a textured show

Testing Ground / Future Map 10
Zabludowicz Collection London
13.01-06.02.2011

Last weekend I managed to drop by the Zabludowicz Collection’s London project space for its annual show Testing Ground. Drawn by the image of a beautiful converted building and a display of art graduates in the show, it proves to be well worth the ride on Northern Line.

Soapy tit wank (2007) by Dinos Chapman at the entrance

According to the official website, "the former Methodist chapel that houses the collection was built between 1867 and 1871, in the Corinthian style. For nearly a century, it was the main place of worship for the Methodist community in north London. In 1963, the building was taken over by the London Drama School, which pioneered the Russian branch of method acting in the UK.

In 2004, when The London Drama Centre moved to new premises in Clerkenwell the building fell into disrepair. It was purchased by the Zabludowicz Collection in 2005 and was restored with a minimum of interference into its natural fabric by AHMM. It reopened to the public in September 2007 as the London home of the Zabludowicz Collection. In 2010 the foyer was redesigned by Michael Marriott." 

Tiles pattern

Window Details

The stalls

Panoramic view of the main gallery space

Testing Ground is an annual initiative for higher education in the arts and curating of the institution. Now in its 13th year, Future Map 10 participants were selected from nearly 10 000 graduating students from University of the Arts London’s six Colleges: Camberwell College of Arts, Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, Chelsea College of Art and Design, London College of Communication, London College of Fashion and Wimbledon College of Art.

An expert panel of leading industry insiders comprised of 20 Hoxton Square Projects founder Alexander Dellal, Associate Director of International Programmes for the Emirates Sharjah Art Foundation, Judith Greer, Grazia Style Director Paula Reed and Time Out London Visual Arts Editor Ossian Ward has selected 28 Future Map 10 exhibitors representing 17 different courses from across this year’s graduate and postgraduate shows. The works displayed include a wide range of disciplines from Fine Art to Fashion, and Wimbledon’s BA Technical Arts & Special Effects course makes its first Future Map appearance this year.

Installation at the rear gallery

works by StrangMacfarlane - video link

Sway by Lucia Rivero - video link

Textile design by Maryrose Watson

Chandelier: Hair Filament by Dari Bae
Interior design by Chantinee Premprabha
Object of Labour by Lillian Suwanrumpha

Full photo set

It is a wondeful experience of the space and the curatorship efforts that have been put into the show for such a wider range of works.

The organiser has arranged a late night opening tomorrow (4/2) with with special performances from Future Map artists Catherine Wharfe and Lucia Rivero and a conversation between this year’s Future Map Prize Winner, Josh Baum and Ellen Mara De Wachter, Exhibitions Curator.


View Larger Map

*****

Further Readings -
Page: Official page of Future Map with listing of all artists participated in the show
Page: Past exhibitions in Zabludowicz Collection

the season of graduation shows - Central Saint Martins

Central Saint Martin MAFA Show
01-04.09.2010

This is the last year Central Saint Martin MAFA graduates would have their graduation show in Charing Cross Road. Course Director Joanna Greenhill would be leaving th school as well this year. While nobody knows what would happen when the school re-opens next year in the transformed Granary & Transit Shed in King's Cross, we could all look back in what the MAFA students have done in the past year to mark the end of an era -

the show poster - lacks the eccentricity and edge of an art school in London?

The followings are some of the interesting finds in the show -

Josh Baum's Installation (flash clip)

a corner of the MFA show - video link

Walking up & down the Charing Cross Road building, you cannot stop reminiscing the student life in this historic block would be disappeared forever - 


panorama of internal courtyard - video link

And the luxury of being in the centre of West End, the sweeping panoramic view across the city from almost every windows facing outside is argurably the greatest asset of being a CSM student!

Full photo set

Let's hope CSM future students would have an even-brighter life in the regenerated neighbourhood, together with its many sparkling neighbours such as St Pancras Station, Kings Place, Gagosian Gallery & the Regent's Canal!

Further Readings -
Official page for CSM MFA Show 2010
Official website for Central Saint Martin
A preview of CSM's King's Cross campus opening in 2011
CSM Time #7 - King's Cross Special
Gwen Yip's blog - Working Holiday in London