TEMPERED GROUND at the Museum of Garden History, Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1
Anat Ben-David video 2004 (work in progress) photo: Jet1 July to 31 August 2004
Danielle Arnaud contemporary art and Parabola, in association with the Museum of Garden History, launched a new series of commissions for the summer exhibition at the Museum of Garden History, London.
While previous exhibitions at the museum have investigated the buildings own history and artefacts, 2004s show proposes collaborations between Head Gardeners and artists reflecting the many and varied roles and responses to the creation and maintenance of gardens in Britain. Establishing working dialogues with horticulturists, botanists, gardeners and caretakers, artists showing in this years exhibition include: Jo Addison, Anat Ben-David, Anna Best & Paul Whitty, David Blandy, Anna Boggon, Cleo Broda, David Cotterrell, Mark Edwards, Alexa de Ferranti, Rose Frain, Chris Jones, Janice Kerbel, Andrea Liggins, Marie-France & Patricia Martin, Maslen & Mehra, Eline McGeorge, Mr & Mrs Ivan Morison, Simeon Nelson, Natacha Nisic, Lyndall Phelps, Claudia Pilsl, Abigail Reynolds and Emma Tod.
Many Head Gardeners we are working with are involved in well-known horticultural and historical settings like Painshill Park, Winfield House, Lambeth Palace and the Eden Project; others care for National Trust sites like Packwood House and Waddesdon Manor, or English Heritage gardens at Down House (Darwins garden), Eltham Palace and Audley End House. Still others are responsible for sites like the Peabody Trusts Riverside Green Scheme as well as Lambeth and Westminster Councils busy public parks, while some nurserymen and women have been selected as subjects/collaborators as a result of their own specific and idiosyncratic approaches to building and preserving plant collections.
The resulting work will be exhibited at the Museum of Garden History through the summer of 2004 and will be linked to exhibitions at Tate Britain and the National Museum of Photography, Film & Television, Bradford. Resonance104.4fm will schedule a series of eight half hour broadcasts during July and August detailing Mr & Mrs Ivan Morisons Global Survey, a modern day expedition chronicling previously uncharted lives.
A programme of 16mm artists films curated by Peter Todd, Trees Plants Flowers Lives, explores how trees, plants and flowers have been filmed and reflects on their, however fleeting, impact on our lives. Featuring work by Ute Aurand and Baerbel Freund, Stan Brakhage, Rose Lowder, Margaret Tait and Peter Todd, the programme addresses themes from Todds earlier programme, Garden Pieces. The programme will be shown on the nights of July 21 & 22, with doors opening at 8.30pm. (Admission free - booking essential. Please call 020 7735 8292 to book or email danielle@daniellearnaud.com). A short talk with one of the evenings filmmakers will introduce the films. This programme is presented in association with an evening of films curated by William Rallison at Tate Britain, which will include Peter Todds Garden Pieces.
The exhibition will benefit from the production of a companion publication set to include commissioned essays relating to the themes of Tempered Ground as well as documentation of artists work and linked projects. There will also be an extended programme involving the artists with local primary and secondary schools at the Dan Graham Pavilion, Hayward Gallery and a series of talks, lectures and participatory events throughout July and August.
2004 has been named the Year of the Garden in celebration of the Royal Horticultural Societys 200th anniversary and public interest is anticipated for exhibitions and events relating to the traditionally eccentric practice of gardening in Britain.
Tempered Ground is part of the 2004 Vauxhall Festival.
The exhibition is curated by Danielle Arnaud, Jordan Kaplan and Philip Norman.
Jo Addison Wallet 2004
ceramic
David Blandy Barefoot Lone Pilgrim 2004
site specific performance with Shaolin uniform, portable record player, Gameboy Advance SP and assorted media
David Cotterrell Macroscope 2004
virtual 360 degree display
Mark Edwards Rotting Apples, Wheatfen Garden 2004
c-print
Rose Frain Flagging up the Black Redstart 2004
flag
Chris Jones Untitled 2004
cut-out illustrations, glue
40 x 18 x 10 cm
Andrea Liggins Garden of Wales 2004
photographs sent from mobile phone
Marie-France & Patricia Martin Unseen by the Gardener (video in progress) 2004
photography : Thierry Bal
Mr & Mrs Ivan Morison Red 2004
still from provisionally titled film Colours in Westminster
Natacha Nisic free of leaves, weeds and other debris 2004
video
Abigail Reynolds Monument to Darwin's Garden 2004
perspex, glass, magnifying glasses, lights, pins and plants
