Researcher Blog by PhD candidate Victoria Lucas: Lay of the Land (and other such myths)
About the author
Victoria Lucas is a doctoral student in the Art & Design Research Centre (ADRC) where she is pursuing a practice-based PhD in Fine Art. She is also a lecturer in Fine Art at the University of Central Lancashire. Victoria’s supervisors are: Michelle Atherton (Director of Studies) and Hester Reeve.
Victoria recently opened a solo show at AirSpace Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent, which signalled the conclusion of a touring project that had previously visited London Art Fair and HOME in Manchester. In this post Victoria discusses the themes behind the exhibition.
My exhibition Lay of the Land (and other such myths) seeks to challenge anti-progressive forms of power through imaginary subversive place as artwork. The fictional islands I construct cite cinematic, geographic and literary references to explore a scene in which radical representations of women control their own space, and their own bodies, on their own terms.
Image credit: Jules Lister.
As one enters the gallery, an otherworldly space is revealed that blurs the boundaries between fiction and reality. Using JG Ballard’s 1974 novel Concrete Island as a starting point, this new work borrows the same title and has been developed specifically for this location. Interpreting the Brownfield sites situated close to AirSpace Gallery as ‘deserts’ and with references to real and fictional female characters throughout, I have created sculptural, photographic, sound and video works that are juxtaposed with other recent works inspired by the Californian Desert.
Image credit: Jules Lister.
A new sound work has also been composed in collaboration with singers from across the region. Working from harmony to a chaotic, discordant sound, the all female choir individually and collectively fill the installation with their voices, which has been developed over a series of workshops on the run up to the exhibition. Celebrating the launch of the exhibition on Friday 5 May, the choir performed live within the gallery to an audience.
Image credit: Jules Lister.
The Lay of the land (and other such myths) exhibition has been produced by Mark Devereux Projects in partnership with AirSpace Gallery and has been funded and/or supported by Arts Council England, University of Central Lancashire, HOME, AirSpace Gallery and Staffordshire University.
Victoria Lucas is represented by Mark Devereux Projects.
Please note: Views expressed are those of the Author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of SHU, C3RI or the C3RI Impact Blog.
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