SYMPOSIUM | Activating Public Space

To mark the second stage of SCULPTURE AT Bermondsey Square, VITRINE and Contemporary Arts Society will be hosting an afternoon of presentations, talks and panel discussions on the theme of art in public space and temporary public commissions; with a programme hosted at the cinema on Bermondsey Square in the final month of SCULPTURE AT Bermondsey Square commissions, Stage Two (2017- 2018).

SCULPTURE AT Stage Two, included commissions by Lucy Tomlins (March – September 2017), Charlie Godet Thomas (October 2017 – March 2018) and Edit Oderbolz (April – September 2018). Firstly, British artist Lucy Tomlin’s presented ‘Pylon and Pier’, which reversed the idea of traditional sculpture by presenting a statue of the Titan Atlas – not as in Greek mythology holding up the sky for eternity, but fallen from its plinth and, grasping the globe, lain on its side. British-Bermudan artist Charlie Godet Thomas’ sculpture entitled ‘Cloud Study’, used the form of a weather vane to represent states of emotional well-being. The final and current commission, by Swiss artist Edit Oderbolz and titled ‘Behind the Lid’, draws from the various uses of the square and takes the form of a house.

This afternoon Symposium is open to all audiences; curators, artists, organisations working with art in public space, public sculpture commissioning bodies, CAS national networks, and other interested individuals in public art. This will be a rare opportunity to acquire behind the scenes insight into curated public art commissioning projects.

The format will be similar to the symposium produced in 2015 ‘SYMPOSIUM | Public Sculpture: From Process to Place’, with the addition of presentations about further projects in the Public Realm. Invited speakers; Claire Hoffman (Art historian and curator. She has just been appointed head of visual arts programming at the Centre culturel suisse in Paris as of January 2019. She is member of various jury-panels, including the public art commission of the Basel Arts Council and co-selector of the Swiss SCULPTURE AT commission.), Ailve McCormack (Art Producer, Consultancy, Contemporary Art Society); Fabienne Nicholas (Head of Consultancy, Contemporary Art Society); Charlie Godet Thomas (SCULPTURE AT commissioned artist.); Fatoş Üstek, (Director & Chief Curator at DRAF, and writer); and Alys Williams (Director Vitrine and Co-Founder SCULPTURE AT).

Tickets & Booking

This is a free symposium. However, booking is essential and an advance seat fee of £5 is requested to help ensure tickets are not booked and left unused. This cost will cover refreshments of teas and coffees for guests in the interval.

Tickets

Schedule

2.15 pm Arrival at Kino Bermondsey, Bermondsey Square, SE1 3UN for 2.30 pm start

Intro by Alys Williams. Presentation of SCULPTURE AT with an overview of the work and focus on Lucy Tomlins commission.
SCULPTURE AT Artist Presentation by Charlie in conversation with Fabienne Nicholas.
SCULPTURE AT Curator Presentation by Claire Hoffmann of Edit Oderboltz commission and selection process.

BREAK (20 minutes, Refreshments in Bar)

Ailve McCormack presentation on the Cambridge University public artwork project commissioned by Contemporary Arts Society (CAS).
Fatoş Üstek presentation of Bridging Home, London by Do Ho Suh, curated by Fatos Ustek, co-commissioned by Art Night and City of London, supported by ARKO and KCCUK to be unveiled on 24.09.2018 on Wormwood Street, London.
Panel Discussion with Speakers and Chaired by Fabienne, and Audience Questions.

5pm Finish. Further informal questions in the bar.

SCULPTURE AT and Symposium are generously funded by: Arts Council England, Swiss Cultural Fund, Stanley Thomas Jonson Foundation, and Kanton Basel-Stadt Kultur. With additional support from: Bermondsey Square, Contemporary Art Society, Southwark Council , Team London Bridge, Kino Digital Bermondsey, and ISTHISIT?