New Contemporaries

New Contemporaries is the leading UK organisation supporting emergent art practice from British Art Schools. Since 1949 New Contemporaries has consistently provided a critical platform for new and recent fine art graduates primarily by means of an annual, nationally touring exhibition. Independent of place and democratic to the core, New Contemporaries is open to all.

One of only two open exhibitions in the UK, participants are selected by a panel comprising influential art figures including curators, writers, and artists often who have themselves previously been a part of the New Contemporaries, and a rigorous process that considers the work within a broad cultural context. The selectors for 2012 are Cullinan Richards, Nairy Baghramian, and Rosalind Nashashibi.

It is great, I was aware of the BNC prior to meeting with the people behind it, by coming across it during the 2010 Liverpool Biennial in A Foundation. The following year I took note of artist Cornelia Baltes, mesmerised by her Photoworks I, which consisted of carefully composed photographs touching on painterly elements. The strong use of colour and shape was what truly drew me into her work.   

Untitled (Bird), Cornelia Baltes

This years exhibit will be held in a new space in Liverpool, one the BNC are currently working on to improve the impact of the work. As I said in a previous post, I will be lending a helping hand to the core team this year. Things are already appearing quite exciting!

Ask Why? MCR2LDN and London

Quite a bit has happened since my more weekly updates regarding my work, my BA Photography course at Manchester Metropolitan and my updated artist research sections on weekly occurrences.

The work I created for the degree show was finally titled What Bloomed of Us, it made it to an exhibiting stage, twice. First one happening at the Manchester School of Art’s ASK WHY? Degree show, and then apart of the MCR2LDN exhibition group in Shoreditch, London. 

The exhibit in Manchester, 

and it up in London.

Both shows were a grand success, especially MCR2LDN's efforts in the Gallery of Redchurch Street, Shoreditch, London. 

The opening night had a good turn out, with a packed venue. The days that followed for the gallery was also successful. On average we had 90 people visiting a day. 

The table at the gallery, filled with artist books.

After graduating, I had to make a last minute decision to move back to London from Manchester. So, unfortunately I can no longer have Originates from London, but resides in Manchester in any of my profile sections!

Financially it will work out better for me. It also happened to be because I have been fortunate enough to start working with the great people at Bloomberg New Contemporaries down here in London for their open at the Liverpool Biennial. 

I am still working on my own projects and photography. The break in practice has been much needed for thought, and plans.

The Boy, and His Room

Before the boy packed his glam bag bound for Orlando, FL for a years tanning session.  I got the chance to recreate something 70's worthy photographing Andrew Gott in his far from shy bedroom.