Constructing the Archive

Barter Auction is an exploration of power, commerce, and accumulation of capital through a performative auctioning of Billingsgate artworks. The exhibition attempts to utilise the economics of the art world and create artworks that can question capitalist power structures in our society, performing the consumption of memories as a critique of value production and the commodification of memories. Wong will hold an auction performance during the exhibition ‘selling’ her works, encouraging the visitors to reflect on the existing capitalistconsumerist culture and the social impact of gentrification. This ‘auction’ will not be the last, rather marking the beginning of the many auctions in the future as the market continues to be displaced.

In reference to urban legend and folklore, Wong has developed eight highly personal sketches and legendary stories of the fishmongers, alongside 3D-printed ceramics of their memorable objects, to be shown in a physical exhibition and live auction performance. Created from bone china extracted from fish bone ash, each work is formed by directly using the 3D-scanned data from the fishmongers’ objects. This exhibition will underscore an integral part of Wong’s practice — an ongoing dialogue with marginalised communities and an exploration into constructs of identity all through artistic practice.

Since October 2019, every morning before dawn breaks, Wong has immersed herself into sketching in Billingsgate as a way of opening up dialogue with the fishmongers. In early explorations of individual and communal identity in the market, she recorded and documented the fishmongers’ stories, and witnessed their strong community bond. She has since sought to construct an archive called Barter Archive involving the fishmongers in order to give visibility, respect and compassion to the invisible or marginalised communities on the Isle of Dogs.

A rare pair of white work boots of Sammy the Seal, Protector of the Billingsgate Fish Market. Featuring slip resistant soles with round toes, Size 42. Signed by the owner.

Year: 1962 Size: 350 x 300 x 150 mm Exchange Date: 27Jan2021 Provenance: Bill Thornton, Billingsgate Seafood Training School

A small keyring figuring a butterflyfish accented with brilliant-cut oval sapphires. Signed by the owner.

Year: 1991 Size: 65 x 150 x 25 mm Exchange Date: 26Nov2021 Provenance: Muhammad Usman Ashra, Polydor Seafood

Designed as a smirking lobster mint tin made into a necklace, measuring approximately 405mm, Signed by the owner.

Year: 1973 Size: 12 x 85 x 4 mm Exchange Date: 15Jan2021 Provenance: Mark Andrew Wilkinson

Trophy showing the Billingsgate flame with an enamelled image depicting the finalists of the match featured in the centre. “BILLINGSGATE 5’S WINNERS 1987” is engraved on the

Year: 1987 Size: 150 x 70 x 70 mm Exchange Date: 7Nov2020 Provenance: Chris Jacobs, John Stockwell Ltd.

Barter Auction is happening on the Roof Garden of Canary Wharf.

Lobster, Guardian of the Billingsgate Parking Lot. Preparing the lots of the Barter Auction.

The exhibition is on! Mr. Nick White is making his bids.

Until now, Barter Archive constructed a permanent online archive, 2 physical exhibitions, and 5 guest seminars, in which speakers are from institutions or academia, including Tate Archivists, University College London, AiR, and the Whitechapel Gallery. The project was also invited by the Kingston University, Brighton University, Royal College of Art for guest talks. In 2021, Pat was invited and partershiped with Museum of London to exhibited and conducted a talk in the Being Human Festival: The Food and Idea Exchange.

In 2022, the Barter Archive was collected by the Museum of London, where Wong was trained as an archivist-researcher for the project’s ongoing development.

To celebrate the community bonding and reflect the unique identity of the Billingsgate Fish Market, artist Pat Wingshan Wong collaborates with the fishmongers to create an archive that includes memorable objects (e.g. disappearing porter badges, a rarely-seen shark skeleton, an invaluable lobster necklace, etc.) that were ‘bartered’ by her observational drawings. She will exhibit and present her barter process during the event.

One after another, the 6-participant will open their respective boxes and share with the group their content and meaning. However, the process is meant to be fluid, responsive – we can embrace a sparkle of chaos. If a theme, question, format, approach seems to connect with your own process, you are invited to jump in, break the rhythm, share one of your items even if your box is closed. You are allowed to exchange items with the other participants, to engage with their personal approach.

A guest talk about the soical engagement practice of the Barter Archive project for whole year BA Visual Communication studnets in School of Art & Media, University of Brighton.

Richard Martin, Daskalopoulos Director of Education & Public Programmes at Whitechapel Gallery and Jessie Brennan, Visiting Tutor at Royal College of Art and Pat Wingshan Wong, the artist (the guv' nor of Barter Outlet) come togather to bring different perspectives and voices towards this community-led project.

Invsible Borders is a collaboration bewteen the Royal College of Art Walkative Society and students from the Nuremberg Academy of Fine Arts under Susanne Kohler. As co-director of the Walkative Society, Pat worked with Susanne, to organise and take part in an digital exchange which took place over the winter of 2020/2021. Pat brought in the Barter Archive project in to the programme and exhibiting the research process in Akademiegalerie Nürnberg and Kurt Kurt Gallery, Berlin.

It is a two-day workshop exploring two different markets in London including a workshop from guest artist Tamara Stoll who is currently a tutor at the London College of Communication. Participants will experience how walking can be used as a research method, as an investigation of a place and how we can use this method to articulate our voices in response to the issues we discover. The workshops will be a mixture of talks, practical exercises and discussion, including the use of breakout rooms to allow smaller group discussions.