‘Conversation is an exchange but it is also about moving closer to the other, taking steps into a practice that is not yours and which feels alien in some ways. We can only achieve this through questioning, finding common ground, moving away from the familiar and exploring differences. I suggest that we now become even more curious about the practice of the other until it enables us to look at our own practice through the lens of the other.’
Dr Frances Woodley – At Cross Purposes Curator
At Cross Purposes is a creative curatorial project that will lead to the production of new work and new partnerships. The title of the project reflects its mix of creative practice, conversation and curation. The purpose of the project is two-fold: firstly, to extend members’ creative practice through partnerships with artists from across various geographical, generational, thematic and processual borders and, secondly, to re-identify the 56 group both to itself and to others, as cognizant, creative, collective and critical contributor to contemporary art in Wales. 32 artists are participating in this project.
The project requires that each member be partnered with another artist and to engage with that artist and the curator in a three-way conversation. These conversations will eventually lead on to a touring exhibition and a accompanying publication.
Though highly structured, the outcome of the project is not prescribed. Tiffany Oben, 56 Group member, summarises it thus: ‘There is a sense of setting something in motion, to allow it the freedom to evolve, to see what becomes of it and where it leads. The project will result in an unspecified exchange of some kind, an act of generosity and openness in an attempt to find understanding through ‘conversation’ establishing the other as co-creator. In this way, the artist becomes explorer, collaborator, contributor, sharer, friend, and the proposed process becomes the practice regardless of expertise and preferences for media.’
We live in a time when borders, identities and loyalties are being called into question. The ways in which many artists approach this situation is by undertaking creative and dialogical practice with others. Dialogue exposes artists and their practice to the unfamiliar and overlooked and generates new perspectives. This project has the potential to create new, creative and sustainable, professional and friendly, networks beyond the group’s usual milieu, now and into the future.
The invited curator, Dr Frances Woodley, is experienced in instigating, researching and managing creative curatorial projects. Central to her projects are conversation and publication which she approaches as complementary creative practices to that of making and curation.
At Cross Purposes: three-way conversations between two artists and a curator
School of Art Museum, Aberystwyth University /
14th February – 28th April 2023
Oriel Môn, Llangefni, Anglesey /
29th April to 11th June 2023
Queen Street Studios Gallery, Belfast, /
7th – 28th September 2023
Elysium Gallery Swansea
November 10th – December 23rd
The At Cross Purposes book with introduction by Dr. Frances Woodley and forward by Bedwyr Williams is £24.00
If you are interested in purchasing a copy please email: group56wales@aol.com for our online bank details.
Our treasurer is Kay Keogh she will forward you our bank details and take details for postage.
Thank you so much for your interest!
