Exeter’s Phoenix
centre is set to host Cardiff dwelling artist Mark Gubb’s upcoming new venture.
Gubb’s work provides an insight into 1980s Britan drawing upon socio-political
issues. Here, Gubb takes the time to answer some questions.
Hi Mark, what
can you tell us about the new installation?
It's a collection of new
works that encompass a whole bunch of different media and ideas. There are also
consistent ideas that run through a lot of what I do – I'm particularly
interested in misinformation, controlling forces – whether that be an obvious
one, such as an elected government, or something more unseen, such as the
psychological side of marketing – and communication between people in general,
how this can break down and the implications of that.
There is a prevailing
awareness of the 1980s that influences your work. How do you think today’s
economic climate might inspire a future generation of artists?
That's an interesting
question, in so far as in so many ways, we are in exactly the same situation
now as we were in the 80s – strikes, riots, Conservative government, military
action, economic depression – it's uncanny really. Under this government the
economic climate for the arts is only ever going to get worse, but as always
happens, interesting things come out of adversity; people making do and finding
other ways and means to realise their creative visions. The real inspiration,
so far as I see it, comes out of the reality of the day to day existence – in
the same way that I have been influenced by the climate and paranoias of the
time, so a new generation will be inspired by what's happening today.
Do you feel that
the environments in which your exhibitions are at all encompasses the message
you are conveying?
In one part of my practice,
I have a real interest in working site-specifically, responding to particular
geographies or histories, but those are specific commissions that request that
focus from the very beginning. Another part of my practice is what you'll see
at the Phoenix – a studio practice, developed around particular points of
interest I find in the world. The best analogy I can make is to think of a
gallery show as an album – a band writes an album in their garage/rehearsal
room wherever they live in the world, then that album gets listened to in
bedrooms all over the world. The connection people feel with those songs isn't
specific to their individual location, but connects for more personal reasons.
How do you feel
your will influences the perceptions of those attending the exhibition?
This is a really tough
question to answer – one of the key questions that artists have been asking
themselves forever. I may set something up in the gallery that means people can
only move through it in a certain direction, or have something very
over-bearing that I know will connect on quite a visceral level. But, at the
end of the day, any artist has to be aware that every viewer brings their own
set of ideas and experiences to any work. Some of the best insights I have ever
gained in to my own work have come through things that other people have told
me about my work, not things I have figured out for myself.
Do you think the
intention of art is to be eye-opening to those observing it or a
self-fulfilling act? Or both?
Eye-opening would suggest
that something needs to contain an inherent shock or entertainment value, then
self-fulfilling suggests something very introspective, even selfish. I'm
interested in both of those positions on some level, but also all that grey
area in the middle. All I ever really hope for my work is that it might make
someone think. Maybe hold something back up to them for another inspection and
have them thinking, 'I've never thought of it like that before'. I'm offering a
shifted perspective on the world that opens up room for discussion or
reconsideration. I'm selfish enough to think that as an artist, you don't owe
your audience anything. What I really mean is that you can't second guess who
your audience are or what they will think. It's about honesty at the end of the
day. I think most people can sense integrity and honesty a mile off, so you owe
it to them and to yourself just to be honest.
The exhibition
voices the ‘losers’ of history- who would you see as society’s present day
losers?
I
think we are living in very dangerous times, and by that I don't mean a threat
of physical harm, despite what we are told by the media, day in, day out. We
have reached a time where the economic value or cost of anything is the first
consideration of everything, as opposed to the humanitarian cost or value. We
have politicians that are so disconnected from the reality of the lives of the
majority of the population that they can't even begin to understand that
reality, let alone do anything to support or improve it. I want to live in a
civilisation that is empathetic, supportive and compassionate. You can say that
everyone is currently losing, whether we look at the erosion of the NHS and
civil liberties, basic freedoms or any kind of vision for future generations.
the way we structure our societies and values has to drastically change or
humanity is doomed. I know that makes me sound like an old hippy, but when we
have almost every area of our existence being proven to be unsustainable in the
long-term, from energy and food production, to the very air we breathe, we've
got to accept that we're losing, it's just some will be going down in luxury
yachts whilst the rest of us drown first. Either way everyone's ultimately
going down. On that happy note, I'll finish.
The exhibition
‘History is Written by the Winners’ at Exeter Phoenix centre opens on the 28th
March. Workshops and further information is also available at: http://www.exeterphoenix.org.uk/events/s-mark-gubb-history-is-written-by-the-winners/
photo credit:
For further information: http://www.smarkgubb.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment