News Saturday, August 4, 2018
www.guardianonline.co.nz
Ashburton Guardian
5
■ ASHBURTON ART GALLERY
Art with a difference at trading table By Katie todd
Katie.t@theguardian.co.nz
The Ashburton Art Gallery’s latest exhibition could see viewers leaving with changed perspectives and unexpected new acquisitions – and the artists with newfound knowledge and adaptability. Three contemporary artists from the Physics Room in central Christchurch are travelling south to present (Un)conditional IV which looks at the concepts of hosting and being a guest. Prior to existing as a physical contemporary art space, the Physics Room existed as South Island Art Projects, a siteless organisation which presented art events in all sorts of spaces. Exhibitions Assistant Nicole Bourke said (Un)conditional IV marks a return to that model, with the artists travelling to Ashburton and once again having to interact with a particular space. The artists will examine the conditions that shape cultural, legal, commercial, familial, and educational relationships, whether these are explicit, implicit, above board or sub rosa. Taking a “DIY approach,” artist Mike Hewson has hand-painted over 2000 tiles for his contribution to the exhibition, divided into three Ashburton palettes – snow, bush and tussock. He began painting the tiles at the start of the year and a number will be on sale to visitors, giving them the opportunity to “Hewsonclad” their homes. Artist John Vea’s contribution to the exhibition was inspired by a week spent in Ashburton earlier this year, immersing himself in the town and conducting research with migrants and newcomers to understand how locals welcomed them. Working outwards from the challenges he faced in locating and contacting these communities, Vea has created a suite of rendered property development drawings to propose an international food court for the now vacant iSite building to suggest an environment where a host of social interactions can occur. And back at the gallery, this
Eve Armstrong’s ongoing, interactive exhibition Trading Table has been presented in cities including Sydney, Auckland and Nelson – and will this weekend be in Ashburton as part of (Un)conditional IV. PHOTO SUPPLIED
weekend will see the third artist, Eve Armstrong, presenting her Trading Table project as part of the exhibition. Trading Table involves Armstrong setting up a table of objects in a public place and inviting people to trade with her for something on it. Armstrong explained that the (Un)conditional projects have been about exchange and value – two ideas which are also central to the Trading Table. The Trading Table first began in 2003, when Armstrong was at art school in Auckland. She would set up in a street or arcade and invite
passers-by to trade with her for something on the table. As most people would encounter the table unexpectedly, she said the trades went beyond tangible objects into all sorts of services, skills and creative ideas. “Trades are always diverse. Some are practical, others imaginative. In 2016 I took the table off the street into an art context at the Auckland Art Fair. Since then it has also been part of an art fair in Sydney and travelled to Christchurch and Nelson as part of the (Un)conditional series of exhibitions with The Physics Room. “I’ve found having the table as
part of an art-related event or exhibition has resulted in even more interesting and generous trades as it is less random than encountering someone on the street.” Recent trades through the (Un) conditional exhibitions have included a homemade three-course meal for two delivered, two hours of face-painting for a child’s party, a haircut by a professional hairdresser, a kebab tour of Berlin, a political cartoon by an 11-yearold, an art therapy session and a customised virtual reality headset. Armstrong said she doesn’t have any particular expectations of Ashburton traders.
“The table is more about coming along and being willing to work together and trade. After all the years of running the table I’m still surprised by the trades that arise every time,” she said. Armstrong’s Trading Table will be at the gallery from 12noon to 4pm on Saturday and 11am to 4pm on Sunday. The (Un)conditional IV exhibition opens officially on Sunday at 5pm when the public are invited to join the artists and curators for a discussion about their work and collaboration. The exhibition runs until August 31.
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