Public Notice by Karin Kihlberg & Reuben Henry. Originally commissioned as part of 'the distance between us' curated by Capital Art Projects, 2004. Re-presented for Architecture Week 2005. Photo by Chris Webb
the distance between us (developed by Capital Arts Projects in 2005) focused on two districts of Birmingham with strong links to the city’s indusial heritage, Digbeth and the Jewellery Quarter. the distance between us sort to commission three new artworks responding to the changing nature of these areas as the result of regeneration, the demise of industry/manufacturing and the development of new enterprise. A major objective was the commissioning of works that existed in the public realm but not necessarily dependant on a physical/ permanent realisation.
The first of these commissions, Public Notice was developed by Karin Kihlberg and Reuben Henry and comprised of a tour of public houses within the Jewellery quarter and Digbeth. Public Notice aimed to address the ‘social, architectural and cultural traditions associated with “the public house” a quintessentially English tradition.
Kihlberg and Henry suggested that the regeneration programmes in Birmingham are partly to blame for the disappearance of the traditional public house, now being replaced by themed bars, gastro pubs and national chains. Traditional pubs have historically played a huge part in the social structure of industrial areas such as Digbeth and the Jewellery Quarter, but with the demise of industry and its workforce many have become redundant.
The tour offered an opportunity to voice the artists concerns over their decline but also act as a celebration or homage to the remaining pubs within these districts. ‘The tour was commemorated in a limited edition artwork – a box containing illustrations, historical trivia, anecdotes and colour swatches.’
The second commission was a series of site orientated photographs by Sans Façon. Sans Façon ‘began in 2000 as a collaboration between artist and architect, their work attempted to reveal the idiosyncrasies of a city through its imperceptible and often disregarded detail’.
Albion Street by Sans Facon, 2005. Commissioned as part of 'the distance between us' curated by Capital Art Projects. Photo by Ming de Nasty.
Albion Street by Sans Facon, 2005. Commissioned as part of 'the distance between us' curated by Capital Art Projects. Photo by Ming de Nasty.
For the distance between us they attempted to capture aspects of Digbeth and the Jewellery Quarter by photographing elements and then installing the photos at the precise locations of which they were taken; the works are then frozen in time and remains constant while surroundings constantly change.
This series of interventions is a direct response to the regeneration of Birmingham but is something which echoes redevelopment both nationally and internationally. It acts as an archive of activity preserving a specific moment in time.
The third commission by Simon Pope, took the form of a series of short texts related to his research into ‘the act of walking as contemporary art practice, suggesting ways we might sense and make sense of the city’.
‘The Text offered the reader simple instructions through which they could ‘investigate a particular aspect of an urban environment through everyday activity for example what it is to remember, meet, follow or know’
For the distance between us Pope developed texts written in response to Birmingham’s Digbeth and Jewellery Quarter, however similarly to the work of sans façon, these text pieces could reference regeneration on a larger, national scale.
Between where we are and where we want to be, 2005. Commissioned as part of 'the distance between us' curated by Capital Art Projects.. Photo by Capital Art Projects
These text works originally intended to be presented through local newspapers were placed within the publication for the distance between us as a removable insert. One final text piece ‘Between where we are and where we want to be’ was placed on a placard and walked around the city.
Kate Pennington-Wilson
Kate Pennington-Wilson
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