TRA'LA

TRA'LA's Review from Sketchbook Magazine

2010-05-03T13:31:00.000-07:00

After some technical delays we have received our first review following an interview with Alice Mcconnell from Sketchbook magazine:

Ones to Watch… TRA’LA

TRA'LA is a new curatorial initiative from London based artists Eleanor Shipman and Bex Williams. Their first show 'Dead Time and Negative Space' featuring 23 emerging and established artists from across the UK, was held from 19^th – 22^nd February at Goodenough College, Bloomsbury, London.

The conceptual impetus for the show was born from a period of separation. The collaborative duo spent a summer apart, yet on reconvening found they had very similar aspirations of where to take their creative process next. “The focal point of everything we do is creating a relationship which activates the curatorial process in different ways” says Eleanor, “we wanted to create something playful… something that is a joy to view without the need for academic knowledge”. Inspired by Marina Abramovic’s request for “Dead Time and Negative Space” to support her creativity, the exhibition lauds the humble glory of the gentle banal of the everyday.

Seeking to blend the boundaries between the curatorial and artistic process, TRA’LA successfully seeks to operate as an integrated art community. “We were keen to encourage and cultivate an accessible and organic creative experience” says Bex. “As curators, we were conscious to dispel any sense of hierarchy. Everyone was very much an equal”.

Indeed, the exhibition epitomizes accessible art: to appreciate the TRA’LA works, no prior knowledge of the art historical trajectory or theory is required. As Eleanor states: “Our objective is that the viewing audience teach us the meaning of the art; we do not dictate the meaning as curators.” The visual associations are underpinned by cross references common to everyday contemporary life; they revel in the simple meditative qualities of the mundane, perfectly encapsulating the peaceful ethos behind Marina Abramovic’s quest for “dead time and negative space”. In simplicity, we find peace.

Held in Goodenough College – an international postgraduate halls housed in Grade II listed Georgian town houses – the choice of venue for 'Dead Time and Negative Space' was significant. “It is a difficult space to conquer and this challenge appealed” says Bex, “but it is also has a rich sense of community” adds Eleanor, “a real energy and continual contextual flux.” Eleanor and Bex also believed the installation and set-up process to be as important as the show itself. Marking the discourse of its creation, the initial installation process also revealed the bond and sense of community that had flourished amongst the creative collaborators.

The resulting show had a genuinely warm, sociable and accessible feel; a little like a community fete, but with conceptual works studding the walls, bottles of beer in hands. People chatted in groups, breaking away to absorb an art work, returning to discuss it. “People were born in this building; it’s a fascinating place, a real family hub” says Eleanor, “we wanted the people to live here to feel part of our exhibition, rather than pushed out by it.” Indeed the residents seemed very much part of the opening show: families mingling alongside art students, children fixated by the conceptual forms around them.

The exhibited works were united by the beauty of the everyday: the accessible object and the fluidity of visual association that unites us all. Mike Barrett’s floor-based installation ’24 Catapults, 18 Eggs and 12 Bricks’ makes the mind meander from day to day detail to another: electricity pylons, Meccano play sets, boiled eggs, (and for me personally, the machine in ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ that makes breakfast).

From a distance Emily Strange’s large-scale sketch-based work ‘Here for the Sake of Nowhere’ mimics some kind of incidental stain or mark, yet on closer inspection each part of its compositional execution is constructed via excruciatingly detailed patterns and formations. A deft structural conceit, Strange effectively meditates and expresses the beauty of the mundane – the thoughts that underpin and occupy our times of reflection or procrastination.

For a truly refreshing art experience, keep an eye on TRA’LA.

WORDS: ALICE McCONNELL

PHOTOS: LEO CINICOLO & ROB WALKER

http://www.tralapresents.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/TRALApresents

Contact Eleanor Shipman & Bex Williams: tralapresents@gmail.com

TRA'LA's DISCUSSION DAY

2010-02-22T13:43:00.000-08:00

TRA'LA's Discussion Day on Saturday 20th February also had a good turnout and was an interesting and informative day. Thanks to all the artists who took the time to chat to us about their work, and to the show's visitors who were brave enough to take part!

A FEW FROM THE OPENING...

2010-02-22T13:28:00.000-08:00

POST SHOW THANKS!

2010-02-22T09:52:00.000-08:00

Just a quick note to thank everyone who supported TRA'LA by attending the private view of 'Dead Time and Negative Space' at Goodenough College on Friday 19th February, we filled the space with about 300 - 400 of you!

Thanks also to Alice from Sketchbook Magazine who also popped in to the private view to interview Bex and I about TRA'LA and our ideas for the show. We will keep you all updated with progress on the feature. The magazine can be checked out here: http://sketchbookmagazine.com/

Well done to all of our artists who were a great support and help to us with the installation and de-installation of the exhibition and whose artworks were a huge success!

Thanks to photographers Leo Ciniccolo - www.leocinicolo.com - and Rob Walker who have also been fantastic, they documented the show for us and we will be uploading the photos shortly.

Planning the next show already...

TRA'LA PRESS RELEASE

2010-02-12T08:13:00.000-08:00

TRA’LA presents Dead Time and Negative Space

press release

“Doing nothing is tinged with guilt in our culture. [...] But just doing nothing is the first step to something else happening to you.” - Marina Abramović

TRA’LA presents Dead Time and Negative Space featuring 25 artists from Chelsea School of Art alongside both emerging and established artists from across the UK. The artists explore the theme through a diverse range of medium such as a percussionist performance which leaves the score as an installation, thus becoming ‘the shell or carapace of the performance, like a snake that has shed its skin, the negative space of the performance.... a representation of time, now dead...’; or an awe-inspiring painting which encompasses how ‘people [don’t] take time in today’s busy life to contemplate its origin’.

Other curiosities shape the space - monitors flicker with the mundanities of life; haunting miniatures remind us of our transcendental existence whilst more humorous pieces hold eggs in suspension in an elaborate system of catapults, poised and awaiting release into the void.

TRA’LA is a new curatorial initiative founded by London-based artist/curators Eleanor Shipman and Bex Williams. TRA’LA seeks to bring together a community of artists whose works reflect, investigate and compliment themes which the two creatives are exploring. TRA’LA initiates this enterprise through presenting a series of exhibitions which blend the boundaries between the physicality of an art work, with ideas of conceptual, curatorial and spatial experience.

TRA’LA is set to launch Dead Time and Negative Space as its first exhibition at Goodenough College, London WC1 N2AB on Friday 19^th February.

Dead Time and Negative Space - a single strand of an evolving idea.

Private View: Friday 19^th February 2010 from 6pm
Discussion Day and Open for Viewing: Saturday 20^th February 11am – 5pm

Goodenough College
Mecklenburgh Square
London WC1 N2AB
(Nearest Tube: St. Pancras – 5 mins walk)

www.tralapresents.blogspot.com

tralapresents@gmail.com

TRA'LA POSTER

2010-02-12T08:06:00.001-08:00

This time next week TRA'LA will have its hands full as the opening to Dead Time and Negative Space will commence from 7pm on Friday 19th February at Goodenough College. Everyone welcome to come along for a drink, looking forward to seeing you all!

TRA'LA invites YOU

2010-02-02T16:41:00.001-08:00

FULL STEAM AHEAD AS DATES ARE CONFIRMED FOR OUR SHOW

2010-01-14T11:34:00.000-08:00

TRA'LA are hugely excited as we have finally confirmed the dates for our show 'Dead Time and Negative Space'. The dates are as follows:

- Wednesday 17th - Sunday 21st Feb 2010: Entire run

- Wednesday 17th - Thursday 18th (ALL DAY AND EVENING): Installation

- Friday 19th - From 4.30 - 5.30: Finishing touches!

- From 6pm - 10: PRIVATE VIEW (FREE DRINKS! Invite family and friends!)

- Saturday 20th - Discussion Day from 10 til 5, drop in to see the show and/or join a discussion with the artists about their work and the theme 'Dead Time and Negative Space'

- Sunday 21st - De-installation

Now the ball is well and truly rolling...

2009-12-08T14:32:00.000-08:00

Goodenough College - Photos

2009-11-29T12:49:00.001-08:00

The grand 1950s halls of Goodenough College - five minutes walk from St. Pancras and available for our exhibition in February. Although not a derelict space, the rooms which will host the show contrast and compliment it's theme as they are used by a constant, lively flow of people yet exist as empty, negative spaces constantly awaiting their next inhabitant. As we have been given permission to build walls and create new spaces within the buildings the final show will look very different from these photos. We will keep you posted on our progress as we develop the design and layout of the show with architects Albert Suen and Beatrix Frankfurt .

TRA'LA has finalised a venue

2009-11-29T06:36:00.000-08:00

As previously mentioned, the expanding list of proposals forced us to move from our original exhibition venue to find something bigger and better. We have found it, in the form of a two large rooms in the 1950s built Goodenough College just five minutes walk from St.Pancras. Photos, dimensions and floor plans of the rooms will be posted soon so those of you with site specific works can begin planning!

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS re: Dead Time and Negative Space

2009-11-29T06:32:00.000-08:00

TRA'LA has finally reached the end of November... and therefore the deadline for submissions for the upcoming show 'Dead Time and Negative Space'. TRA'LA would like to thank all those who have shown their interest and taken the time to submit proposals - we have had a huge range of fantastic and exciting work from almost 60 applicants! We are now in the process of finalising those we can fit in the show and believe the most appropriate for our theme. Thank you to everyone, we will be in contact as soon as we can!

Tra'la expands

2009-10-29T16:05:00.000-07:00

Tra'la has been inundated with interest for the upcoming show 'Dead Time and Negative Space'. As a result Tra'la is now moving location as the original space Acquire Arts just isn't big enough. Tra'la is now aiming to find a space more suited to the theme, such as an unused or derelict building, to carry the exhibition through the architecture of the space as well as the works it contains.

Tra'la searches for it's first artists...

2009-10-09T09:17:00.000-07:00

Tra’la is a new curatorial initiative founded by artists Eleanor Shipman and Bex Williams and is looking for a group of artists to be involved in its first show 'Dead Time and Negative Space'. The exhibition will take place for one week in February 2010 in the beautiful gallery space Acquire Arts in Battersea. If you are interested in exploring this title or have work with this in mind and would like to be involved in an exciting new exhibition then please email your work description/proposal with photos to tralapresents@gmail.com.

Please comment if you have any thoughts or questions regarding Tra'la.

TRA'LA begins

2009-10-07T06:33:00.000-07:00

TRA’LA – A Proposal

Tra’la is a new curatorial initiative founded by artists Eleanor Shipman and Bex Williams. Tra’la has been created by these two artists with the aim of bringing together a group of artists whose work reflects, explores and compliments themes which Eleanor and Bex are exploring through the act of curating a series of exhibitions, thus blending the boundaries between physical art work, conceptual idea and curation. Tra’la hopes to become a recognised group of ever-expanding artists that not only hosts regular exhibitions but also works as a platform for emerging artists.

The first exhibition title presented by Tra’la is entitled ‘Dead Time and Negative Space’. The concerns behind this title have run across both artists work for some time, manifesting itself in various forms such as suspended two-way mirror boxes for the viewer to experience an external mental space, or interactive installation through projected text in a giant book where the viewer becomes part of a very public, but usually private, act of reading. Eleanor is now interested in the ever-decreasing amount of time in which to allow the mind to wander, as every second of ‘dead time’ – such as the bus, waiting rooms etc – can be easily filled with the current abundance of modern technology on top of the attitude that ‘dead time’ is a waste of time. Bex is currently concerned with society’s perception of what ‘dead time entails’, what one classes as ‘dead time’ and how one feels in the presence of it. Her practice is immersed in modern day living, ‘the fast life’ so to speak, where time is precious and expectations heightened. Her interest lies in the point at which ones expectations are not achieved, transforming any given situation, experience or even a fleeting moment into one that is a waste of time, ‘dead time’.

Tra’la intends the titles of each show to be interpreted in as broad a way as possible, but always retains its own thoughts on the matter, which in turn influences the curation and layout of the exhibition, and contributes to the experience intended to mix art, concept and curation together.