Post - Industrial Revolution

Monday, 11 April 2011

Only Solidarity and Patience will Secure our Victory

We are approaching the second part of our project - a residency in Gdansk! This is so exiting!

In the meantime a part of Gdansk visited Digbeth!

A billboard 'Only Solidarity and Patience will Secure our Victory' depicting strikes from the Gdansk Shipyard hang on the wall above the entrance of Eastside Projects. The billboard is a work by an artistic collective 'Slavs and Tatars', and it forms part of a multiplatform project '79.89.09', that re-imagines an Iranian Polish solidarity, constructed in equal parts through archival research and original work. The project looks at three key dates:1979 (the Iranian Revolution), 1989 (the collapse of communism) and 2009 (the financial crisis). Along with the billboard artists prepared a publication as well as an installation of river bads and an Iranian and Polish book archive.

Exhibition is open until the 16th of April 2011.

Sunday, 13 March 2011

Photos from the exhibition in the Lomabrd Method

MASH HER DIP, Family Brand, an installation, 2011

Christian Costa, part of photographic installation THE GANG OF FOUR MICHEL, GIORGIO, JACQUES, SLAVOJ, 2011

Christian Costa, the part of video installation SITE SPECIFIC CINEMA DIGBETH, AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY, 2011

Christian Costa, part of photographic installation THE GANG OF FOUR MICHEL, GIORGIO, JACQUES, SLAVOJ, 2011

Kamila Szejnoch, For what?, film documentation of mural painting, 2011

Thursday, 10 March 2011

Post - Industrial Revolution wouldn't happen if not kind help of many people. Thank you all!

With special thanks to: Adam Smythe, Alicja Kaczmarek, Andy Green, Anna Lenart, Anna Cielecka-Gibson, Anita Mann, Daisy Foster, Daniel ‘Newso’, Emma Bowen, Gemma Mitchell, Hanna Nadobna, Julia Skupny, Joanne Masding, Joe Welden, Karolina Kosciuch, Kelly Merriman, Liz Davies, Maria Garcia-Bernal + housemates, Martyna Winkel, Matt Foster, Matt Geden, Natalia Oleszak, Nicky Getgood, Nicola Lowery, the Pennington - Wilsons, Penny McConnel, Rachel Darke, Sam Groves, Sandra Hall, Sarah Farmer, Tim Stock, Tymoteusz Jozwiak

Organisations: Wyspa Institute of Art, Anchor Pub, the Custard Factory, Eastside Projects, The Lombard Method, Friction Arts and VIVID .

Friday, 4 March 2011

Family Workshop

Last Sunday marked the end of Post Industrial Revolution in Digbeth and we concluded the exhibition activity by hosting a creative workshop. The family workshop lead by Kelly Merriman with the assistance of Hanna Nadobna (thanks ladies!) was a great end to this busy residency and exhibition period.

During the workshop children and grownups were encouraged to create their own versions of the Birmingham Coat of Arms using a variety of materials. In an unusual twist we included in the workshop materials food products such as Typhoo tea, Bird’s Custard and Cadbury coco powder! This aided the exploration of work by Kamila Szejnoch and culinary group MASH/HER/DIP.

The children produced fantastic pieces and didn’t hold back with the food based products, in fact there was an overwhelming smell of coco by the end of the workshop!

Saturday, 26 February 2011

Christian's Costa commision for the Post-Industrial Revolution

Christian Cista, the part of video installation SITE SPECIFIC CINEMA: DIGBETH, AN AUTOBIOGRAPH, commissioned as part of 'Post - Industrial Revolution' curated by Kate Pennington-Wilson and Roma Piotrowska, 2011

Christian’s artistic practice is focused on identities connected to places and perception of the genius loci. For Post-Industrial Revolution he developed a site specific expanded cinema, which he describes as a medium capable of joining cinema, television, video, video art, documentary and fiction. Christian has created an installation in two parts, consisting of film and found imagery reflective of his time here in Digbeth. He carefully selected images, often with political connotations (such as CCTV cameras).

Christian Cista, the part of video installation SITE SPECIFIC CINEMA: DIGBETH, AN AUTOBIOGRAPH, commissioned as part of 'Post - Industrial Revolution' curated by Kate Pennington-Wilson and Roma Piotrowska, 2011

Christian Cista, a set of postcards for Birmingham, commissioned as part of 'Post - Industrial Revolution' curated by Kate Pennington-Wilson and Roma Piotrowska, 2011

Artist also produced the set of photographs for Birmingham which hilights 'uniportant' sites of the city. He is interested in forgotten spaces such as the hidden river Rea, city graveyards (now utilized as parks), as well as derelict public houses of Digbeth. Showing this disused places brings them to attention again and rediscovers their forgotten haritage.

Chris also placed some books in the gallery by thinkers he is inpired by: Slavoj Zizek (First as tragedy, then as farce), Michel Foucault (Discipline and punish), Jacques Rancière (Hatred of Democracy) and by Giorgio Agamben. He created a cosy corner with a chair - as a place to read, to see the installation and to watch the film. Visitors are invited to read the books and to share their thoughts on the pages.

Christian Cista, the part of photographic installation THE GANG OF FOUR: MICHEL, GIORGIO, JACQUES, SLAVOJ, commissioned as part of 'Post - Industrial Revolution' curated by Kate Pennington-Wilson and Roma Piotrowska, 2011

Wednesday, 23 February 2011

For what? - Kamila's Szejnoch commission for the Post-Industrial Revolution

Kamila Szejnoch, For what?, commissioned as part of 'Post - Industrial Revolution' curated by Kate Pennington-Wilson and Roma Piotrowska, Custard Factory, 2011, photo by Nicky Getgood

The Exhibition will be open until the end of this week so this is the last chance for you to see outcomes of the month-long residency of Polish artists in Digbeth.
In this post you can find more information about the work of Kamila's Szejnoch, which will be followed by posts about other artists in the next few days.
During her stay Kamila Szejnoch has developed a fascination with the Birmingham coat of arms, using it as a focal point of her research. In particular she is interested in the motto for the city ‘Forward’.

The coat of arms of Birmingham

For Kamila exploring the significance of symbols and monuments associated with a city is significant, and she often develops whole bodies of work in relation to obscure local references to civic pride. She tries to approach outdated layers of the past by adding something new, contrasting with its original style or function. Her works often consist of two elements, one is history and tradition, the second is more contemporary, open, playful and interactive.

For Post – Industrial Revolution Kamila has developed a series of site specific interventions through out Digbeth. Most notably ‘For what?’ a large scale text piece situated in a car park next to the Custard Factory facing Digbeth High St. ‘For what?’ is a direct response to the 'Forward' mural, an earlier art work referencing Birmingham's coat of arms in a car park on Heathmill Lane. 'For what?” aims to instigate a dialogue about the past and future of the district by responding to the statement ‘Forward’ with a question.

Newso, Forward, art work referencing Birmingham's coat of arms in a car park on Heathmill Lane, photo by Nicky Getgood

Tuesday, 22 February 2011

The exhibition and workshops Post - The Industrial Revolution

Taking part in the Post - The Industrial Revolution workshop is a great opportunity for a creative Sunday with a whole family. This session begins with a look around the exhibition followed by creating works of art relating to the themes present in the show.
All ages welcome but children must be accompanied by an adult.
Space for workshops must be booked in advance via e-mail:
postindustrial.revolution@gmail.com

Workshop for parents and children
Sunday, February 27, 2011, 11.00-12:30
Lombard Method, 68a Lombard Street, Digbeth, Birmingham, B12 0QR
Free admission

Exhibition
Saturday 19 February - Sunday 27 February 2011
The exhibition is open from Thursday to Sunday from 11.00-18.00
Lombard Method, 68a Lombard Street, Digbeth, Birmingham, B12 0QR
Free admission