PACKED LINE-UP ANNOUNCED FOR GLASGOW INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF ART
By 24 Hour Museum Staff
13/02/2008
Jim Lambie, The Byrds (All Day and All of the Night (Sextaptych Roscharch)), 2005. Courtesy Gi Festival
An impressive programme of exhibitions, events and art in unusual places has been revealed for the 2008 Glasgow International Festival of Contemporary Visual Art (Gi Festival).
The festival, which will run from April 11 to 27, is loosely based around the theme of public/private this year (after which it will be a biennial event).
“Glasgow’s contemporary art scene is recognised globally as one of the most exciting today,” said Francis McKee, curator of the Gi Festival. “The Gi Festival brings together all the key organisations across the spectrum of the Glasgow’s vibrant art scene, presenting a unique event rooted in the achievements of the local artistic community while drawing on the international networks linked to Glasgow.”
Adel Abdessemed, Nafissa. Courtesy Gi Festival
The theme can be interpreted in many ways – from the intrusion of CCTV into private moments, to the changing roles of public and private art galleries. The festival’s exhibitions will take place in a variety of gallery spaces as well as public places and even a private house. More than 30 venues are participating, holding tours, gigs and talks as part of the programme.
Gallery-based exhibitions will include the largest show to date in Scotland by Turner Prize nominee Jim Lambie. Forever Changes will take over the whole ground floor gallery of GoMA, featuring a new version of his black and white striped vinyl floor work.
At CCA, Catherine Yass will show HIGH WIRE, a multi-screen installation focusing on Didier Pasquette’s walk between the Red Road Flats (co-commissioned by the Festival and Artangel).
At the Sorcha Dallas Gallery, an intriguing sounding series of works created for an uncompleted 1970s BBC TV film by Alisdair Gray will go on show for the first time.
Jonathan Monk, Second Hand Daily Exchange. Courtesy Gi Festival
One of the most exciting off-site projects will be an exhibition in a private house turned not-for-profit gallery. Commissioned by new organisation the Common Guild, it will be the first UK solo show by Algerian artist Adel Abdessemed, presented in the Glasgow house of Turner winning artist Douglas Gordon.
Another Turner Prize winner, Simon Starling will show a new work inspired by Glasgow’s cityscape in the city centre.
Another aspect of the festival this year will be profiling a new generation of artists living and working in the city. Bus tours will take visitors to see works by up and coming artists in a series of unexpected places such as alleyways, under bridges, in parks and derelict warehouses. The works will include inflatable sculptures by Iain Kettle and a collaborative project by Raydale Dower and Judd Brucke.
Kalup Linzy, a still from KK Queens Survey, 2005. Courtesy Gi Festival
“In a world saturated with information and images, the challenge to artists to articulate their vision of the world and of what art is, is more difficult now than at any other time in history,” said Mark O’Neill, Chair of the Gi Festival Artistic Advisory Committee.
“The 40 exhibitions across the city in public spaces and non-arts venues will offer the opportunity to see how artists have risen to this challenge. Gi is an unmissable chance to learn to see in new ways, through the eyes of some of the most interesting and creative people in the world today.”
With the support of the Scottish Arts Council, curators representatives from galleries across the world will be visiting the festival to see work being produced by Scottish artists in a special international ‘curators’ visit’.
