‘Fictions’ brings together the work of eight contemporary artists who explore the boundaries between fact and fiction. Taking its name from the collection of short stories by Argentinean writer Jorge Louis Borges, the exhibition draws on the paradoxical scenarios he creates.
In Borges’ world, ideas of language, time, memory and truth surpass our everyday expectations. As an exhibition, ‘Fictions’ aims to sketch out these relationships within the context of our contemporary society.
This exhibition is curated by High Dichmont and Fay Nicholson, who will be exhibiting work alongside fellow artists Eugenia Ivanissevich, Glen Jamieson, Aaron Juneau, Girolamo Marri, Helen Perkins and Marianna Simnett.
The private view for this exhibition will take place in the Bonington Gallery on Thursday 19th March between 6-8pm. All are welcome to attend.
A major car crash has occurred in the gallery – a head on collision. Skid marks are emblazoned across the floor, there is wreckage everywhere and blood is splattered up the walls – glistening and fresh. You are being filmed by surveillance cameras, are you the victim or perpetrator? Sections of the gallery seem inaccessible, areas cordoned off by hazard tape… is it a major disaster, a crime scene or spoof horror film?
Craig Fisher’s exhibition, CAT-AS-TROPHE consists of a large-scale sculptural installation. Fisher’s sculpture, It’s Uncanny 2008 (two replica mini cooper cars) are constructed from carefully selected fabrics which are seductive in nature and ask the viewer to question the representation of violence laid out before them. Fisher makes work that situates itself in a world of contradictions. He plays with our perception, challenging us to consider notions of art and craft. He references both high and low culture and juxtaposes the pictorial with the sculptural, creating potential spaces of slippage which act as a challenge to our habits of looking.
The theatricality of Fisher’s installations allow the viewer to engage in a narrative interplay and his work often makes reference to ideas of filmic or cartoon violence. A sense of saturation and the anodyne is at play in Fisher’s work. It is easy to miss the horror through the materiality of the artwork. The strange familiarity of crafted objects, and the voyeuristic quality of such imagery is highlighted by the craftsmanship of the detailing, sewing and pattern-cutting. By contrasting fabric and craft with these images, the artist subverts the significance of masculinity and challenges notions of representation.
Funded by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
Katja Hock is a practising artist and a senior lecturer in Photography in the School of Art and Design at Nottingham Trent University. Her latest exhibition will present a slide installation, Stillness and Silence that has been developed over the last three years. The work addresses the importance of historical memory to our present perception of our cultural and social context.
As part of this exhibition Katja Hock will be in conversation with Susan Trangmar, Reader in Fine Art, Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. Located in the Bonington Gallery, this event is open the general public and admission is free.
During the summer of 2008, ten disabled actors from Teesside University were asked to explore their own day-to-day movements: dancing, cycling, cleaning, walking, running and eating. The resulting work, Motion Disabled, uses motion capture and 3D animation to create a kinetic connection with the human form – beautiful everyday, virtual movements highlighting all the intricacies and uniqueness of each person’s physicality.
Nottingham Trent University is proud to present this exciting installation by Simon McKeown, which enables the viewer to engage and explore ideas of normality and difference.
15 Years of Philip Watts Design – A retrospective presents of one of the UK’s leading creative design companies. NTU graduate Philip has designed an extensive and diverse range of award-winning products since the conception of Philip Watts Design, and this exhibition will show some of the most memorable: candle holders, mooing cow salt and pepper pots, giant melting staircases, radiators, door handles, lights and urinals.
Philip Watts Design has exhibited in over 20 countries, spanning four continents, and this will be the first time all this work will be seen together as a complete history of creative output.
Peter Matthews completed his studies in Fine Art at Nottingham Trent University and as a practicing artist was invited, as part of the Artists Access to Art Colleges scheme, to accept a residency within the School of Art and Design during 2008/09.
This exhibition presents work that Matthews developed during his residency. Issues such as war, politics, and the environment collectively fuse into sculptures that are poised to stimulate questions and speculation about the world and environment we live in.
Peter Matthews completed his undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Fine Art at Nottingham Trent University and as a practicing artist was invited, as part of the Artists Access to Art Colleges (AA2A) scheme, to accept a residency within the School of Art and Design during 2008/09.
Sculptures from the Media Stream presents work that Matthews has developed during his residency; questioning and exploring the ever-changing condition and identity of contemporary society. Issues such as war, politics, and the environment collectively fuse into sculptures that are provocatively poised to stimulate questions and speculation about the world and environment we live in.
This exciting and directional exhibition showcases a collection of innovative textile designs by Professor Junichi Arai and Dr Kinor Jiang from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. A series of striking combinations of colour and texture, their work captures the essence of oriental style with a contemporary direction.
Bonington Gallery is proud to present Metallic Sound as part of an exhibition exchange between The Hong Kong Polytechnic and Nottingham Trent University, reflecting the strong educational links between both universities through established fashion and textiles research.
The leading speciality paper merchant GFSmith celebrates 111 years of redefining how we view paper promotion with this fantastic heritage exhibition.
Having grown from a small family business in the late 1890’s, to a thriving company with over 150 members of staff and a global sales network, the business has adequate reason to celebrate the impact design has played on its success.
This exhibition will showcase material which encompasses both European and American promotions, featuring work from contributors such as Saul Bass, Milton Glaser, Paul Rand, Bill McKay and SEA Design.
Bonington Gallery presents this exciting exhibition by the award-winning British photographer Simon Roberts. Motherland, Homeland explores notions of identity, attachment to home and land, and the relationship between people and place, comprising of two different collections of Roberts’ work; Motherland and We English.
Simon Roberts’ work has been published and exhibited widely and his photographs are represented in major public and private collections. In recognition for his work, Roberts has received several accolades, including the Vic Odden Award from the Royal Photographic Society and a grant from the John Kobal Foundation.
Click this link to visit Simon’s Website
Image by Simon Roberts
‘Perception’ is intricate. The removal of accumulated layers of meaning attached to material culture challenges frequently held perceptions. This exhibition confronts commonly held notions relating to the built environment in the Ajegunle community in Lagos, Nigeria and national identity in the Republic of Ireland. Both of these areas of research relate to physical architecture. However, they move beyond the tangible to explore ‘human’ architecture and identity.
