Programme July – September 2014 www.ikon-gallery.org Free entry As Exciting As We Can Make It Rasheed Araeen Art & Language Ikon in the 1980s Sue Arrowsmith 2 July – 31 August 2014 Kevin Atherton First and Second Floor Galleries Terry Atkinson Gillian Ayres A survey of Ikon’s programme from the 1980s, Bernard Bazile As Exciting As We Can Make It, is a highlight of our Ian Breakwell 50th anniversary year. A comprehensive exhibition, Vanley Burke 2 including work by 29 artists, it features painting, Eddie Chambers sculpture, installation, film and photography actually Shelagh Cluett The 1980s saw the rise of postmodernism, a fast-moving shown at the gallery during this pivotal decade. Agnes Denes zeitgeist that chimed in with broader cultural shifts in Britain, in particular the politics that evolved under the Max Eastley premiership of Margaret Thatcher. There was a return to figurative painting; a shameless “appropriationism” that Charles Garrad saw artists ‘pick and mix’ from art history, non-western art and popular culture; and an enthusiastic re-embrace of Ron Haselden Dada and challenge to notions of self contained works of art Susan Hiller through an increasing popularity of installation. Ikon had a reputation by the end of the 1980s as a key John Hilliard national venue for installation art. Dennis Oppenheim’s Albert Irvin extraordinary work Vibrating Forest (From the Fireworks Series) (1982), made from welded steel, a candy floss machine and Tamara Krikorian unfired fireworks, returns to Ikon for the exhibition, as does Charles Garrad’s Monsoon (1986) featuring a small building, Pieter Laurens Mol set out as a restaurant somewhere in South East Asia, subjected to theatrical effects of thunder and lightning in an Mali Morris evocative scenario. John Newling John Stezaker is represented by a series of Five Collages (1978) coupling soft-core pornography and romantic love photo- Hugh O’Donnell stories, whilst Vanley Burke, an artist from Birmingham concerned especially with black communities and culture Dennis Oppenheim in the UK, shows photographs depicting worship in a local Cornelia Parker church, family weddings and baptisms. Sean Scully 1 Mali Morris Terry Shave Purple Heart (1979) Acrylic on canvas, 167 × 165.5 cm John Stezaker Courtesy the artist 2 Ikon Gallery, John Bright Street, c.1982 1 Richard Wilson Photograph by David Manley As Exciting As We Can Make It is an opportunity to consider the achievements of Hugh Stoddart and Antonia Payne, Ikon’s directors during the period 1978–1989 who both demonstrated rare ambition in the face of local and national adversity. Indeed the title of this exhibition comes from a letter written in 1978 by Stoddart to American artist Agnes Denes in which he lays out his plans for the future, remaining upbeat whilst realistic about financial constraints, and promising “to put on an exhibition programme as exciting as I can make it.” So too we celebrate all the artists they worked with, many of whom either were appreciated at the time for their significance, or have since gone on to enjoy deserved recognition. This exhibition is dedicated to the memory of David Prentice (1936–2014), a founder artist of Ikon. A major new publication accompanies the exhibition, including an essay by Ikon’s current director, Jonathan Watkins, and contributions from Hugh Stoddart and Antonia Payne. Visit Ikon’s online shop at www.ikon-gallery.org for the full range of Ikon’s catalogues and limited editions. 4 3 3 Dennis Oppenheim Vibrating Forest (From the Fireworks Series) (1982) Steel, perforated angle, aluminium track, cast plaster, lamp, cotton candy machine, vibrating motors and flares 426 × 548 × 1066 cm Collection A. Oppenheim Courtesy MOT International 4 John Stezaker Psychomontage (Kiss) (1976) Collage, 66.2 × 51.1 cm Courtesy The Approach, London 7 5 6 In 1988 Ikon commissioned Cornelia Parker to Cornelia Parker make Thirty Pieces of Silver, a major installation now in the collection of Tate. She returns to Ikon to show Thirty Pieces of Silver (exhaled) (2003), a more Ikon Icon: 1980s recent work comprising thirty silver-plated items crushed by a 250 tonne industrial press. A kind Exhibition of critical response to monumental floor-based 5 Charles Garrad 2 July – 31 August 2014 sculpture, it also characteristically conflates ideas Monsoon (1986/2014) Tower Room, Second Floor of preciousness and perceived cultural value with Installation, various dimensions Only accessible via a number of steps traces of a traumatic event. Courtesy the artist 6 Hugh O’Donnell Ikon Icons sees the return of five key British artists Bacarole (1978) from an exhibition programme starting in 1965, Oil, canvas and wood 203.4 × 183 cm one artist per decade: John Salt (1960s), Ian Emes Arts Council Collection, (1970s), Cornelia Parker (1980s), Yinka Shonibare Southbank Centre, London (1990s) and Julian Opie (2000s). A presentation 7 Cornelia Parker of work by each takes place consecutively during Thirty Pieces of Silver (exhaled) (2003) Ikon 50, in Ikon’s Tower Room. The series is a major 30 silver plated items 110 cm diameter component of Ikon 50, the programme of exhibition Private collection, London and events celebrating Ikon’s 50th anniversary. Marko Mäetamm Ikon Shop Love Exhibition 2 July – 9 September 2014 Fletchers Walk, Birmingham B3 3HJ To celebrate the new exhibition, Ikon Shop launches an irresistible new range of 80s gifts by Birmingham Associated event jewellers Working Clasp and remembers the decade with a range of associated book and catalogues. Plastic Fantastic This really will be as exciting as we can make it! Saturday 26 July 11.30am–12.30pm, 2–3pm or 4–5pm Ikon Shop is open Tuesday – Sunday, 10.30am–6pm £15 per person* or you can shop online at www.ikon-gallery.org Join us for an hour-long 80s-inspired jewellery All profits from Ikon Shop support Ikon Gallery’s workshop, led by Working Clasp. Choose from charitable artistic and educational programme. a range of bright block, fluorescent and semi- transparent laser cut shapes to make your own As Exciting As We Can Make It: Ikon in the 1980s ‘Ikonic’ design template for a key ring, earring, Exhibition catalogue bracelet or necklace. *Cost includes all materials. Special Exhibition Price: £12.95 (RRP £14.95) Booking essential, visit www.ikon-gallery.org to The third in our series of retrospective catalogues, book online or call Ikon Shop on 0121 248 0711. Ikon shows a short video by acclaimed Estonian published to coincide with the exhibition celebrating artist Marko Mäetamm in a disused shop unit in Ikon’s programme in the 1980s. Also available in a Fletchers Walk, central Birmingham, a space the set of three catalogues celebrating Ikon in the 1960s, gallery has occupied since December 2013 to present 70s and 80s (£30). silent film works. Working Clasp Love (2010) is characteristically inspired by Mäetamm’s Ikon launches an exclusive new range of family life. Set in the kitchen of his apartment, we see 80s-inspired jewellery and gifts by Working Clasp. him professing undying love to his wife while she is Think bold and colourful styles reminiscent of the clearly rushing to finish preparations for a meal. Her decade, inspired by some of the best loved video attempts to undertake a mundane chore are foiled games and animation of the time including Pac- 8 Marko Mäetamm by his intense romanticism. Occasional appearances Man, Tetris, Rubik’s Cubes, Roobarb and Custard Love (2010) Courtesy Temnikova & Kasela Gallery of their children, unwitting extras in this down-home and ThunderCats. Prices from £5–£40. and the artist drama, only serve to enhance the absurd humour. www.workingclasp.com Those Were The Decades A series of special events focusing on the five decades of Ikon’s history and the social, political and cultural context, including talks, debates and film screenings. 1980s: Anything Goes Saturday 12 July Heritage Learning Space Level 4, Library of Birmingham Centenary Square, Broad Street Birmingham B1 2ND 11am–12pm – illustrated talk 4–5pm – screening 7.30–9.30pm – screening Vanley Burke Motorcity Music Years Part 3: Rude Boys and Wild Boys Sans Soleil Booking information Since his arrival in the UK in 1965 Vanley Burke has Dir. Jonnie Turpie, produced by Roger Shannon Dir. Chris Marker, France, 1983, 100mins, cert 15. taken photographs to document the experiences and Chris Phipps, 1992, 30 mins Meeting Room 104, Conference Suite Day Passes (includes evening film screening) of African-Caribbean communities in a ‘post- Motorcity Music Years Part 3: Rude Boys and Wild Level 1, Library of Birmingham £15 / £12 concessions Windrush Britain’. Here he shares remarkable Boys looks at how Reggae, the emergence of Two A landmark film from the 80s, Sans Soleil is a docu- Evening film screening only (Sans Soleil) images from Birmingham and Handsworth in the Tone, and the phenomenon of the New Romantics fiction that combines travelogue, documentary and £7.50 / £5.50 concessions 1980s that challenge cultural assumptions of our dominated the music scene in Birmingham in the film essay in a poetic journey across the globe. It is a national identity. 1980s, most notably with bands such as UB40, vision of a transforming landscape during a time of Book online at www.ikon-gallery.org or call Ikon Shop Duran Duran, The Selecter, Steel Pulse and The exponential change, intercutting contemporary film on 0121 248 0711 (please provide full name, telephone 12.15–1.30pm – panel discussion Beat. Followed by a Q&A with John Mostyn, former footage with imagery and reflections drawn from number and email address at time of booking). Also Ikon in the 1980s manager of The Beat and Fine Young Cannibals. the past. Hugely influential, Marker paved the way available on the door (cash only).