingold's research that highlights the static nature of maps, that are unrepresentative of physical in-habitation and movement.

Steele's practice considers our constant in-habitation of digital space by playing on metaphors of physical space, cartography, architecture and town planning. Through her multi disciplinary practice, she continually seeks ways in which to come to terms with the intangibility of the digital, and its clash with our embedded cognitive behaviour and cartesian perspectives. Steele is currently based at Rogue Studios, Manchester, and is the Artist in Residence at Manchester Metropolitan University for 2011-12. Steele is a graduate of Goldsmiths MFA (2007).

Harriet Hill has created ‘Schematic: Hatch Space 2011’ as a response to the microcosm of Hatch Space Studios. The idea of the central space which acts as both a self contained gallery for public communication and an expanded corridor; an interstice with doors leading off into the autonomous artists’ studios beyond. The fixed nature of exhibits in a gallery contrasts with the life and activity in an artist’s studio and the shifting nature of the creative process. Both are spaces for thought and provocation. Hill takes this idea and the physical structure of the space and works viscerally, using materials specific to her practice. Out of this a piece evolves which is then drawn out into the space. This sets up a dynamic that seeks to question the fundamental relationship between the viewer, the object and the space that contains and defines them.

Through her practice, Hill explores ideas around the conflict between autonomy and belonging and the fact that we are drawn to that which is more powerful than ourselves – physical, social, political, theistic. This manifests in her work, through the notion that a physical entity – object, material, structure, space – can simultaneously incite both desire and repulsion. Hill is based in London, and is also a graduate of Goldsmiths MFA (2007).

MULTIPLE OCCUPANCY: 19th- 29th October 2011, Open Wed- Sun12-6pmOpen Day Event – Saturday 22nd October 2011, 12pm -6pm
South London Art Map Last Fridays – Friday 28th October 2011, 6-9pm

Multiple Occupancy at Hatch Space, runs from 19th -29th October 2011

Harriet Hill and Jenny Steele

19th- 29th October 2011, Open Wed- Sun12-6pm

Open Day Event – Saturday 22nd October 2011, 12pm -6pm

South London Art Map Last Fridays – Friday 28th October 2011, 6-9pm


'MULTIPLE OCCUPANCY' is a 2 person exhibition by Harriet Hill and Jenny Steele that explores the in-habitation and use of space within the built environment of the Faircharm Trading Estate and the Hatch Space studios themselves. MULTIPLE OCCUPANCY aims to record, reflect and celebrate the current activity in these mixed-use spaces within this heterogeneous community.

For MULTIPLE OCCUPANCY, Harriet Hill presents a sculptural work made as a response to the microcosm of Hatch Space studios. She works viscerally, with the particular, physical structure of the space and the idea of it as both a self contained gallery and an expanded corridor: a mutable interstice with doors leading off into the autonomous spaces of the artists studios.

Jenny Steele exhibits a map that charts movement and spacial use within the micro community of the Faircharm Trading Estate. For the past month, she has spent time questioning and observing the businesses, organisations and individuals that occupy this multi-functional block of units. The work is informed by social anthropologist Timothy Ingold's research that highlights the static nature of maps, that are unrepresentative of physical in-habitation.

For an Open Day event on Saturday 22nd October 2011, Hill and Steele have invited other artists to co-occupy the gallery space. Artists: Ahmed & Carpenter, Hannah Doyle, John Deller, Inigo Rousham, Lucia Serenkova, Penny Skerrett and Nicola Smith will show film and video works that explore themes of multiple occupancy from different perspectives. Frog Morris will perform poetry about the local community of Deptford, and Manchester based Matthew Bamber will bring a live streaming of his own studio to Hatch Space for the day.

Harriet Hill’s work investigates ideas around the conflict between autonomy and belonging and the fact that we are drawn to that which is more powerful than ourselves – physical, social, political. This manifests in her work, through the notion that a physical entity – material, object, structure, space – can simultaneously inspire both inclination and repulsion. Harriet Hill is based in London, and is a MFA graduate of Goldsmiths.

Jenny Steele's practice considers our constant in-habitation of digital space by playing on metaphors of physical space, cartography, architecture and town planning. Through her multi disciplinary practice, she continually seeks ways in which to come to terms with the intangibility of the digital, and its clash with our embedded cognitive behaviour and cartesian perspectives. Jenny Steele is currently based at Rogue Studios, Manchester, and is also a graduate of Goldsmiths MFA.

Community of Practice>2

This past weekend Hannah Westwood, Harriet Hill and Zoha Zokaei and I met to 'critique' our ongoing practices.  Meeting at Hannah's studio at Bond House, New Cross - we talked about Hannah's ambitious large scale 'explosion' drawings for her upcoming solo exhibition, 'Eye of the Storm' at Tenderpixel, which opens on the 12th May 2011.  I will not give away too much, but the panel drawings are set to over take and overwhelm the boutique gallery space entirely!

Zoha reflected on her recent exhibition at the Waterman's Art Centre, where she showcased a series of new photographs, which I wrote about in a previous blog post 'The Concealed Exchange'.  We talked about her experiences of collaborating with other creative professionals to direct and produce the work, and avenues to develop and exhibit the works in other locations.

Harriet discussed her open house and studio last month, as part of the local area of Peckham's Open Studio event - and the positive opportunity for feedback when exhibiting work in progress.  I presented the drawings and prints that I have been working on over the past month, in preparation for the Chongqing Residency, which is getting closer and closer...!  As ever, questions and constructive feedback assisted pushing the work to the next stage.  I am currently working on a large woodcut, which I made the first print of today, but our Albion Press at RUTC, is not large enough for an even print, so I am on the look out now for a print studio with a larger press.  I will post a photograph when I get the first acceptable A/P!

'Netizen Layout', Pen, pencil and cardboard relief on paper, 2011, Jenny Steele

Community of Practice...

FIELD II, felt, elastic, pins, tape, paper, 2007, 5 x 10m, Harriet Hill

Last week I met with three friends, artists and Goldsmiths MFA graduates for a monthly crit.  As we have known each other for quite a few years now, we understand each others developing practices, and concurrent employment, and how these and other factors can affect our visual artwork. 

Harriet Hill, my old studiomate in the Victorian Baths, is currently working on a series of models and drawings that explore control and power within physical and two dimensional spaces.  I am excited to see the few projects she has been developing come to large three dimensional fruition.  A highly skilled sculptor through and through, Handy Harriet currently works as an Artwork Project Manager for MDM Props.

Hannah Westwood, works in drawings that explore power and chaos within various systems, and is currently working towards her solo exhibition at Tenderpixel in May 2011.  Hannah also tutors upon Foundation Diploma in Art and Design in Norwich, and has been selected for the Artist in Residence programme at Middlesex University.

Lucy Leonard, who came to Fine Art through a conceptual Art/Architecture background at the Bartlett, is now lecturing on the First Year Studies programme at the school.  Lucy showed us examples of the first years coursework, which was very impressive, in particular a project where they responded to various interior sites at Pitzhanger Manor, Ealing through three dimensional constructions.

I talked about recent drawings and work in progress, and we spoke about the ideologies behind my work. I was given helpful feedback of appropriate texts to read or revisit, and discussed aspects of three dimensional/ two dimensional when referencing the architectural or physical interface.

In strong belief of the importance of a 'Community of Practice' (Jean Lave and Etienne Wenger, 2006), I am developing ideas to bring this Crit, to a larger sphere. I will keep you posted, of course.