the big move

This is all very weird - packing up my stuff and moving to a new space. I've been at Studio Voltaire for going on 4 years now, and it's been a great place for me. Close to home, nice people, lovely space. OK, it's freezing in the winter, but we do have the benefit of the Studio Cats, and I will miss them, along with some pretty special people. But everything's packed up now, and I'm making the move on Saturday.

Today was actually my last 'working day' in the space, and even though things are a bit chaotic (as you can see), it was rather nice to get lost in a piece of work and forget about boxes and moving and the logistics of working out the new space. Nevertheless, I'm really looking forward to working with Steve and Helene as we bring TangentProjects into being. We now have a mailing list function on the website so drop by and sign up to be updated on the upcoming launch and future events.

russell herron is a real artist

Private View tonight: 14th May 6.30 – midnight

Exhibition runs through June 14th 2008
Rhythm Factory
16-18 Whitechapel Road, London E1 1EW

it's all happening

TangentProjects has found a home. As in, a Real, Physical Space. More on this later but it looks like we will be moving in on the 24th.

And you thought I was just sitting around watching The Apprentice and eating BonBons. Fooled ya, didn't I?

In the meantime, there's a launch event for a new space called Working Rooms this coming Saturday, from 8pm at 242-248 Kingsland Road. E8, 3rd floor.

So if you're here, be there.

somewhere on the way to sicily

Taking a line for a walk - or maybe a fly... a sort of drawing, seen from 20,000 feet or so. Beautiful, isn't it?

sorry, it's becoming a bit of an obsession...

new neighbours

seen at old street tube station

placeless maps

Work in progress. Let's see where it goes...

LookSee

Issue 11 is out now.

it is april, right?

parallex at fieldgate

Went to the private view for Parallex at Fieldgate last night - phwor, what a show. Aside from the fact that there was so much interesting work (and from some Big Names as well) it was the curation that struck me most. It just flowed. Let's face it - curating shows in such a vast space (10,000 square feet) is tricky (hey, could you do it??) and with this show Richard Ducker outdid himself - in fact, this is probably one of the best shows I've seen at Fieldgate, and that's saying something, because there have been many in the gallery's short and soon-to-end life. When we were leaving, someone asked me what my favourite piece was. I thought about it for a moment and decided it was impossible to choose. The show is on until 20 April - go and see it if you can.

the phobia list

Hong Kong artist Ivy Ma has a great post about the politics of fear, which is actually quite serious, and a phobia list, which is quite funny. There's even a website where you can buy the list as a poster (in case you need to make sure you are on target with what you should be afraid of, or in case you want to rid yourself of phobias). The list is quite long, of course. . .Her post is certainly timely, what with all the hoo haa about BAA wanting to fingerprint everyone using Heathrow's new Terminal 5 as a strategy for keeping Britain safe from terrorists and benefit fraudsters and suchlike.

Sometimes it amazes me how stupid we are, allowing ourselves to be so easily manipulated by this notion of fear. Not to say that there aren't things to be afraid of, but let's face it - it's so obvious that promoting fear on a daily basis is more a means of control than it is a safety measure.

dear you, the book

YOU is a letter addressed to you from various writers, usually handwritten and carefully sealed in a small paper bag. There’s always some sort of mark or trace on the bag, like a random object glued on, or a drawing or stencil, and the staples are always perfectly spaced. It’s been faithfully written and distributed anonymously within Melbourne (as well as lots of other parts of the planet) on a weekly basis since November 2001. There’s something endearing about the fact that this little piece of work has been sustained for so long. A labour of love, You is a platform to give voice to thoughts in a unique way. It exemplifies the spirit of zine culture – long live You!

Now there’s YOU the book, an anthology of letters from the first five years, put together in a nice little perfect bound book for your reading pleasure. It’s published by Breakdown Press in Melbourne.

fuck myspace

Delete, delete, delete. I've had enough.

rabbiting away

I'm putting the finishing touches on the latest issue of my zine, and I have to say, it's really been eye opening. This issue is all about the Hong Kong contemporary art scene, and the artists and artist - run spaces I have been in contact with are, well, simply amazing.

There is a sense of freedom and a certain sensibility in their work that I don't much find here in London. Perhaps it's because the art scene there is much smaller, and on a global scale Hong Kong is still somewhat marginalised and eclipsed by Mainland China. But what I'm seeing is really fresh and innovative. It makes me laugh, it makes me think, and it touches me deeply. Not to say there isn't great art (and artists) here, just that sometimes it's good to get a different perspective and make an attempt to look at the world in another way through different eyes.

And the world is an increasingly small place, which for me, isn't such a bad thing. It's great to be able to connect with other artists without the constraints of geographical or cultural boundaries. And what I notice the most from all my email exchanges with artists here, there and everywhere is the commonality - we all struggle with the same issues: finding suitable and affordable space in which to work, getting work out there and into shows, finding ways to fund ourselves, deciding what sort of success is the most important to us... the list goes on. It's all the same yet we all wrestle with it and present our thoughts and ideas in different and unique ways. Somehow that's comforting.