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NEW TERRITORIES
NEW PLAZA - MOLECULES IN MOTION Tramway, Arches and Lighthouse, Glasgow, until Sat 16 Mar
‘I don’t think I would have become an artist if I hadn’t started skateboarding,’ says Glasgow-based artist Toby Paterson. ‘It gave me a slightly different approach to cities, in that it becomes a necessity to be aware of your surroundings. I started learning about architecture by crashing into it.’
Paterson’s latest project, New Plaza, is being presented at the Arches on the 2 and 3 March as part of New Territories’ Molecules In Motion season. The programme showcases works by artists, architects, dancers, filmmakers and skateboarders which offer a response to the alienating effects of inner city architecture.
‘I am looking at New Plaza as a means to design an idealised public space,’ explains Paterson. ‘There will be a series of sculptural obstacles based on architectural details such as kerb cuts or handicapped ramps that skaters utilise in real streets. Put together, the obstacles add up to a replication of an ideal street environment for skaters.’
Top Scots skaters including Colin Kennedy and the artist himself will be on hand to flip a few tricks at the free event. After the exhibition, many of the pieces will be assigned to various community skate groups city-wide. ‘Sometimes skateboarding gets co-opted as a means of making events seem more interesting, so in this instance we were keen to contribute something useful to the skateboarding community,’ Paterson says.
His current concerns stem in part from an art school exchange to Chicago in 1993, where he skated through what he describes as ‘these amazing but very austere Mies van der Rohe plazas, which are public spaces where no alternative use is tolerated. It was hard to understand what they were for, apart from a display of corporate wealth and power. It’s like: look how much prime empty real estate we can afford to have empty as a stylistic statement.’
He admits to being simultaneously attracted and repelled by the modernist architecture which informs his sculptures and paintings. However, Paterson’s initial ‘crash into
PHOTOGRAPHY NIGEL HENDERSON: :gyLLEL OF LIFE AND
Britain. Uszng Henderson's original photographic negatives. the reconstruction brings to life the
Top skater Colin Kennedy will be flipping a few tricks at New Plaza
architecture’ has since resulted in his recent nomination for Becks Futures 2002, in addition to solo projects in Warsaw and Turin later in the year.
Meanwhile, over at the Lighthouse, a programme of talks, artist interventions and exhibits entitled Intersection will take place on Saturday 9 March. Oren Lieberman from the University of Strathclyde and Dr Jane Rendell, cultural theorist from University College London, will be joined by Toby Paterson, and artists Sarah Johnston and Garry Robson.
Screenings of films relating to the theme of urban intervention strategies will continue until Saturday 16 March, and include the highly acclaimed Driftwood by Nick Relph and Oliver Payne, and Gavin Brown’s Enterprise. Glasgow- based artists and filmmakers are also well represented in the selection with Roddy Buchanan’s Out, Local by Benji Bateman and 601 Bike Wheel by Steve Hollingsworth. (Sarah Lowndes)
Dean Gallery, Edinburgh, until Sun 7 Apr 0000
N gel Henderson's work has largely been ouerlooreeo. This towing exhiiwtion hoax/ever. presents a varier, se‘ection of nis li)l‘()2(;gla()"*,’ and experimental works produced DOTS/GOD 191-19 and f956.
From Eil‘ early age. Henderson undoi.btc-tl‘y :r‘loyed a calturally rich and ‘x'brant background. Growing up as a child o‘ Bloomsbury. as a ;_)rotege of Peggy Guggei‘heun and making the achuaintance ot’ severa‘ of the French Surrealists. his i()flllétlf‘.'(3 years greatly nfluenced his er and his contemrxxaries.
One of tne exhibitions highlights :5; the recreateon of Para/7e“ Of life And Art held at the ICA in 19:33 ‘31“ ch Henderson organised with Eduardo p£t().()//l. architects AllSOl‘ ai‘o Peter Snittlison and Ron; 'd JUNK f‘iSS. ()xxiig a debt to surrealist irrstallat'ons. tt‘ i. was
E;()f‘il(3'i..'l'-'\.’} of a revel; 2:0" -n post '.'.iar
82 THE LIST L”: E -’:t. '42 Mar
installation of black and white images taken from a variety of SOLirces.
Hung from the ceiling and walls. images from anatomy. architecture. art. landscape and soience create a VlSLlal melee: a leaf in close-up is leXIalDOSOU "filth an architectural city plan. Their aim was to demonstrate the comparisons between science. art. biology and geography. and as Henderson was also a biologist. this a theme which runs through much < f his CXprllHClltal x-rork and photograms.
As a documentary photographer. Henderson showed an incredible talent for the med.um. The pictures taken in the East End of London from 19419—133 are beautifully composed photograp'iic storyboards. Coming from a middle- class background. the images reveal a fascination of these unfamiliar streets.
His approach was humorous. quirky. sens'tive and absorbing. Of particular note are his portraits of children at play.
They encapsulate the innocence and toy
Teenagers, Stepney, 1 949-53
of chi:dhood. In one single shot. oi‘e girl skips. another teeters on i‘olierskates \.'.ihile yet another child plays hopscotcn. Boys on bicycles perform stunts to impress their friends. Five childrei‘ fully :mmemed in solitan. play are photographed from an aerial \. Takng docuinmtai'y pnotograpl‘s is what Henderson (lid best. Tl‘eu, perfect capture the spirit of that time. and t teretore deserye a ::ttle more exn'hit'on space illiif‘ has been allocated. More please. iHeien Monaghan
Artbeat
News from the world of art
TO RAISE FUNDS FOR ADAPT Now (Access for Disabled people to Arts Premises Today), a group exhibition and sale of work by contemporary artists is being held at Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. Here you can pick up a work by some of the biggest names in British contemporary art including Craigie Aitchison, John Bellany, Keith Coventry, Ken Currie, Charlie Nicholson (pictured), Peter Howson, David Mach, Bridget Riley and many more. The works, some of which are priced under £1000, can be paid in instalments and provides the perfect opportunity to own a piece of art and help a worthy cause. The exhibition continues until Sunday 10 March.
THE EDINBURGH POCKET Gallen, is a new (LibllCEtI‘Ol‘: .'.in=ch sho.'.cases the ‘.'.=orl< of Edinburgh artists. (D'TOEOQf'étp’Ql’S. sculptors and craftspeople. Publsl‘eo t; - "i:)":'."“,. th s free c..b?i<:atro'i is .l.stribt.tec throughout -<ii"l>.irgi"s arts uenses. cafes. restaurants and bars and features £1"C.;l‘:(l 28 artists even. .ssue. To be included in the gude. you have to be an artist "Hillg and ‘.'.iorking
n the Ed nburgn area and are current“, selling your work to" less than 35.7301) per :te-n. A of £7133 iS charged which is (“HUGO edualli, betuaeen the artist and the Sponsor. l‘ cti ‘.'.'CLl'Cl like more
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Charlie Nicholson raises funds with Jenny’s Heart
ARTORB IS A NEW ART- centred web space run from Edinburgh College of Art
which is gradually developing
into a platform for the viewing
and discussion of new contemporary visual and text arts being produced in Scotland. Found at www.artorb.co.uk, the site provides topical information about the arts, a listing section and a sounding area for discussion and suggestions.