Duncan Higgins

22-08-2008 | Presentations at SK5 |

Duncan Higgins

Artist, UK.

unloud – S.L.O.N -Solovki Laboratory of North

Theme or research question:

I am currently continuing to explore as an artists and researcher how physical and emotional spaces within visual culture might be a test site for the exploration of both personal and shared imaginative alternatives. What critical approaches might be useful in order to understand what needs to be done in trying to re-imagine particular preconceptions about our relationship to people, ideas and cultures?

The presentation will be broken down into short sections using Unloud – S.L.O.N as an example of a live research project:

The central question will explore: what do I do as an artists/researchers today?

  • the social considerations and political conditions
  • the necessary implicit ethical considerations
  • the role of partnerships as conditions of critical practice

The presentation would use inter-related video and still images as a means to explore these ideas, speculative questions and critical methods. The possibility is to use an exhibition as a live context for the proposed questioning.

What Is unloud – S.L.O.N -Solovki Laboratory of North?

I would like to explore why I am creating, in partnership, a unique centre/laboratory – S.L.O.N on SolovkiIsland, North Russia with the potential to create and facilitate new networks of knowledge and dialogue using Art as a tool or technology of interpretation.

The presentation will outline how? and why? the creation of a communicative space or laboratory for researchers, artists, museum workers and students is taking place on SolovkiIsland.

What are the key questions and dialogues that direct the exploration of the unique conditions and resources on SolovkiIslands and the SolovkiState museum’s archive, scientific and natural resources?

What defines the development of new educational and cultural networks of knowledge in relation to Art and the cross disciplines of:

  • Faith, Climate, Nature and Social Memory.
  • The role of Contemporary Art in the dialogue and preservation of social memory: The correlation and comparison between the church, gallery and museum as both traditional and contemporary institutes for the preservation of social memory
  • What role does or can a contemporary Art Education Institute play in relation to unloud. S.L.O.N?
  • What can be disseminated and how?

I would also like to explore the role of partnerships. Why it is a necessary processes and what part they play in the creation of unloud- S.L.O.N. For example:

  • UAL – University of Arts, London
  • Solovki Museum-Reserve, Russia
  • British Council
  • AHRC
  • Barents Region Council
  • Hermitage MuseumRussia
  • UNESCO

I have lived and worked as an artist in Sheffield, UK since 1990. Since 1989 I have been exhibiting in an on-going programme of individual, group and curated exhibitions nationally and internationally.Currently undertaking a 3year NESTA fellowship and on sabbatical leave from Nottingham Trent University School of Art and Design, UK, where I was joint course leader of the BA Hons Fine Art programme.