October 1, 2017

Ark Exhibition at Chester Cathedral – An interest in unusual exhibition spaces

Ark Exhibition at Chester Cathedral

7th July 2017 – 15th October 2017

https://chestercathedral.com/ark-exhibition/

After visiting the Chester Ark Exhibition at Chester Cathedral and the subsequent visit of the Pop Art V&A Exhibition at the former library building in Chester, I felt inspired by the concept of unusual exhibition spaces. At Chester Ark Exhibition the interior of the cathedral was used as an exhibition space, as well as the outside including the memorial garden. Mass services were still being held with the exhibition on display, while the entrance to the cathedral was free for everyone. I then discovered the Pop Art Exhibition at Chester Library (which will be torn down and rebuilt as an expensive shopping centre and restaurant exactly where the current exhibition is being held). The use of these unusual spaces for art displays reminded me of a dance performance I saw in 2009 at the newly restored Neues Museum, by famous German choreographer Sasha Waltz and her company entitled ‘Dialoge 09‘. The idea behind the performance was to incorporate various rooms of the museum (without any artefacts at that point in time) as well as have dancers perform against walls, on stairs and across landings, while the viewer would walk through the museum and enter the different rooms in their own time. Like gazing into the dancers world for a short moment in time.*

I‘m interested in this idea of unusual spaces as art or performance displays, whether it be a church, a museum, a library or an altogether different outdoor space. It‘s a great way to bring art to everyone, by invitation or by chance. This new found interest on my part, I will possibly be following for the final display of my MA work.