We will be working with Ken Chu again on the 27th Jan to 1st Feb at The Chinese Art Centre, Manchester. Yesterday we met with all the artists involved for a trial run.
CHANNELING ANDY
A process-based work by Ken Chu
Breathe Resident Artist Open Studio
Channeling Andy will take form with the artist working with a group of knitters in creating a series of paintings. I do not knit, but am interested in developing a project with others who have this skill. Recycling plastic carrier bags as the yarn, the knitting circle (including men) will knit sleeves to fit over monochromatic paintings. Participants are Matthew Bamber, Andrew Hardman, and Brigid Marsh. The project will also engage each of the their personal and professional networks in the process. All activities will take place in the Breathe studio, and open to the public.
My artwork investigates human economies—as in Canadian designer Bruce Mau’s definition of economy, i.e. systems of exchange. Channeling recognizes that artists are the best resources for each other, and will utilize the social economies of the knitters in rendering this project.
Each participant is asked to invite family, friends, and colleagues to assist with shredding plastic bags, winding and balling hanks, and documenting with pictures, videos, sketches, paintings, and written material as well as to engage in conversation, bring baked goods, have tea, bare witness, etc. A computer will be available for downloading the digital material for public browsing during each session. The participants will knit individual smaller works, and collaborate on a large format piece. Audiences and visitors are welcomed join in.
Channeling Andy references the social economy that evolved from Andy Warhol’s Factory; and how this multidisciplinary network was able to invent and sustain its myth and legacy. Pop and Conceptualism played a key role in shaping contemporary art. My work is informed by this as well as artists who have created work in or with communities, i.e., Mierle Laderman Ukeles, Rick Lowe, Lily Yeh, Ricardo Dominguez, British artists Lisa Cheung, and Apartment (Hilary Jack and Paul Harfleet); and those whose work makes heroic the ordinary, i.e., Pepón Osorio, David Hammons, etc. These artists have made radical, politically driven adaptations in their art form in order to challenge preconceived ideas about social structure. My work is also impacted by formal elements in the paintings of Marsden Hartley, the films of Yasujiro Ozu, the textiles of Knoll Designs, and the organic sonic collaborations of Godspeed You! Black Emperor.
Top, Brigid and Ken; Middle, Alison, Steven and Angela and Bottom, Rob and Angela
