Laura Cooper
Oliver Cronk
Petra Kubisova
Anna Lopez
Amanda Millis
Linda Stupart
Giulia Casalini
Diana Georgiou
Happiness seems to have become inextricably linked with consumption: a disposable value, instantly gratifying and on demand. The artists selected reflect on the notion of happiness in order to elaborate new values, failures and escapades.
curated by Giulia Casalini & Diana Georgiou
Organisational assistant: Laura Di Nicolantonio
The persistent throbbing imperative to 'BE HAPPY' has converted almost every aspect of communal humanity into an exchange value. Happiness seems to have become inextricably linked with consumption: a disposable value, instantly gratifying and on demand.
Happiness is not a pre-packaged product that can be purchased off the shelf. It is not a condition and/or situation, which is fixed and determined by unitary social constructs. It is NOT an imperative and it is even less so when it forces us to abide by a hypocritical configuration of happiness that subordinates rather than liberates.
The question is: whose happiness are we adopting and what sort of happiness are we perpetuating? To what extent are we willing to subsist in pursuing happiness when the failure to do so can be equally gratifying? How powerful, vigorous and free are alternative cultural forms of production? How do they contest dominant forms of happiness, or what contradictions do they mediate, resolve or fail?
Our approach will stress feminist, queer and affective methodologies as alternatives to the mainstream interpretations of happiness and imperatives of success, work, consumption and belonging. The artists selected reflect on the notion of happiness in order to elaborate new values, failures and escapades.
Artists:
Laura Cooper, Oliver Cronk, Petra Kubisova, Anna Lopez, Amanda Millis and Linda Stupart
Programme:
SAT 09 MAR
18:00 – 22:30 Private View: Laura Cooper, Oliver Cronk, Petra Kubisova, Anna Lopez, Amanda Millis and Linda Stupart
Anna Lopez, “Happiness is...” (action at Broadway Market)
SUN 10 MAR
Anna Lopez, “Happiness is...” (action at Tesco, Morning Lane)
SAT 16 MAR
14:00 – 16:00 The practicing artist, Amanda Millis, labours in the gallery space
Anna Lopez, “Happiness is...” (action at Ridley Market)
18:00 – 21:30 Nik Rawlings, Carrie Topley and Nena Zinovieff perform Oliver Cronk’s piece
SUN 17 MAR
14:00 – 16:00 The practicing artist, Amanda Millis, labours in the gallery space
THU 21 MAR
19:00 – 22:30 Mikey Weinkove: “Talkaoke” with special guests Jesse Darling (post-media artist, critical thinker) and Dr. Nina Power (writer, activist and senior lecturer at Roehampton University)
FRI 22 MAR
14:00 – 16:00 The practicing artist, Amanda Millis, labours in the gallery space
SAT 23 MAR
16:00 – 19:00 Exploring the Fruits of Vagicraft(ing) with Amanda Millis
WED 27 MAR
19:00 – 22:30 Screening “Body consumed: identification and appropriation in contemporary artists’ videos” with works from Aneta Mona Chisa & Lucia Tkacova, Johannes Evers, Oriana Fox, Nikolaj Bendix Skyum Larsen, Niklas Laustiola and Nadja Verena Marcin
Preview: 9 March 2013, 6pm - 10:30pm
Sunbury House, 1 Andrews Row,
E8 4QL, London
Opening Time: Wednesday - Sunday, 12pm - 6pm
www.happinessnow.yolasite.com/