19/5/2003
M.O
Standard Bank Gallery, Johannesburg
Occupying both downstairs galleries, M.O: Trinity Session Artministration is the trinity session's first solo exhibition, a information and artifact show presented as a self-critical 'portrait' and autopsy of the trinity session's work ethic and strategies.
Trinity Session Artministration
What happens when three artists begin to work together? ... Who is responsible for
the work produced? ... How does this begin to change the way we think about
authorship or individual ownership? ... What is creative business practice? ... How
is this important for the way contemporary art is discussed, criticised, managed
and published?
Occupying both downstairs galleries, M.O: Trinity Session Artministration is the
trinity session's first solo exhibition, a information and artifact show
presented as a self-critical 'portrait' and autopsy of the trinity session's
work ethic and strategies.
the trinity session is a challenging, Johannesburg-based independent
contemporary art production team practising in public/social art projects,
project initiation and production, curating, research and critical writing,
directed by three multidisciplinary artists (Stephen Hobbs, Marcus Neustetter
and Kathryn Smith).
the trinity session was founded at the end of 2000 in direct response to a
radical change in how the local artworld was structured, with several galleries
and institutions closing or restructuring in the face of a tight economic
climate less favourable to contemporary arts and culture. This meant fewer
opportunities for publishing or exhibiting experimental work by young, cutting
edge contemporary producers. Working collaboratively, sharing resources and
benefiting from each others' respective areas of specialization (urban
development, body politics and digital/electronic media) has seen the trinity
session grow from a small communal office in Greenside to occupying substantial
space at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre and looking forward to launching the
new-look PREMISES gallery at the end of 2003 on the Braamfontein Theatre
Precinct.
M.O: Trinity Session Artministration presents almost two years' worth of trinity
session projects, ranging from artistic experimentation to applying similar
skills to research-based or commercial projects. The exhibition is divided into
two distinctive areas, one focusing more on the idea of 'project artifacts',
presented as a multimedia installation that will integrate the viewer in an
audio-visual sensation of multi-layered drawn, projected and screen-based
content. In the adjacent gallery, information will be clearly laid out to
introduce a range of contemporary art practice and alternative strategies to
taking on the complex nature of working as artists, curators, administrators and
facilitators, as well as a business. Presented as both critical and
tongue-in-cheek, these definitions, documents and diagrams can be used to
navigate one's way through the exhibition, laying bare the intellectual property
that makes up so much of what the trinity session is about.
The M.O of the title refers to both 'modus operandi' and 'mobile office', two
requirements developed in response to common needs expressed by a growing
network of artists and colleagues. Where possible, the trinity session acts as a
facilitator, collaborating with or publicising young artists in various ways
(international festivals, broadcast - online and television). This facilitation
that takes advantage of building a knowledge-base while taking care of promotion
and collaboration. Because of previous, individual experiences around
knowledge-building processes (research and networking) and group practices
(curating exhibitions, project management, international travel), the trinity
session occupies a relatively sophisticated position in relation to local and
global contemporary art practices, which enables the unit to use particular
power relationships towards building a more solid infrastructure for the local
visual arts context and developing local content that's not being adequately
archived and showcased.
Opens at 6pm with guest speaker Penny Siopis
The exhibition will have a strong educational aspect, including guest speakers
and an information handout.
for more information please contact:
Stephen Hobbs 082 897 7498
Kathryn Smith 082 773 7033
Marcus Neustetter 082 929 1569
Standard Bank Gallery, Johannesburg, SA