Airspace gallery In the Window Proposal
Background information
Raised in London, England; Holland, the Netherlands; Warsaw, Poland; Surrey, England
Current practice
Adam Kelly is enthused to explore the potential of self-identity, developing work across themes such as history and ideologies, and produced ranging across various mediums including sculpture and painting. His characteristically Eurocentric work reveals personal successes and failures to represent nostalgic memories that are both devastating and promising to different communities and individuals.
Within Adam’s practice, his compositions have an autonomous determination and often exorcising approach that links his oeuvre to modernism, re-appraising avant-garde techniques with found and discarded items, and constructs new situations to comment on farcical ideas such as diaspora and nationalism.
In the Window proposal
The Window space offers a unique opportunity not to parody the conceptions and notions behind a window display, but rather to re-invent those conventions for new ideas and purposes. The space is there to ‘sell’ (promote) the artist responsible for the work on exhibition. In this sense, the window is a ‘handshake’; an introduction; to the gallery space. And whilst the window is not a mirror, it will reflect.
In today’s contemporary art, artists have forgotten their roots, struggles and histories. They are right to look to the future, but through their eyes it is within such grasp that they would rather seize it than shake its hand.
As such, it is proposed that TWO abstract sculptures; titles and information under construction; made from recycled steel table frames, wood, paint and strip-light, be exhibited in BOTH WINDOW SPACES to remind civilians and viewers of futures past, and unconventionally ‘historic’ furniture pieces.
In the proposed new series of sculptures; Survived Socialism; steel-frame tables are utilised to new effect as ‘skeletons’ for sculptures that take shape into Modernist-inspired compositions.
Edward Jezycki (1919-2005), Polish maternal grandfather and a key inspiration to practice and life for a long time. As such, the work is dedicated to him and centred on an aura of nostalgia he bestowed, including an innovative use of discarded and unused items.
Statement text
SURVIVED SOCIALISM
15 to 21 October 2012
With Survived Socialism graduate artist-in-residence Adam Kelly presents a new series of sculptures which aim to explore the history of modernism, with influence from architecture seen in various towns and cities such as Stoke-on-Trent and Warsaw in Poland. The series’ title is derived from a memory that describes Kelly’s Polish maternal grandfather, Edward Jezycki. Inventive and resourceful with discarded and unused items, both share common passions for knowledge, museums and geography as demonstrated by this series of work crafted from second-hand steel frame tables (attained from around the city) as well as contemporary objects such as strip-lighting.
The pieces are covered with nostalgic brown panels, and emit a hopeful glare from the attached strip-lights, whilst they are bordered with foreign exotic rugs, allocating them space and time.
It is hoped that Survived Socialism gains a following from members of the public who remember their own national heritage and complies them to look toward the future, for “absence makes the heart grow fonder”.
The new works and the series are dedicated to Edward Jezycki (b. 1919 – d. 2005). Born and died in Warsaw, the city he loved.
Work intended for exhibition
Two sculptures; currently in development.
Special requirements
The taller window no. 2 has a width shorter than is necessary for the sculpture. It is suggested that objects of equal height to the window’s platform/’trench’, with long widths be placed under the sculpture to support it.
Websites, contacts
With thanks and best wishes
Adam Kelly
+44 07814 779947
