Siobhan Davies and Matthias Sperling
dal 21/2/2013 al 22/2/2013
Segnalato da
21/2/2013
Siobhan Davies and Matthias Sperling
Turner Contemporary, Margate
To hand. Performance. Responding to Carl Andre's floor-based installations, Matthias Sperling carefully moves across the gallery space, balancing himself on a set of everyday objects.
Turner Contemporary marks the end of the February half term break with a great
opportunity to see a free dance performance in Margate. Choreographed by
Siobhan Davies and dance artist Matthias Sperling, To hand is a performance
piece which counterpoints Turner Contemporary’s current exhibition, Carl Andre:
Mass & Matter. Responding to Carl Andre’s floor-based installations, Matthias
Sperling will carefully move across the gallery space, balancing himself on a set
of everyday objects. This unparalleled dance piece, which shifts the presence of
the body and movement in the gallery from a vertical to a horizontal plane,
encourages the spectator to follow the performer’s decision making as he
gradually moves through the gallery.
Originally created in response to Claire Barclay’s installation work Shadow Spans
at the Whitechapel Gallery, To hand is newly remounted to engage directly with
the exhibition Carl Andre: Mass & Matter as well as the concepts behind the eight
works by Carl Andre currently on display. Commenting on To hand Siobhan Davies
stated, “we concentrated on finding simple actions that need a complex
collection of decisions to make each movement work and be noticed."
Following on from their previous performance at Turner Contemporary with
ROTOR in March last year, the gallery is proud to welcome back Siobhan Davies
Dance, an investigative contemporary arts organisation who stimulate new
thinking based on a more contemporary definition of choreography, with their
unconventional and engaging approach to the medium of dance.
About Matthias Sperling
Choreographer and performer Matthias Sperling is an Associate Artist with Dance4 and winner of
a Bonnie Bird New Choreography Award. His solo work Riff (2007) has been presented at
international festivals including Nottdance (UK), Les Repérages (France) and Springdance
(Netherlands). His commissions have included Diplomacy (2009) a collaboration with Senegal-
based choreographer Andréya Ouamba for Dance Umbrella London, and Duet, Duet (2010) a
Southbank Centre commission responding to composer George Benjamin’s Viola, Viola.
About Siobhan Davies
Siobhan Davies is a renowed British choreographer, founder and artistic director of Siobhan
Davies Dance, having created over 40 works to critical acclaim: twice-winning an Olivier Award,
and others including Digital Dance Awards and a South Bank Show Award. She began dancing
while a student at Art College and soon joined London Contemporary Dance Theatre, founding in
1982 the influential company Second Stride with Richard Alston and Ian Spink. Her curiosity has
led her to extend her work through relationships with film, visual arts and crafts. Siobhan Davies
Dance was formed in 1988 and in 2006 moved to the RIBA award winning Siobhan Davies Studios.
Turner Contemporary
Taking inspiration from JMW Turner, Turner Contemporary is a contemporary arts
organisation based in Margate, Kent that aims to enhance the understanding and
enjoyment of historical and contemporary art with a dynamic and diverse international
programme of exhibitions and events.
Image: Siobhan Davies and Matthias Sperling, To hand (2011). Photo Pari Naderi
For more information and images please contact Press and Media Officer Monique Kent
E: mkent@turnercontemporary.org T: + 44 (0)1843 233019
Friday 22 until Saturday 23 February, 12-4pm
Turner Contemporary
Rendezvous - Margate - Kent CT9 1HG