[spectre] Lighthouse launches Beyond Cinema programme with two
exhibitions at Brighton Festival
Honor Harger
honor at lighthouse.org.uk
Tue May 3 16:45:03 CEST 2011
Dear Spectres,
After a year of preparation, Lighthouse are thrilled to be launching
a major new programme of work, with two extraordinary exhibitions by
two outstanding, contemporary artists - Kutluğ Ataman and Lynette
Wallworth.
The exhibitions form part of Brighton Festival 2011, this year guest
directed by Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma's pro-democracy leader and Nobel
Peace laureate. Inspired by her, the festival celebrates themes of
freedom of expression, liberty, and the power of the individual voice
in society.
These exhibitions also mark a new phase of Lighthouse’s work, where
we are taking our programmes beyond our own venue. In 2011, under
the thematic title, Beyond Cinema, Lighthouse will explore the shape
of our post-cinematic world. Transformed by the possibilities offered
by digital technology, moving image is becoming dislocated from its
cinematic context, and is increasingly pervasive and mobile. In a
programme of exhibitions, commissions, workshops, talks and events,
we will explore how artists and filmmakers are bringing moving image
experiences to outdoor spaces and disused buildings, creating
cinematic experiences from digital data, making cities more
intelligent through augmented reality, and working with the language
of film to create sensuous environments.
We are proud to launch this programme at Brighton Festival, with two
exhibitions that use the language of film to articulate uniquely
human responses to political disorder. As uprisings, war and
revolutions dominate global headlines, it seems more important than
ever to stress the critical role that cultural expression and
artistic practice can play in helping us understand the world we live
in.
In his major new exhibition, “Mesopotamian Dramaturgies”,
installed in the atmospheric surrounds of the disused Municipal
Market in Brighton, Turner Prize-nominated artist and filmmaker,
Kutluğ Ataman explores the power of political change. Hailing from
Turkey, Ataman has a deep concern for the importance of democracy and
freedom of speech within his own country, and in the wider region.
The centrepiece of the exhibition is a new installation, “Mayhem”,
which makes it’s world premiere in Brighton, and uses water to
poetically symbolise the transformational energy of revolution.
Lynette Wallworth’s intimate, interactive installation, “Evolution
of Fearlessness”, presented at the University of Brighton Gallery,
uses touch to connect us with portraits of eleven women who have
survived extreme acts of persecution or violence. The women’s
harrowing true stories of survival are documented in an accompanying
book. Directly resonating with the themes inspired by Aung Suu Kii,
and echoing her own story of fortitude and courage, Evolution of
Fearlessness emphasises the strength of the human spirit. Wallworth
has traversed the globe to be with us for the opening of her
exhibition, and will be the Lighthouse Monthly Talk speaker on the
5th of May. She will also give a gallery talk on Sunday 8th of May.
Whilst cinematic techniques are at the heart of the exhibitions by
Wallworth and Ataman, they both move beyond cinema in their use of
sculptural space and interactivity.
The exhibitions and associated talks are outlined below. We hope
you’ll be able to get along and see them.
Best wishes,
Honor Harger
Director, Lighthouse
LYNETTE WALLWORTH
EVOLUTION OF FEARLESSNESS & DAMAVAND MOUNTAIN
University of Brighton Gallery, 58-67 Grand Parade, Brighton
http://www.lighthouse.org.uk/whatson/lynette_wallworth.htm
We are delighted to present two major installations by Australian
artist, Lynette Wallworth, in partnership with Brighton Festival,
Forma and the University of Brighton.
Evolution of Fearlessness (2006)
“Evolution of Fearlessness” is an intimate, interactive
installation dealing with loss, survival and strength. The work
incorporates filmed portraits of several women, originating from
countries such as Afghanistan‚ Sudan‚ Iraq and El Salvador. They
have lived through wars‚ or survived concentration camps or extreme
acts of violence and are brought directly to the audience, through
this intimate installation, to share their stories. Built around the
importance of gesture‚ and responsive to touch, “Evolution of
Fearlessness” provides a tactile gateway to the women contained in
the piece. Whilst cinematic techniques are at the heart of Evolution
of Fearlessness, the work goes beyond cinema in its immersive and
interactive form, revealing the strength of the human spirit.
Damavand Mountain (2006)
“Damavand Mountain” is an elegant video work made from footage
obtained by Wallworth during a residency in small Iranian mountain
village.
“Evolution of Fearlessness” and “Damavand Mountain” are
presented at the University of Brighton Gallery in partnership with
Brighton Festival.
They were commissioned by New Crowned Hope. Produced by Forma
* About the Artist *
Lynette Wallworth is an Australian artist who works with digital
media, installation, photography and film. Her work has been
presented at major festivals and galleries around the world. She
describes her intention as “bringing together technological advances
and ancient understandings, new media and old practices, electronics
and the electricity of human touch.”
KUTLUG ATAMAN
MESOPOTAMIAN DRAMATURGIES
7 May - 29 May 2011
At: The Old Municipal Market, Circus Street, Brighton, BN2 9QF
http://www.lighthouse.org.uk/whatson/kutlug_ataman.htm
Lighthouse are thrilled to be working with Brighton Festival on their
presentation of a major exhibition by acclaimed Turkish artist and
filmmaker, Kutlug Ataman. The exhibition brings together two works
which use the theme of water to meditate on political change. The
centrepiece is the world premiere of “Mayhem”. In this new multi-
screen film installation, commissioned by Brighton Festival, water is
used to subtly symbolise the transformational energy of revolution.
It is presented with “Su”, a video installation shown in the UK
for the first time.
Both installations are part of Ataman’s “Mesopotamian
Dramaturgies” body of work, which interrogates the manmade nature of
history and geography in the region traditionally known as
"Mesopotamia" - the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers,
which encompasses modern-day Iraq, and parts of Turkey, Iran and Syria.
Mesopotamian Dramaturgies / Mayhem (2011)
In “Mayhem”, Ataman transports us to another Mesopotamia – “la
Mesopotamia” in Argentina, itself located between the Paraná and
Uruguay rivers. Here, in what Ataman describes as an "alternative
promised land", we are confronted by the spectacular and chaotic
energy of the Iguazu Falls. In what he refers to as a direct response
to the uprisings taking place in his own region, Ataman casts water
as both a cleansing and destructive force. Just as water shapes and
transforms nature, the Arab Spring is sweeping aside old structures
and allowing new ones to evolve.
Mesopotamian Dramaturgies / Su (2009)
“Su” takes it's name from the Turkish word for water. It was
filmed over a year, and illustrates the different moods of the
Bosphorus strait, the narrow strip of water that separates Europe
from Asia. Formed of two split-screen installations, each a mirror
image of the other, “Su” calls to mind the fluid, constantly
changing nature of geographical boundaries. As visitors enter, they
are met with one of the key phrases of Islam - "There is no God but
Allah" - written in cuneiform script, superimposed onto the shifting
waters. In one screen the text is reversed, as it is in some mosques
in Turkey.
In “Su”, two realms often thought of as separate and opposite, are
united.
Ataman intends to complete filming for “Mesopotamian Dramaturgies”
in Syria, and was only recently prevented from doing so by the
current political instability there.
“Mayhem” is commissioned by Brighton Festival and Vehbi Koc
Foundation, Turkey. “Su” is commissioned by Istanbul Foundation
for Culture and Arts. Thanks to Brighton & Hove City Council,
University of Brighton and Thomas Dane Gallery.
* About the Artist *
Kutluğ Ataman (born 1961 in Istanbul, Turkey) is a filmmaker and
contemporary artist. His work has been shown internationally at major
forums such as Documenta, and the Venice Biennale, and at notable
exhibitions at the Serpentine, Istanbul Modern Art Museum and many
other galleries. His work is in international collections, including
those of MoMA and Tate Modern. He is a recipient of the highly
prestigious Carnegie Prize and has been nominated for the Turner Prize.
TALKS
We would also like to invite you to attend one of the talks Lynette
Wallworth will be giving during her visit to Brighton.
Lighthouse Monthly Talk by Lynette Wallworth, Lighthouse
Thursday 5 May, 1830
http://www.lighthouse.org.uk/whatson/lynette_wallworth_monthlytalk.htm
Gallery Talk, University of Brighton
Sunday 8 May, 1530
http://www.lighthouse.org.uk/whatson/lynette_wallworth_gallerytalk.htm
For more information, or to book a place for the Monthly Talk, please
contact:
Lighthouse
http://www.lighthouse.org.uk
Address: 28 Kensington Street, Brighton, BN1 4AJ, UK
Tel: +44 1273 647197
email: info at lighthouse.org.uk
Find us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/LighthouseArts
Join our mailing list: http://www.lighthouse.org.uk/about/signup.html
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