The Beinghuman Collective in Collaboration with Karl Hyde

Karl Hyde : Underworld to work with Gaynor O’Flynn and the beinghuman collective during the Kathmandu International Art Festival

Internationally acclaimed artist Karl Hyde is to work with Gaynor O’Flynn during Kathmandu International Art Festival. In a twenty year eclectic career in music, art & film Gaynor has also worked with Bjork, Richard Ashcroft, Germaine Greer & The Dalai Lama.

Gaynor is leading a unique cross cultural & cross media collaborative work in music, sound, film, performance & interactive digital art. The work will be created in a series of workshops with local Nepali artists & the award winning members of the beinghuman collective : a collective of artists, technologists & film makers & is supported by The British Council.

Karl will take part in the interactive performance which is based on the festival’s theme : Mind, Body, Earth : by painting in response to the work of Gaynor O’Flynn & t.b.c.

A film of his painting will be mixed into the installation which takes place in the historical setting of Patan Museum, a former Royal Palace of the Kathmandu Valley Royal Family, on the opening night of the Kathmandu International Art Festival, 25th November.

Karl is not only a painter but also a founding member of the legendary band Underworld he has worked with Gabriel Yared, Anthony Nigella, Brian Eno & Dame Evelyn Glennie. In 2012 he collaborated with Danny Boyle, a long term collaboration that started with the art house classic, Trainspotting & this year culminated in his work as the musical director of the London Olympics Opening Ceremony for which Underworld won the Q Award for Innovation In Sound.

Find details of the event on the facebook page:
on.fb.me/UvExeq

        

Creativity & Sustainability in the Digital Age at Google Campus, London

The evening starts with an interactive art piece by the beinghuman collective - not the usual start to an event – calm, peaceful, mesmerising, yet still sociable, interactive and fun! 

A visual sound piece, which invites the audience to participate by speaking into a microphone that in turn produces waves of iridescent light. The room at Google Campus becomes engulfed in sound and light vibrations, representing the participants in the room; almost forming a strange sense of an introduction to one another.

This becomes the first reference to how technology can be creative and be used as an art form in our now very much digital world.

Digital Technology now surrounds us, so much so, that we barely stop to think about the consequences - are we better off with or without it?

How many of us feel addicted to our technology, how often do you procrastinate and check your twitter wall just in case you miss out on something! Hellienne Lindvall opens up this conversation whilst explaining how she feeds her creativity into her writing. Describing that her mind is not as disciplined now; it wanders and goes in search of new and exciting ventures whilst it’s supposed to be focusing and perfecting her creativity. Perhaps, through our now impeccable skill of multitasking we lose a certain degree of quality. Creativity needs to wander, but in an almost meditative way rather than a stressful way that us procrastinators take on!

And what of the effects of digital on us as communities, as human beings in the physical world? Our digital footprint when communicating to one another in the ‘real’ world seems to be increasing continuously; children now talk to each other through their phones when standing in line for the bus! Do we feel closer to one another now that we can talk with no time or distance barriers? One would argue that for a conversation and interaction to become meaningful and have an impact then it needs to lead to some sort of physical output also.

Ken Banks, founder of kiwanja.net, devotes himself to the application of mobile technology for positive social and environmental change. He talks of how digital technology has in fact helped save people’s lives in countries such as Africa. The use of mobile phones help those who without would have no way of communicating to the outside world, have no voice to contribute to dialogue, to report violence or acts against humanity. They allow disenfranchised communities to share and be heard – this can only be a positive step for the growth of mankind, though it does make those who are better off feel and look bad!

How does the digital affect artists and creatives in the digital world?

Do you remember the traditional perception of ‘an artist’, a solitary creature slowly going mad through his own questions of creativity? How about that perception now, in the digital age; it would seem that more artists are in fact social creatures, finding refuge in a close network, or a group of like minded individuals and setting up artist collectives and artist led spaces. Digital technology has helped spread creativity through the masses, has brought people together that otherwise would never have met; consequently opening up a platform for the rest of us out there to join in and feel inspired also.

Tania from DACS raises the positive impact of digital activity for artists – how it not only promotes their work to a new and further audience, it enables a direct route of market. So, how many artists are online? A survey that DACS produced asking artists how they use digital technology shows that 85% of artists have their own websites, whilst 10% would want one but need help building it. Digital technology has also increased the rise of micro-philanthropy, donations, funding and simple giving towards artists through websites, social media, and sites such as kickstarter and indiegogo. This indeed is a positive way forward for artists, but do the positives outweigh the negatives?

What happens to those artists whose work is available on the Internet, but without their permission? How do artists feel about this and what does it mean for their income and careers? According to DACS the medium wage for artists is approximately £10,000 and this number is ever decreasing. So what do our artists hope for, or perhaps the more sensible question – what do they need from us? Respect - Ask for permission from the creator.

The ultimate question here is would artists stop creating if they were forced to go into other jobs to sustain a decent quality of life? Perhaps, it is more a case of they wouldn’t have the time, or the inspiration, to create work of high quality and therefore artists would be even less valued.

Gaynor O’Flynn, director of beinghuman.com, explains how important the cultural industry is in the UK economy, in fact around 1.8 million creative people are hired! Yet it is still so very hard to understand the value of these creative individuals. So many artists are being asked to work for free and are undervalued, and are told that this is because they are promoting themselves. But as Gaynor says, they are also promoting the venues, the brands, the businesses, the galleries etc. If someone is going to make a profit out of using people for their talents then those people should also be receiving some sort of profit. This is what is fair and equal.

There were so many relevant and important points raised in this debate over our ever increasing Digital Age. It would seem that the conclusion is that we are in search of a balance, an equal weighing of new and old, of digital and physical, of computer and human. And the final question, how can we achieve this?

Darkness to Light Bo.Lee Gallery Bath

Kristin Vestgard

Cathy Lewis

Mike Newton 

This painting by Mike Newton was one of my favourite pieces in the gallery. The brushstrokes and the use of colour really let the painting stand out and shine.

Beth Carter

This minotaur of Beth Carter's suited the space in the Octagon perfectly, so simple sitting in his little corner. 

Rose Sanderson

Love these new books by Rose, the display worked brilliantly with them. Almost trapping the moths under the glass.

Neil Moore 

Ione Rucquoi

Natalia Komis 

My Dust Tile.

'Three Weeks worth of Dust'

Gaynor O'Flynn

'The Artist Naked and Blurred'

'Darkness to Light' Exhibition at the Octagon

DARKNESS TO LIGHT 

22 - 30 June (open 10 - 6pm) 

 The Octagon Chapel, Milsom Place, Bath

 Kim Baker | Ione Rucquoi | Gill Rocca | Bobbie Russon 

Patrick Haines | Rose Sanderson | Neil Moore | Mike Newton 

Kristin Vestgard | Cathy Lewis | Beth Carter | Natalia Komis    

   

Being human we are naturally drawn to the light, and with a constant transition we find ourselves performing set rules and functions to find some sort of balance.  

Rituals of various kinds become central to our society past and present; performed for their symbolic value as well as their functional value- religious, traditional, journeys, or even daily routines form an almost compulsive ritualistic approach to our existence. Ceremonial acts and the performance of these acts, religious or otherwise, have been ever present in the world in which we live in.

Highlighting who we are and what we do, from the simpler things in life to the more hidden, Darkness to Light explores a common human urge to perform ritual motions.  

Works include new paintings by Norwegian painter Kristin Vestgard,London based painter Kim Baker, and new photography by gallery artistIone Rucquoi.

bo.lee gallery is very pleased to be working with Anthony Hepworth Fine Art to bring Cathy Lewis's 'Father, Tread Lightly' to The Octagon Chapel; a perfect setting for such a dramatic installation.   

Kristin Vestgard believes that her paintings are the "voice of (her) silence". The paintings stand alone, in their own quiet stillness and beauty. Vestgard finds a way to capture the emotions conjured up, whether they are secrets about ancestors or about our very own human nature, and helps us realise them in ourselves. Though no sound is present - this then becomes one of those moments that you have to witness to understand.

The natural world holds juxtapositions and performs its own rituals too -

Patrick Haines highlights the essence of our own beliefs in connection to nature and finds beauty in the simplest of things. Incorporating spiritual belief, myths and imagination in these stunning sculptures that stand alone in magnitude but are in fact a part of a wider, more emotionally charged experience. Recognizing the uneasy balance between the man made and the natural we have become a part of an established routine - we are therefore called to worship both.

Bobbie Russon helps us realise the inner emotions, hidden truths

and beliefs. Approached through an almost meditative ritualistic sense, Russon draws directly from the subconscious, through her own childhood experiences  she creates an atmosphere of unease that follows through to the very core of our human nature. It is almost impossible to feel nothing, there will inevitably be a numbing sense of loss, an overwhelming sensation to feel connected.

  

Kim Baker's Dark Gardens series of paintings explore a world of enchanted fairytale gardens and investigate the notion of a magical landscape where plant-like organic forms appear and disappear from view, giving each painting its own unique space and rhythm.

Influenced by Carvagios chiaroscuro (Dark and Light) and sometimes taking imagery directly from great masters, Kim Baker takes the viewer on a journey through childhood tales, poetry and historial traditions of medieval myth. Kim Baker is represented by Opus Art and will be showing with bo.lee gallery for this one-off show.    

In her new series Ione Rucquoi presents a series of Female Saints, all bearing gold halos. They are reminiscent of the saints depicted on Roman

Catholic playing cards, which have been re-represented by Rucquoi using images of the contemporary woman depicted nude, vulnerable, yet powerful. A symbolic image is combined with a contemporary twist: A dead lamb, thorns protruding from a woman's face, and a bride to be, bearing all.  

Cathy Lewis's sculptures are concerned with cultural identity.  A child is taught and influenced by the culture it is surrounded by, but how important it is to retain a cultural heritage, although we can learn and share from one another. Referencing architecture and history that has shaped how we find the world today, Children are placed into the kind of setting where traditionally you would expect to see historical or religious figures.

Cathy Lewis's sculptural installation reflects a past which is propping up the future.  

May/June Art, Bath, Degree Show...

These past couple of months have been ridiculously hectic.
What with my life as a student coming to an end, as well as my time in my lovely flat in Bath, everything that has happened recently seems to merge into one final countdown. Real life.

To cut it short, we've had Bath Fringe Festival - a hub of creative and cultural fun all over Bath. Particularly interesting for me, FAB - the visual arts side of the festival. Many of my friends were involved in the exhibitions held at the Old Officers Club.

The two exhibitions that I found most interesting and professional looking were  The Collective and Performativity (curated by Details or Request).

http://www.fringeartsbath.co.uk/

Other exciting things this month...

BSAD DEGREE SHOW.

Obviously... only the show that I've been killing myself for. The show that shouts out I AM NOT A STUDENT ANYMORE. Please buy my work. 

If only it was that easy. Why didn't I just stick to painting?!

However the PV night was a great success with lots of different people turning up, lots of wine drank and plenty of arty as well as normal chit chattering going on.

Only downfall of course was the weather - but never mind.