The first ever Chester Contemporary made its debut last weekend with over 200 people attending a launch event at the Town Hall. Chester Contemporary, which runs until 1 December, is a new visual arts event curated by Chester-born, Ryan Gander OBE . It celebrates and brings new art to Chester’s unique places and spaces, inspired by the theme ‘Centred on the Periphery’.
Launching the event Leader of the Council Louise Gittins said:
“Chester Contemporary makes and shows distinctive, contemporary art alongside a programme of events that reflect and respond to the city and its multi-layered history. Chester is its canvas and it will bring the city’s stories and places to life in surprising and unexpected ways.
“In development it has been as inclusive and accessible to as wide a range of Chester communities as possible, by co-creating an exciting, fun, stimulating visual arts programme that nurtures creative opportunities and promotes health and wellbeing and pride of place.
“It aims to attract new visitors and audiences to the city and enable a vibrant cultural life that entices people to live and work here. It aims to support the transformation of Chester into a place known for its visual arts scene and this journey is one we are looking forward to seeing delivered.”
The festival features internationally acclaimed artists as well as emerging artists and also work produced by a series of local primary schools who have worked with artists to produce a trail of creative responses to the Contemporary and the city. A social engagement programme has also taken place, inspiring creative relationships and partnerships between artists and communities across the city. Chester Contemporary has also been working closely with the University of Chester to support its students to find pathways into successful careers in the arts. There is also a programme of workshops, walks and talks across the city aimed at a wide range of audiences.
Continued Cllr Gittins: “The Chester Contemporary has been developed following a two-year process of action research and feasibility, driven by a co-creation process bringing together artists, communities, potential partners and venues. There are already many amazing programmes, projects and events delivered by organisations across the city and Chester Contemporary will be an exciting addition to the burgeoning visual arts scene developing in the city which I am very excited to explore over the coming weeks.”
The programme has been funded by HM Government (through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund), Arts Council England, the Henry Moore Foundation, Historic England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Curator Ryan Gander has established an international reputation through artworks that materialise in many different forms, ranging from sculpture, apparel and writing to architecture, painting, typefaces, publications and performance. As well as curating exhibitions, he has taught at art institutions and universities across the world, and has written and presented television programmes on contemporary art and culture for the BBC.
Ryan said that after his initial explore of the art trail :
” It reminded me of a museum, a massive museum that had no roof that already had an ancient city inside it. I started thinking about how we try to understand our lives by “stuff”, things and objects. I think the commodification of art has a lot to do with that. Chester for me has always been a working class, middle class aspiring city. My friends parents and everyone I know, they always wanted a detached house and then a garage and then two cars and a dog. I was thinking about the way we measure our lives in stuff, and we all know you can’t take things with you.
“In a sense the brief has a lot of choice and liberty in it because it rids us of this need for stuff. I think we’re better off understanding our lives and the human condition through moments and communication and experiences. What you’re gonna see today is like taking your imagination to the gym. Think of it like that , or an adventure or a treasure hunt. It will distract you from all the stuff .. Art is an amazing distraction. It’s not gambling, its not alcohol its not Instagram, its a good healthy distraction from all troubles. ”
Works I enjoyed on the opening weekend included :
Crop by William Lang ( creator of the legendary and inspiring “We need more shit” artwork) – an energetic performance/dance around the Dean’s Field. The work will be performed daily until the 2nd Oct at 11am, 4pm (20-25 mins)
No Tracksuits, No Trainers by Hannah Perry transforms the abandoned loading bay of the old market into an immersive environment inspired by the artists youth and the dress codes of clubs such as Rosies. “A soundscape rumbles across a wave of mirrored silver metal sheets which vibrate and distort in reply, bringing about feelings of destabilization, perhaps of our own response to the way the work fills the abandoned space around us. Discarded car parts and objects from Perry’s childhood memories hang in space, encapsulated and frozen in time, their feelings of intimacy and stillness contrasting with the raging industrial atmosphere that threatens to envelop them.” Definitely one of the highlights, with the dark derelict space feeling strangely soothing.
Disarm by Fiona Banner can be found inside the old Top Shop unit in the Forum with many relics of its past retail space lying in state. Featuring disembodied shop mannequins, signage and a ream of till receipts featuring information about the art, Disarm is another immersive and thought provoking installation exploring concepts of desire, conflict and lost aspiration. The fashion “runway” has been referenced throughout via the use of aircraft imagery.
How to Work Better by Swiss artists Peter Fischli and David Weiss is being shown at full scale in the UK for the first time at Chester Contemporary, having previously been shown in Zurich, Mexico City, New York and Japan. The list of 10 points on the side of the old Forum building ( another old repurposed space) has provoked some strong reactions with equal portions of love and hate. The text was taken from a sign found in a factory in Thailand. Whilst some seen it as ironic, others patronising or insulting, the internationally known installation certainly adds prestige to the event and feels well located within the city. “Accept change as inevitable” says one point on the wall facing the new Exchange Square with the fading past Forum and Market behind.
Within the new Market itself is The Start of All Imaginings by Patricia Mackinnon Day. Settle down next to the Tardis water dispenser to listen to a series of short films exploring the journeys of 9 market traders as they move from the old market to the new. One of the most accessible parts of the Contemporary the film, which is also being shown in Venice features many personal insights into the lives of the traders.
Tim Foxon’s Contemporary Interventions , playful happenings across the city are another highlight, from the misspelt “Chetser” on hoodies and bags, a comedy clown bike and an insect murder mystery- all encouraging people to look again and smile.
With work by 15 artists spread across the city centre, CC promises an engaging ten week festival, like nothing seen in Chester before- a far cry from the dark days ten years ago and our failed Capital of Culture Bid. Involving many organisations and stakeholders within the city and varied forms of art including sculpture, audio, video, art in charity shop windows and even the Town Crier himself becoming a piece of art, the Contemporary will surely provoke plenty of thought and debate. Whilst some of the works may prove divisive the new focus on art and the artistic community can only be welcomed and embraced.
For details of all the art and a map visit:
The Chester blog 