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November 19, 2006
By 'eck it's the Biennial
For ten weeks every two years, several hundred of the world's most exciting visual artists show their work in over 40 locations across Liverpool city centre, from major gallery spaces to unexpected temporary locations. And, for the most part, I ignore it.
Bad Lizzy!
It's not that I don't like art, I do, but I'm a philistine. I either like something or I don't, understanding it has no effect on that whatsoever. My friend, Jim (who I describe as "very arty") has many times tried to encourage me to visit exhibitions and to show me the messages the particular artist of the day is trying to convey.....
ME: I don't like that!
JIM: But the artist is trying to make us see the passive fragility of the human condition juxtaposed to the strength and weight of the elephant pulling the combine harvester....
ME: Yeah but it's shit!
And so it goes.
But once again the Biennial is upon us and this week is the final week. Flicking through yesterday's Guide I happened upon the exhibitions page for Liverpool. There are some 40 or so exhibitions going on of all shapes and sizes right across the city. I idly suggested to mother that we should make the effort and go, at least to some of them (and she idly agreed). To be honest I was sure I'd wake up this morning thinking I couldn't be bothered, Sunday's such a boring day after all, but I pushed myself into it and off we marched.
Our first visit was to the Bridewell Studios (I'll spare you the story of how we missed our bus stop and ended up in Wavertree). We were met at the door by a guy who, it turned out, is one of the 34 struggling artists who use the 28 studios in this converted victorian police station. He told us we were lucky to catch him, "it's a bit hit and miss on Sundays", but we were glad we did.
How Things Fly features works by Nichola Pemberton and Sue Goldschmidt and we loved it. Sue Goldschmidt's hanging installation using wire and ceramics was incredible and beautiful, while Nichola Pemberton's Trampolining series of paintings provoked much discussion, that's a rarity amongst philistine's like us. When we told our host, who introduced himself as George, that we were leaving he asked us where we were going next. "To the WAG" we told him, "OK I'll drop you down there". We didn't argue.
Now I know what you're thinking about two vulnerable women accepting lifts from strangers but, what the hell, we were on an adventure. After manhandling mother into the back of George's van (the dog was on the front seat so, of course, we sat in the back), we enjoyed a brief history of the studios and some tips on where the best exhibitions were to be seen before being dropped at the door of Liverpool's biggest gallery, The Walker. Before waving us goodbye, George stuffed some leaflets in our hands.... "tell your friends" he said "if anyone ever needs a man with a van". Sure enough, they were leaflets advertising George's services and those of his van too.... dog optional!
As we mounted the steps to the WAG, the only thing I could think to say was "surreal".
Inside we visited the John Moores 24 exhibition and as usual there were upsides and downsides to that but we particularly enjoyed Insyde, an interactive animated installation that was great fun. We giggled about as much as the two little boys who were in there with us. We loved it!
After lunch we decided to head for the top end of town, there are many exhibitions in and around Slater Street so we were spoiled for choice but we found Static by Steven Gent (described by Ian Jackson of artinliverpool.com as a genius). His pieces were created using bitumen on vinyl with a small electric current passed through them. This causes the bitumen to create the image - wonderful. Our day was made when we realised that the young guy we were talking to (about the works) was the artist himself and he was very happy to talk to us. For me, the day was made perfect when he told us he didn't try to put a message into his works, preferring to let the viewer do that for themselves. Hear that Jim?
So that was our day...... stimulating, interesting, funny, thought-provoking, awe-inspiring, educational..... just like a Sunday should be I guess. What did you do today?
Posted by lilliebet at November 19, 2006 06:29 PM
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Comments
Late as usual, but I just checked out the promo video for Insyde - brilliant! I'm an art philistine, too, but some of it is really good. It's a pity we have to go through all the rubbish to find the outstanding ones.
Posted by: Mister2 at December 16, 2006 03:38 PM