The Unwanted Giftshop exhibition by Mitra Memarzia.
This exhibition saw the artist's studio in the gallery turned into a gift shop where unwanted items have been donated and given a new lease of life.
This exhibition supports participatory art as visitors to the gallery can participate by donating their unwanted gifts/objects and observe how art can be used to transform these items and objects which then do become valuable to someone else or in fact themselves. The participants who donated their items and objects will then be invited back to the artists studio to either reclaim or swap their transformed items.
Mitra Memarzia explains,
"The Unwanted Gift shop playfully explores the values we place upon objects which we deem as unwanted and the transformative nature of art. An an old jumper may be transformed into something beautiful and valuable, blurring the boundaries between the exchange of gifts as ideas and using imagination and conversation as currency" (Mitra Memarzia, 2009).
Unfortunately when we visited the gallery, the artists studio was closed, but here are some photos that were taken of the shop through the studio window:
Party! By a range of participating artists
This exhibition marked the gallery's 10th birthday, and the exhibition presented an eclectic range of works that are linked through broad reference to the word 'party'. Interpretations of the word 'party' included music, singing, dancing, food, drink, dress, and even the morning after the night before! Here are some highlights of this brilliant exhibition:
'Dangerous' by Yang Mian
This sculpture of Michael Jackson was absolutely brilliant! It's completely made out of bronze which has then been glazed. To look at, you wouldn't think that it is actually made out of bronze due to its shiny quality. I was really surprised when I was told that it was made out of bronze by one the gallery assistants.
Michael's iconic performance skills have been captured by the artist, which leaves a lasting legacy of him, his music, and his skills as a performer and an entertainer.
'Gold Fish' by Zhang Peng
I found this painting to be rather sinister and morbid. The artwork reminds me of a science fiction scene. The juxtaposition of the girls innocence and vulnerability is vividly contrasted with the premonition and the bludgeoning of the gold fish across the scene that Peng has created.
'The Dance' by Paula Rego
Image reference: http://www.tate.org.uk/servlet/ViewWork?workid=17349&tabview=text
This is one my all time favourite pieces of art and I was thrilled that it was a part of this exhibition!
The piece represents shows and represents a dance. This is the dance of life from the perspective of Paula Rego herself. The different figures within the painting represent the stages from Rego's childhood to her older age. From engaging with the painting, I feel that there is a dreamy like feel to the piece which could refer to both Rego's childhood fears, fantasies, change, and existence.
'Disco Mecanique' by David Batchelor
This installation was the absolute highlight for me in the exhibition! This was the only place where photo's could be taken in the exhibition.
David Batchelor has used hundreds upon hundreds of plastic sunglasses and transformed them into disco balls which are suspended and turn in the air. The sunglasses were purchased from San Paulo in Brazil.
The kaleidoscopic balls of colour rotate slowly and silently, a galaxy of spinning globes is created, which throw pools of transparent colours across the room as they pass through the light.
A great exhibition which brought together and celebrates both contemporary and more historical art work.
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