Pil and Galia Kollectiv, Max Clendinning, Stephen Willats
Tags: 6a Architects, Art Assassins, Barby Asante, Chelsea College of Art and Design, Fad Gadget, Mark Leckey, Max Clendinning, Max Clendinning: Avant Craft, Neue Slowenische Kunst 1984-1992, Nick Cash, Paul Goodwin, Pil and Galia Kollectiv, Sonia Boyce, South London Gallery, South London Social Resource Project, Stephen Willats, Surfing With The Attractor, Unmen
Pil and Galia with a projection of their multi-media work Asparagus: A Horticultural Ballet
There may have been a holiday coming but the lead up was a busy and interesting time for CHELSEA space. First was the excellent talk Against Human Nature by Pil and Galia Kollectiv . Pil and Galia, like Neue Slowenische Kunst, are a ‘Retro-garde’ collaborative practice who use the discourses of Modernism to consider contemporary issues in politics and art. In this excellent talk they looked at consumerism, the 2011 riots, and the rhetoric of David Cameron and the Tory-led coalition to explore post-Fordist labour and the myth of meritocracy.
This talk was part of our CHELSEA programme series of public events, check the ProgBlog to see dates and information for an upcoming talk by Mark Leckey and a roundtable event with Sonia Boyce, Barby Asante and Paul Goodwin.
Max Clendinning sharing stories with MA Interior Design students from Chelsea College of Art and Design
The following day Max Clendinning returned to CHELSEA space and his exhibition Avant Craft for an open afternoon of discussion.
The afternoon was a public event open to all but Max was delighted at the number of young design students all eager to discuss his work and life as an architect and designer.
Max was joined by artist and ex Unmen and Fad Gadget drummer Nick Cash who had lent furniture to the exhibition and has championed Clendinning’s work.
Max Clendinning having fun explaining the construction of his Red Blue chair to BA Interior Design students
Max described his interest in the idea of total environments and how his furniture designs were not made in isolation but rather as part of a wider vision for contemporary living. He vividly described the sense of possibility and openness that he felt as a designer in the 1960s.
We were very grateful to Max for his generosity and energy in giving us insights into his work.
That evening saw the opening of Stephen Willats‘ excellent new exhibition Surfing With the Attractor at South London Gallery. The show consists of a new project in collaboration with 14 London-based artists documenting Regent Street in Central London and Rye Lane in Peckham, South London, and also re-presents material from Willat’s 1998 South London Gallery project Changing Everything.The South London Gallery is an excellent place to visit with its superb programme, newly remodelled spaces by 6a Architects , its great cafe and outside space , and its very important work with young people in South London.
We were very honoured to work with Stephen Willats in 2011 on a new installation of his 1972 West London Social Resource Project which can be seen on the CHELSEA space exhibition archive.
