Press release Date: 30 April 2019, 12:00 ​ Contact: Gloria Roberts, [email protected] / 020 7183 3577 or James Smyllie, ​ ​ ​ [email protected] / 020 7921 0752 ​

ARTS COUNCIL COLLECTION ANNOUNCES 2018-19 ACQUISITIONS

Credits (L-R): Katie Cuddon, Untitled, 2016, image courtesy the artist; Flo Brooks, Butts Only (that's the sound that lonely ​ ​ ​ ​ makes), 2018, image courtesy the artist and Project Native Informant, London, 2018; Claudette Johnson, Figure in Blue, 2018, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ image courtesy the artist and Hollybush Gardens, London. Photo: Andy Keate.

The Arts Council Collection, the UK’s largest national loan collection of modern and contemporary art, has today [30 April 2019] unveiled the full list of 59 works by 25 artists that it has acquired for the nation. Over 75% of the works acquired for 2018–2019 are by female artists building on the Collection’s mission to support and champion the breadth and diversity of British art and artists.

The new acquisitions include works by a number of early career artists including Flo Brooks, Holly ​ ​ ​ Hendry, Evan Ifekoya and Imran Perretta who are all under the age of 35. The Collection supports ​ ​ ​ ​ artists from a broad age spectrum and has this year acquired Untitled (1976) by Gillian Lowndes ​ ​ (1936-2010) made at an important period in Lowndes career in which she began to use hand-building ​ processes to construct intricate, basket-like ceramic works.

The Collection has acquired several performance-based video works this year. Artists such as Frances Disley, Jacqueline Donachie, susan pui san lok, and Zadie Xa explore themes of ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ self-improvement and non-linear female narratives through experimental multi-channel works. A moving image highlight of this year’s acquisitions is 15 days (2018), a single channel video work by ​ London-based artist Imran Perretta. The work was inspired by the artist’s time spent with former ​ ​ inhabitants of the refugee camp near Calais, France that became known as the Jungle. Perretta’s work realises the camps state of uncertainty and animates a bleak environment against a backdrop of dank digital trees and muddy scrubland, interspersed with handheld footage shot on location in France. The work captures the intense emotions of living on the edge, bringing them to the centre of the viewer’s thoughts.

Nine works by London-based artist John Walter from his project CAPSID (2018–19) have also been ​ ​ ​ acquired by the Collection. A collaboration with molecular virologist Professor Greg Towers of University College London, this project aims to bring new scientific knowledge about viral capsids to the attention of the wider public and addresses the crisis of representation surrounding viruses such as HIV.

John Walter, who has generously gifted eight of his artworks to the Collection this year commented: “It ​ is a career-defining moment to be acquired by the Arts Council Collection - an incredible canon to be

part of - and it’s a privilege for me to see such a significant body of my work from CAPSID become available for loan and display across the UK.”

Themes of protest and politics appear throughout the acquired works for 2018–2019, raising awareness of the ongoing global struggles for female representation, equality and freedom. The work ​ of South Korean artist Young In Hong, now based in Bristol, investigates the processes and ideas ​ ​ around authorship, translation and reinterpretation. Hong’s embroidery work Burning Love (2014) ​ illustrates a scene from a 2008 candle-lit vigil in Seoul, South Korea which was triggered by the Korean government’s reversal of a ban on US beef imports. Composed using oversaturated blue, orange, yellow and red viscose rayon threads and cotton, the work portrays the crowd, each person marked by a dot of light. Through her painstaking method Young In Hong encapsulates this under-reported event in a way which is poetic and poignant.

London-based artist Claudette Johnson is attuned to the politics of representation within the arts. ​ Her drawings and paintings including the acquired work Figure in Blue (2018) honour the form, figure ​ and strength of Black women whilst establishing presence and quiet power. Artist Dawn Mellor, also ​ ​ based in London, deals with sexuality and violence and explores the intricacies of fame, identity and politics through her painted portraits. The Collection has acquired three of Mellor’s works made in 2013: Chief Financial Officer (Bette Davis), Museum Director (Judith Anderson) and Front Desk ​ ​ ​ ​ Manager (Whoopi Goldberg), which interrogate how mass-media figures are depicted and the way ​ they are interpreted and understood.

Works from the Collection – spanning video, photography, performance, installation, painting, computer animation and sculpture – are lent to galleries and public institutions throughout the country. In 2018-19, 1,652 works from the Collection were shown in 126 different galleries and museums across the UK and internationally, reaching an audience of over 2.8 million people.

Jill Constantine, Director of the Arts Council Collection, said: “2018-19 has been another ​ ​ exceptional year and I am particularly proud that during this period we were able to acquire so many works by women based in different parts of the UK. The Arts Council Collection is an important national resource for galleries and museums everywhere and its popularity and interest from the public continues to grow. At a time when the sector is under so much pressure it is more important than ever that we are able to support those artists and collect the very best of British contemporary art for the nation.”

Sir Nicholas Serota, Chair of Arts Council England, said: “The Arts Council Collection is a great ​ national resource which is used to enrich the lives of people everywhere through a programme of exhibitions and loans. The Collection has often made a point of acquiring work at an early stage in an artist’s career, representing new voices and giving them support at a critical moment. The acquisitions this year continue that tradition and I am grateful to our external advisors whose expertise and knowledge ensures that our Collection continues to reflect the excellence of artists making work across England today. Building this Collection relies on the skill of Jill Constantine and her team but also on the energy and creativity of so many gallery and museum partners.”

Recommendations to purchase innovative works of art that reflect artistic practice in Britain today are made by a changing group of external advisors to the Arts Council Collection Acquisitions Committee. The Chairman of the Acquisitions Committee for 2018–19 was Sir Nicholas Serota, Chair of Arts Council England who was joined by Jill Constantine, Director of Arts Council Collection, Peter Heslip, Director of Visual Arts, Arts Council England and Ralph Rugoff, Director of Hayward Gallery, Southbank Centre. External advisers to the 2018-19 Acquisitions Committee were Anthea Hamilton, Charlotte Keenan, Helen Nisbet and Fatoş Üstek.

FULL LIST OF WORKS ACQUIRED BY THE ARTS COUNCIL COLLECTION 2018-19

For more information on the artists and works listed, download the 2018-19 Arts Council Collection acquisitions brochure here: https://issuu.com/fallingupbrochure/docs/acquisitions 2018-19 ​ ​

All works have been purchased through the Arts Council Collection annual acquisition budget other

2 than those marked as gifts.

Rachal Bradley, Interlocutor, 2018 ​ ​ ​ ​ Vacuum-formed high-impact polystyrene, electrical components, wiring, junction box and installation hardware, Dimensions variable

Flo Brooks, YessSIR! Back off! Tell me who I am again?!, 2018 ​ ​ ​ ​ Acrylic on wood, 197 x 177 x 4.5 cm

Flo Brooks, Butts Only (that's the sound that lonely makes), 2018 ​ ​ ​ ​ Acrylic on wood, 109 x 136 x 4.5 cm

Paul Coldwell, A Mapping in White, 2013 ​ ​ ​ ​ Screen print and relief dusted with metallic pigment, 98.5 x 77 cm, Edition 11 of 20

Paul Coldwell, What Remains – Possessions, 2015 ​ ​ ​ Etching, 57 x 65 cm, Edition 9 of 10, Gift of the artist, 2018

Katie Cuddon, Untitled, 2016 ​ ​ ​ Black, buff and painted ceramic, 17 x 9 x 13 cm

Katie Cuddon, Shame, 2014 ​ ​ ​ Painted ceramic, 50 x 37 x 77 cm

Katie Cuddon, A Problem of Departure, 2013 ​ ​ ​ Painted ceramic, pillow, 64 x 43 x 30 cm

Katie Cuddon, Listener, 2015 ​ ​ ​ Painted ceramic, sheep’s wool, wood, 17 x 29 x 24 cm

Katie Cuddon, Exhibition, 2014 ​ ​ ​ Painted ceramic and wood, 104 x 120 x 52 cm

Jesse Darling, Brazen Serpent, 2018 ​ ​ ​ Steel, aluminium mobility cane, rubber ferrule, lacquer, 93 x 120 x 34 cm

Frances Disley, RRR, 2018 ​ ​ ​ Single channel video and textiles backdrops, garments, yoga mat, trainers and ribbon, 34 min 19 sec

Jacqueline Donachie, Pose Work for Sisters, 2016 ​ ​ ​ Digital video, 10 min 1 sec, Edition 2 of 3

Jacqueline Donachie, Studio 1995, 2016 ​ ​ ​ Digital print on Hahnemühle photo rag, 110 x 180 cm, Edition 2 of 10

Cosey Fanni Tutti, ‘Throbbing Gristle' Partner, Vol. 1, No. 9, February, 1980 ​ ​ ​ ​ Magazine action, lithography on paper, 5 parts, each 148 x 112 cm

Rose Finn-Kelcey, God’s Bog, 2001 ​ ​ ​ ​ Jesmonite, polypropylene, paint, 45.7 x 43.2 x 40.6 cm

Holly Hendry, Gut Feelings (Stromatolith), 2016 ​ ​ ​ Plaster, steel, aluminium, cement, marble Jesmonite, birch plywood, pigment, rock salt, soap, rawhide dog chew, 170 x 225 x 100.5 cm

Evan Ifekoya, The Gender Song, 2014 ​ ​ ​ HD video, 2 min 32 sec, Edition 2 of 3

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Evan Ifekoya, Ritual Without Belief, 2018 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Digital photo series, giclée print, 84.1 x 59.4 cm, Edition of 10 + 5 AP

Evan Ifekoya, Ritual Without Belief, 2018 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Audio, 6 hours, Edition of 3 + 2 AP

Young In Hong, Burning Love, 2014 ​ ​ ​ ​ Viscose rayon threads, embroidered image on cotton, 290 x 360 cm

Rachel Howard, Circle, Square, 2015 ​ ​ ​ ​ Oil on canvas, 61 x 61 cm, gift of the artist and Blain|Southern, 2018

Claudette Johnson, Figure in Blue, 2018 ​ ​ ​ Gouache and pastel on paper, 163 x 133 cm

Gillian Lowndes, Untitled, 1976 ​ ​ ​ ​ Rolled clay dipped in porcelain slip, 19 x 33 x 33 cm

Charlie Meecham, Forest of Dean 1, 2018 ​ ​ ​ ​ Archival digital print, 41 x 50 cm, Edition 3 of 25, gift of the artist

Charlie Meecham, Forest of Dean 2, 2018 ​ ​ ​ Archival digital print, 41 x 50 cm, Edition 3 of 25, gift of the artist

Charlie Meecham, Forest of Dean 4, 2018 ​ ​ ​ Archival digital print, 41 x 50 cm, Edition 3 of 25, gift of the artist

Charlie Meecham, Forest of Dean 5, 2018 ​ ​ ​ Archival digital print, 41 x 50 cm, Edition 3 of 25

Dawn Mellor, Chief Financial Officer (Bette Davis), 2013 ​ ​ ​ Oil on canvas, 102 x 76 cm

Dawn Mellor, Museum Director (Judith Anderson), 2013 ​ ​ ​ Oil on canvas, 102 x 76 cm

Dawn Mellor, Front Desk Manager (Whoopi Goldberg), 2013 ​ ​ ​ Oil on canvas, 102 x 76 cm

Imran Perretta, 15 days, 2018 ​ ​ ​ Single channel 16:9 HD video, stereo sound, 12 min, Edition 2 of 5 + 2 AP

Mick Peter, Untitled (Figure carrying Zip), 2015 ​ ​ ​ ​ Metal frame, acrylic resin, rubber, paint, 75 x 320 x 135 cm susan pui san lok, Trailers (RoCH Fans and Legends), 2015 ​ ​ ​ ​ Single-channel digital video, stereo sound, 4 min susan pui san lok, RoCH Fan, 2015 ​ ​ ​ ​ Concertina multiple, 841 x 10 x 18 cm, Edition 11 of 200

Tai Shani, DC: Semiramis, 2018 ​ ​ ​ ​ 12 Scripts, 12 documentation films of performances, Designs for installation, Instructions for performance, Notes on costume, Files of posters and soundtrack, Dimensions variable

Hayley Tompkins, Digital Light Pool CXVIII, 2018 ​ ​ ​ Acrylic, plastic tray, 22 x 30.5 x 5.5 cm

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Hayley Tompkins, Chair, 2011 ​ ​ ​ Watercolour on wood, 79 x 48 x 43 cm

Hayley Tompkins, Spoon II, 2012 ​ ​ ​ Found object, 2 x 14.4 x 3.1 cm

John Walter, A Virus Walks Into A Bar, 2018 ​ ​ ​ HD video, 19 min 54 sec, Edition 1 of 5 + 2 AP

John Walter, Zinc Fingers, 2016 ​ ​ ​ Gouache and acrylic on watercolour paper, 56 x 76 cm

John Walter, Fist (Blue Shape), 2018 ​ ​ ​ Red hulk drinking fist (beer cosy), expanding foam filler, milliput, vacuum-metallised in aluminium with cellulose, 55 x 32 x 15 cm

John Walter, An Ensemble of Packaging Sequences, 2017 ​ ​ ​ Silkscreen on paper, 92 x 122 cm

John Walter, Uncoating (arrows), 2017 ​ ​ ​ Plasma cut and powder-coated steel, 100 x 200 x 0.3 cm

John Walter, Droid Torture, 2016 ​ ​ ​ Ink and watercolour on hot-pressed Fabriano artistico paper (100% cotton), 56 x 76 cm

John Walter, Imposter Syndrome, 2017 ​ ​ ​ Acrylic, ormoline, paint pen, ink and white-out fluid on point of point of sale paper, 31.5 x 25.3 cm ​ ​

John Walter, Triskelion and Virus Particles, 2016 ​ ​ ​ Ink, Flasche vinyl and acrylic on paper, 152.4 x 244 cm

John Walter, Cytoplasm (Rio Capsid), 2017 ​ ​ ​ Acrylic and silkscreen on canvas with metal eyelets, 213 x 200 cm

John Walter, pH Lithograph, 2017 ​ ​ ​ Lithograph on paper, 56 x 76 cm (Gifted by the artist)

John Walter, Inhibitor, 2018 ​ ​ ​ Gouache and acrylic on paper, 25.7 x 35.7 cm (Gifted by the artist)

John Walter, Zany Capsid, 2017 ​ ​ ​ Carbon paper, ink, watercolour, paint pen, metallic marker, pencil and crayon on hot-pressed Fabriano Artistico 300gsm, 56 x 76 cm (Gifted by the artist)

John Walter, HIV Lifecycle, 2017 ​ ​ ​ Digital animation, 2 mins 16 secs (Gifted by the artist)

John Walter, Innate Sensing Mechanism (Crab), 2017 ​ ​ ​ Sewn and stretched fabric with objects, expanding foam filler and silicone, 183 x 140 x 20 cm, gift of the artist, 2018 (Gifted by the artist)

John Walter, Co-Factor (Staffordshire King), 2018 ​ ​ ​ Silkscreen, acrylic and paint pen on canvas with metal eyelets, 213 x 500 cm (Gifted by the artist)

John Walter, Allostery, 2017 ​ ​ ​ Silkscreen on Somserset tub-sized satin paper, 152.4 x 244 cm (Gifted by the artist)

John Walter, Bouncer, 2017 ​ ​ ​ 5

Fabric applique on dyed onesie with trimmings, 190 x 120 x 2 cm (Gifted by the artist)

Zadie Xa, Moodrings, Crystals and Opal Coloured Stones, 2016 ​ ​ ​ HD video, 21 min, Edition 1 of 3 + 1 AP

Zadie Xa, SVN Stacks/Moon Marauder, 2015 ​ ​ ​ Synthetic hair on machine stitched and hand sewn fabric, 130 x 165 cm

Rehana Zaman, Tell me the story Of all these things, 2017 ​ ​ ​ ​ 3-part HD video, stereo sound, 22 min 47 sec, Edition 1 of 3

Ends

Hi-res press images can be downloaded HERE ​

For press enquiries about the Arts Council Collection Acquisitions please contact: Gloria Roberts, Account Manager, Sutton [email protected], 020 7183 3577 ​

James Smyllie, Press Officer, Southbank Centre [email protected], 020 7921 0752 ​

For press enquiries about Arts Council England please contact: Emily Cooper, Communication Assistant, Arts Council England [email protected], 0207 268 0537 ​

NOTES TO EDITORS

The Arts Council Collection is managed by Southbank Centre, London on behalf of Arts Council England.

The Arts Council Collection The Arts Council Collection is a national loan collection of British art from 1946 to the present day. With over 8,000 works and more than 1,000 loans made to over 100 venues a year, it is seen by millions of people in public spaces from galleries and museums to hospitals, libraries and universities. Representing one of the most important collections of British modern and contemporary art in the world, it includes work from Francis Bacon, Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore to Lucian Freud, Antony Gormley and Grayson Perry. The Collection supports and promotes British artists by acquiring art at an early stage of their careers. The Arts Council Collection is managed by Southbank Centre, London and includes the Sculpture Centre located at Longside, Yorkshire Sculpture Park. www.artscouncilcollection.org.uk

Arts Council England Arts Council England champions, develops and invests in artistic and cultural experiences that enrich people’s lives. We support a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries – from theatre to digital art, reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections. www.artscouncil.org.uk ​

Southbank Centre Southbank Centre is the UK’s largest arts centre and one of the UK's top five visitor attractions, occupying a 17 acre site that sits in the midst of London’s most vibrant cultural quarter on the South Bank of the Thames. We exist to present great cultural experiences that bring people together and we achieve this by providing the space for artists to create and present their best work and by creating a place where as many people as possible can come together to experience bold, unusual and eye-opening work. We want to take people out of the everyday, every day.

The site has an extraordinary creative and architectural history stretching back to the 1951 Festival of Britain. Southbank Centre is made up of the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room and Hayward Gallery as well as being home to the National Poetry Library and the Arts Council

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Collection. It is also home to four Resident Orchestras (London Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, London Sinfonietta and Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment) and four Associate Orchestras (Aurora Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, Chineke! Orchestra and National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain).

Art Fund Art Fund is the national fundraising charity for art. In the past five years alone Art Fund has given £34 million to help museums and galleries acquire works of art for their collections. It also helps museums share their collections with wider audiences by supporting a range of tours and exhibitions and makes additional grants to support the training and professional development of curators. Art Fund is independently funded, with the core of its income provided by 139,000 members who receive the National Art Pass and enjoy free entry to over 320 museums, galleries and historic places across the UK, as well as 50% off entry to major exhibitions and subscription to Art Quarterly magazine. In addition to grant-giving, Art Fund’s support for museums includes Art Fund Museum of the Year (won by The Hepworth Wakefield in 2017) and a range of digital platforms.

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