What’s the appeal in watching someone faking it?

Saskia Holmkvist's exhibition presents a major new video installation exploring notions of credibility, social strategy, and how we all engage in role-play. In Saskia Holmkvist’s best-known work Interview with Saskia Holmkvist (2005), the artist hired a media relations expert to train her to deliver a short statement about the themes of authenticity in her practice. The video documents Holmkvist rehearsing this statement with apparent sincerity and authority, but in doing so, a neat self-referential moment occurs as the work undermines and questions the authenticity of the situation.

This work in particular connects two of Holmkvist’s main interests which are the focus of this exhibition; the common languages of information such as factual documentary, and PR and marketing strategies, she elucidates on how these can be manipulated as well as actually being a source of manipulation.

The exhibition presents her newly commissioned film productions Role Control and In Character. The works develop on Holmkvist’s research into self-presentation and role-play, taking as their departure point the psychology of meetings, job interviews and interrogations. They emphasize the preparations for such situations, looking at the strategies employed for coaxing, mediating, cross-examining and disclosing information.

Alongside these new commissions, the exhibition will present a selection of existing works, including System (2001) which first brought her to national prominence in her native Sweden. This will be the first solo exhibition of work by Saskia Holmkvist in the UK.

Semiconductor
Brilliant Noise
Fri 4 Apr – Sun 20 Apr
10.00am to 6.00pm
FREE
CLOSED MONDAYS

Semiconductor's stunning new sound and video installation investigates our perception of the natural world. During a five-month fellowship at NASA’s Space Sciences Laboratory, Ruth Jarman and Joe Gerhardt explored the techniques, materials and philosophies used by scientists to discover near-space. This new work reveals worlds beyond our sensory awareness which probe the limits of human understanding and experience including images of the sun and visual representations of magnetic fields.

This live installation is accompanied by a performance on Fri 4 April. Link here for details.

Arts Council England International Artists Fellowship Programme: Art and Space Science at the UC Berkeley Space Sciences Lab., University of California, U.S.A. In partnership with the Leonardo network and NASA.

Centre Space

Adam Morrigan's goal is to highlight the need for us a people to remember how to be in balance, live in harmony and walk in beauty with all of creation not just with our own selfish agenda but offering respect, education and understanding of what we are currently losing.

Including the work of Sarah Cockings, winner of the BAS '07 and Helena Sands with her fantastic breeze block scuptures this is going to be one of the best shows of the year, not to be missed.

On Friday the 4th of April, the Here Gallery will be opening its
doors to present an exhibition by midlands based, arts collective imaginatively known as "Them Lot".

The work promises to be full of vim and charm, ranging from monsters to
confessions of an STI clinic regular.

Artworks included span sculpture, illustration photography and site
specific installation based work so you've good odds of finding
something thought provoking at this eclectic ensemble.

THEM LOT are a collective of artists hailing from Bristol to Birmingham. Gathered and put together by James Bourne and range from illustrators, photographers, monster makers, fine artists, inventors and filmmakers.

Them Lot are:

We are Gareth Barnett, James Bourne, Gary Bugerlips, Joanne Conlon, Andy Council, Paul Gibbs, Lewes Herrriot, Mark Long, Katie Mallon, Nicki McCubbing, Bob Notley, Joel Peers, Laurie Richardson Paul Roberts, David Shillinglaw, Gregory Siff, Oda Valle and Daniel van der Noon

http://www.themlot.co.uk

Watershed