The ultimate sustainable approach to design is to prioritise the potential longevity of the designed item and consider its later maintenance as a key part of its essence. The features of this object are reminiscent of those found on a wooden boat. This draws attention to the effort and passion with which a boatowner cares for their vessel. Ownership in this sense does not imply passive consumption. Furthermore, an engaged relation of labour constitutes part of the enjoyment of such possession.
Displayed at the Re-Dress exhibition at Dún Laoghaire Festival of World Cultures July 2010.
Thanks to Chris Pendrich for wood carving mentorship.
The Centre of the Universe present “Triumph of the Will“
a group exhibition curated by Catherine Borra, Gedvile Bunikyte, Olivia Hegarty & Matthew Stone
14th October - 1st November 2009
Featuring works by:
James Balmforth
Gareth Cadwallader
David Ferrando Giraut
Lewis Ronald
Boo Saville
Matthew Stone
SuperBlu
The group exhibition “Triumph of the Will“ emerges from a series of complex questions that begin with Leni Reifenstahl‘s influential 1934 film of the same title. The film was commissioned and funded by Hitler and portrays the euphoric Nazi rise to power. The filming used 90 camera-men who captured over 1 million individuals. It is regarded as a landmark piece of cinema both technically and for its epic renderings of the united body-mass and their messianic leader. Despite Reifenstahl‘s later claims to the contrary, the film exists in collective consciousness as being the “most successful, most purely propagandistic film ever made.“ (Susan Sontag).
How do we understand the aesthetic legacy of this event?
Does any aesthetic embody and bear responsibility for the final solutions of ideology?
In the contexts of both the film and the works in this show, what is the power of the individuals depicted and those implicated as audience?
Short film made with Ladan Anousfar and Gedvile Bunikyte for Windsor Film and Music Festival. Screened as an accompaniment to a live choir singing Nunc Dimittis by Arvo Part. The film piece won the audience award at the event.
“If the World came to an end how would you imagine starting over?
What is the best thing about having less work, less money and
more time? How would you best spend your (Free*) time?
How can we re-orientate ourselves in a changing world? What do we hope for the future? A moment of recession marks a deceleration and slowing down, and an opening up to a time of reflection, reservation, and conservation. In a state of lull is there opportunity forge new values, forms of solidarity, closer familial ties, and healthier modes of consumption? Is there value within a moment of quietude for much needed reflection?”
The End of Something project at Volume, August 2009.
114-116 Amersham Vale, Deptford Police Station, New Cross, London SE14 6LG
Not quite an exhibition, but a deep challenge to an environment. In an abandoned and unidentified post-war bunker, spreading out underneath Dalston, East London, this show is a response to the space it inhabits, and to the history it recalls. THE BUNKER is propelled by the search for different spaces and modes of operation. Pushing our expectations for the future forward, we can trigger the motor of history to act, evolve and motion.
We have invited the following artists to activate the Bunker with us:
Pim Conradi
Pim Conradi’svisionstructures are visual sketches of an on-going research. Through his efforts, he aims to individuate structures that analyse the relationship between human life and the biosphere, and translate them into functional proposals that span from architecture to design. This is his first public appearance.
Pim is currently artist-in-residence at Area 10, London.
Jenny Moore-Koslowsky
Jenny Moore-Koslowsky is an artist, singer, song-writer and architect of the imagination. She navigates her work through allusions which are always mobile, questioning power relationships, disrupting balances and menacing comfortable confidence.
She has recently participated in ‘Contested Ground’,2009, at 176/Zabludowicz Collection, London; and has performed This is Impractical, for the exhibition ‘Gold&Delicious’, at The Apple Tree, London.
She is currently completing her MA in Fine Arts at Goldsmiths College, London.
Justin Gainan
Justin Gainan’s practice is a continuous struggle with objects on the verge between uniqueness and rubble, obsession and quietness.
Recent shows he has participated in include ‘The Shortest Short Story Ever Written,…’. 2008, FormContent, London; and ‘ThirtyFive Hours’,2009, HFBK project space, Hamburg.
He is also completing his MA in Fine Arts at Goldsmiths College, London.
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On the evening, there will be a series of tailored screenings from video-sharing platforms, as well as a programme of interventions that will follow throughout the duration of the show.
The show is accompanied by a selection of publications, and specially commissioned material that survey the area from a cultural perspective - which are freely available to the public.
The Bunker is open until late June, by appointment only. To arrange a visit, please contact catherine@thecentreoftheuniverse.org.
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THE BUNKER is a show curated by Catherine Borra.
THE BUNKER is produced by The Centre of the Universe, for and with the support of the Embassy of Switzerland.
Very special thanks to the Bootstrap Company & Antoine Sandoz.
The smallest actions have an impact in an interconnected closed and finite system. The awareness of consequence tackles nihilism. To realise finitude is to unravel infinite possibility. This creates a context for powerful action and a potential end to apathy.
With thanks to James Wignall (Structural Design), Monique Dorniak, Ryo Himuro and Camille Roman (Sewing) and all donors of garments and stuffing.
My seating sculpture will be shown at this exhibition. Private View 17th March 2009, 7pm.
Theo Adams
James Balmforth
Gareth Cadwallader
Francesco Chiaro
Olivia Hegarty
Jordan Hunt
The Centre of the Universe presents an untitled, yet heroic group exhibition, a performance by Jordan Hunt and a public artist’s salon. The show is happening within an exhibition by graduating students from the Royal College of Art’s Curating Contemporary Art MA course.
Jordan Hunt’s performance: 7.30pm on Tuesday 17th March
Interconnected Echoes - Matthew Stone’s Artist Salon: 3pm Saturday 23rd March
18 - 29 March 2009
Royal College of Art Galleries, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2EU
Open daily 11 am - 6pm, free admission.
Public information: www.cca.rca.ac.uk or Tel: 020 7590 4444
Press preview: 17 March, 10am – 12 noon
Private view: 17 March from 7pm
A full list of public events will be available on the website: www.cca.rca.ac.uk
I’m currently working on a giant seating structure for a group show coming up in March. The piece is ambitious; it’s going to be huge. So with limited time until the exhibition I would love your help on the following:
I’m looking for filling, I’ve a list of suitable material below, please contact me if you have any.
I want to put together a like-minded team to construct the piece. We’ll be doing this in sections and if you can sew and have some time to contribute I’d love to hear from you.
List of materials needed:
Old cushions
Clothes / bed linen / towels
Remnants
Vintage fabrics and trims
Couch filler
The structure is to deal with the idea of UNBOUNDEDNESS, of interconnection, of a closed system with infinite parts. Contours and projections from the shape will create places to sit on and into the piece. It will be large in scale, intense in surface treatment and entirely composed of recycled textiles.
It will be shown at the RCA in March as part of the ‘Friends of the Divided Mind’ exhibition by the students of the Curating Contemporary Art Department. The piece will be part of the Centre of the Universe section of this exhibition.
The seating sculpture is constructed as a cushion; a fabric shell stuffed with filling. It will take up quite a large part of the gallery space as furniture for the performances and events that will take place during the course of the exhibition. The shell will be a patchwork of found fabric and second-hand clothes in strong colours.
