Visual Art
London-based filmmaker Keren Cytter talks to Alexander Kennedy about her new work on show at the Edinburgh’s Collective Gallery
Alexander Kennedy Can you tell us what you'll be showing at the Collective and about the work's subject matter?
Keren Cytter I'm showing seven videos in one room called ‘The Dates Series’ and three videos in another room with wall text. The subject matter of the works is very different. The topic of ‘The Dates Series' is “Time and narrative. black and white'. The topics of the videos in the other room could be described as: ‘Music. fun, family longing and colour'.
AK Your work. while sometimes dark, can also be quite funny.
I“: The humour comes out of embarrassment and the serious parts come out of stress — so I don't know how much I'm actually controlling these two. i try to give the films a solid sense of structure. but i don't care so much what this structure is. as long as it's stable and generally makes sense.
AK It's been said by one critic that you do not try to ‘impress the viewer with aesthetic considerations'. Is this correct? Isn't this kind of ‘anti-aesthetic' a style in its own right?
Kc That’s true. I think the person who wrote it was just not impressed! Of course I'm trying to create an aesthetically pleasing image — when I shake the camera I suppose you could say I'm trying to impress by consciously employing a ‘homemade aesthetic’.
AK What other projects are you working on and how have you seen your work develop?
I“: I recently finished a feature film and I’m planning to make a short video with fake blood in it and explosions (all in my house). I‘m also planning to make two other videos — one will be with naked people and is about the mess that society’s in right now, the other one is for a project in Holland, and will be shown in theatres. I don't know how my work is developing and I'm not too sure it’s developing in a straight line. It goes in all kind of directions that sometimes seem like dead ends. I don't have much control over it.
I Collective Gallery, Edinburgh, until Sat 79 May.
94 rue LIST 1024 May 2007
I NATIONAL GALLERY OF SCOTLAND
The Mound. 624 (i200. Mon \Ved & Fri Sun 10am 5pm: Thu 10am 77pm. Drawing to an End L'ntil Sun 29 Jul. This exhibition of the preliminary sketches done by artists to prepare for larger works promises to be an interesting insight into the workings of the creative process. and includes a pen and wash drawing by Raphael. created when preparing for his masterpiece Mar/(mm! oft/iv l’is/i. along with work by Van 1)yck. Rubens. Rembrandt and Sir David Wilkie.
I ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN (INVERLEITH HOUSE)
lnverleith Row. 552 7171. Tue Sttn 10am 5.30pm.
Meme Cunningham and John Cage: No Fixed Points tintil Stm 8 Jlll. An unusual collection of drawings by America's greatest living choreographer and best-known 20th century composer. Accompanied by a programme of live music.
I NATIONAL GALLERY OF MODERN ART
75 Bell'ord Road. 624 ()200. Daily 10am-5pm.
Off the Wall l'ntil Mon 28 May. Inspired by the gztllet‘y"s acquisition of impressive floor-based works. inclttding Nathan (‘oley's 'I'liv Lump of Sacrifice. 28/) Places (if. Bins/lip. Iz‘iliiiliiirg/i. 2004 and Martin (‘reed‘s Work .\'u.37() Bulls (the latter comprising over 800 inflatable balls of various sizes). the exhibition shows how contemporary artists have removed art from walls and plinths to create works shown directly on the lloor or hanging from the ceiling. ()fl'tln' ll'u/l also sees the return of favourites such as Jim Lambie's /()Ii’()l’. Yinka Shonibare‘s Sun. Sm and Sand. and (‘hristine Borland’s Spirit (‘o/li’t‘tion: [lip/Minutes.
I STILLS
2.3 (‘ockburn Street. 622 (i203.
11am (3pm.
Jerwood Photography Awards 2007 Sat 12 May Fri 15 Jtm. Showcase exhibition of innovative new works by the winners of the Jerwood
Photography Awards 2007. NEW SHOW
I TALBOT RICE GALLERY 1'niversity ol' lidinburgh. South Bridge. 650 2210. Tue Sat 10am 5pm.
Alex Pollard: Black Marks t'ntil Sat 2 Jun. See review. page 91.
Ruth Montada: Schnorkeleien l'ntil Tue 5 Jttn. Montada creates a riotous explosion of colour with specially printed ‘wallpaper‘ iii the Talbot Rice‘s Round Room.
I AMBER ARTS
78 Montrose Terrace. Abbeyliill. ool 1167. Tue Fri 10am 5pm; Sat
10am 2.30pm.
Jannica Honey L'nlil Sat 12 May. A new exhibition of unblinking. realistic 'anti-fashion’ pictures from the Swedish- born. 1idinburgh-based photographer.
LAST CHANCE TO SEE
I ANALOGUE
102 West Bow. 220 0601. Mon Sat 10am - 5.30pm.
Chinmi by Eri ltoi t'ntil Sat 19 May. Delicate. tiny. precise drawings of people by the Japanese artist. ‘(‘hinmi' is a Japanese word that is usually ttsed to describe food you are not used to eating or have never had before or don't think is edible. It also means ‘delicacy'. LAST CHANCE TO SEE
I ATTICSALT
50 Thistle Street. North liast Lane. 225 2093. Wed Sat 1 Iain bpm.
Aliens l7ntil Sat 2 Jttn. Iixhibition of artists from France. Japan. (iermany. (‘hina and l'nited States who live and work in lidinburgh.
L...
I CORN EXCHANGE GALLERY (‘onstitution Street. 561 7300. Wed Sat 1 1am 4.30pm. Free.
Peter Jaques: Babble t'ntil Thu l-l Jun. Four new literature-inspired works created by Jaques using his unique practice of performed photography to produce long reams of paper coated in handwriting.
I DOGGERFISHER
l l (iaylield Square. 558 71 10. Tue Fri 1 1am (ipm; Sat noon-5pm . Hanneline Visnes Fri 18 May Sat 7 Jul. A new solo show for the Glasgow- based Norwegian artist. known for her intriguing works on paper and board. NEW Si 10W
I INGLEBY GALLERY
(i (‘arlton Terrace. 556 4-1-11. Tue Sat 10am 5pm.
Peter Liversidge: For They Know Not What They Do Sat 12 May- Sat 23 Jun. See preview. page 91. NEW SHOW
I SCOTTISH GALLERY
lo l)undas Street. 558 1200. Mon—Fri 10am 6pm: Sat 10am 4pm.
Duncan Ross, Duncan Shanks, Birgit Laken l.’nti1 Wed 30 May. New mixed exhibition of silver work. oils and pottery.
Artist Spaces
I PATRIOTHALL GALLERY \VASPS l’att‘iothall Studios. off-18 Hamilton Place. 226 7126.
Rainbow Group: Art Never Ending t'ntil Wed to May. A series of abstract acrylics and bright etchings. Rainbow (iroup are a group of (ierman artists living close to Munich. LAST CHANCE TO SEL-
I RED DOOR GALLERY
-12 Victoria Street. 477 3255. Mon Sat 12.30 5.30pm; Sun noon 5pm. Free. I’m Much Better Now, Thank You Fri 1 1 Fri 25 May. New work from artist
0le Design lt lef
An exhibition of art, design and anti- design for independent music. From
(‘hris Macfarlane. who creates 31) collages tn boxes incorporating collage.
' drawings. typography and found objects. NEW SHOW
I MULTREES WALK
5 St Andrew's Square.
Diorama l'ntil Sat 30 Jun. Three FICA graduating students take over the empty shop fronts around Harvey Nichols with
installations meditating on the fantasy of luxury consumerism.
r I our or THE BLUE DRILL HALL
Public Galleries
30-36 1)a|meny Street. Leith. 556 7100. Tue-Sat 10am- 6pm.
Out of the Blue Group Show tintil Sat 26 May. lluge group show encompassing over 100 artists. designers. thinkers and doers to launch the Out of the Blue Drill Hall gallery space.
Outside the cities
I DUNDEE CONTEMPORARY ARTS
152 Nethergate. 01382 909900. Tue. Wed. Fri & Sat 10.30am 5.30pm: Thu
10.30am 8.30pm; Sttn noon—5.30pm. Peacocks Among the Ruins Until Sun 24 Jun. Free. (ilasgow design duo 'l'imorous Beasties curate an exhibition tracing the use of flora and fauna throughout the history of interior design.
I’ur! oft/iv Six ('ilit's Design I-iavtit'ul.
I THE CHANGING ROOM 35 The (‘rawford Arcade. King Street. 01786 479301. Wed Sat noon 5pm. Free.
DIY: Design it Yourself t'ntil Sat 9
Jun. Free. Programmed to coincide with
both the international Six (‘ities Design
Festival in May-June 2007 and Stirling's 1.e Weekend music festival. this exhibition looks at art that has been co- opted as design work for the music industry. I’iirl oft/1e Six ( THUS Design festival.
representations of Peter Saville’s classic designs for Factory Records as art objects, to original paintings for sleeves by artists such as David Shrigley and Lucy Mackenzie, to a host of small labels, musicians and promoters who design for themselves, the works share an attitude
rather than an aesthetic approach.
I The Changing Room, Stirling, until Sat 9 Jun.