This is the 23rd in the series of 26 artists "pairings", and presents a collaborative installation by two of the most interesting conceptual artists of their respective generations: Jonathan Monk and Keith Arnatt.
We are delighted to announce the 23rd in our series of 26 artists ‘pairings’, a
collaborative installation by two of the most interesting conceptual artists of
their respective generations, Jonathan Monk and Keith Arnatt.
Monk’s work frequently references other artists and particularly those making
conceptual work in the 60s and 70s. Here he pays homage to one of the largely unsung
heroes of this period, Keith Arnatt, with an installation based on one of Arnatt’s
seminal texts from the 1970s. The words KEITH ARNATT IS AN ARTIST will be installed
at Monk’s direction as two identical wall texts on two facing walls in an emphatic
re-statement of the obvious but which also calls us to reconsider the work of this
important but overlooked figure in 20th century art.
Mark Haworth-Booth (previous Head of Photography at the Victoria & Albert Museum,
London) has admiringly described Arnatt as someone with a “perverse delight in
taking things literally, being so 'down to earth' that our mouths fall open in
astonishment". Monks proposal for this exhibition perfectly echos that view, and
celebrates the irreverent humour and straightforward brilliance of Arnatt’s
extensive oeuvre.
Keith Arnatt was born in Oxford in 1930 and studied at Oxford School of Art and the
Royal Academy in London. He began his career as a painter and sculptor, but in the
late 1960s moved towards more conceptual work - which he called ‘situations’ –
documenting each installation or action photographically. These included such
physically demanding pieces as Liverpool Beach Burial (1968), a line of
volunteers interred up to their necks in sand, and Self Burial - the artist
gradually disappearing, frame by frame, under a grassy field. Renowned for his
conceptual work at this time, Arnatt held solo exhibitions at Tate, London and the
Museum of Modern Art in New York. However in 1973, introduced to work of the likes
of Diane Arbus and Walker Evans by teaching colleague and Magnum photographer David
Hurn, Arnatt changed direction again, embarking on a 30 year career as a
photographer. For many years to come he would be largely overlooked by the art
world, a situation which is at last beginning to be rectified with events such as
last years exhibition at The Photographer’s Gallery, London: Keith Arnatt: I’m A
Real Photographer.
Jonathan Monk was born in Leicester in 1969. He studied at The Glasgow School of Art
from 1988-91 and now lives and works in Berlin. His substantial solo exhibition
Something No Less Important Than Nothing/ Nothing No Less Important Than
Something can be seen at Glasgow’s Tramway until 18 May, after which he will
open shows at Palais de Tokyo and Musee d’Art Moderne, Paris.
Opening Saturday 17th May
Ingleby Gallery
6 Carlton Terrace - Edinburgh
every day from 10am to 5pm
free admission