Louise Mackenzie

The Future Unknown

2013-05-06T13:03:00.001+01:00

In this weekend's Telegraph Review, the article, Touching the Void, by Astronomer Royal, Martin Rees poses exactly the kind of questions that I hope to evoke with my degree show installation. Evolution, not just of our own humble species, but on a cosmic scale. Where is it that we have come from, and where are we headed?

In exploring post-humanism and the evolution of humanity, I became drawn to the origins of life on Earth. I have been mesmerised by the incorporeal cyanobacteria. A mysterious blue-green algae invisible to the naked eye yet responsible for so much that we take for granted. Cyanobacteria are a form of micro-algae, tiny micro-organisms many of which contain chlorophyll (as plants do) yet have the ability to move towards light and nutrients via the use of whip like tails (flagella), as an animal might. They exist today, as they did billions of years ago, in the oceans and their ability to create oxygen in the atmosphere was ultimately responsible for all other life on earth.

Researched for their potential to create bio-fuel and for their properties as nutraceuticals (health food supplements), they are also highly prized for their intense blue-green pigment. Like the ‘oltramarino’ of renaissance Italy, cyanobacteria possess that impalpable quality of the colour blue, of coming from beyond the seas and beyond the skies.

One might argue that these tiny beings enabled the existence of humankind. Their origins are unclear and debated amongst scientists. There is an other-worldly quality that connects them to the cosmos. The enticing possibility that they hail from a star far beyond our solar system, that they are the remnants of an intelligence that we cannot comprehend at present.

Evolution of intelligence as Rees points out, has the potential to present a hyper-real scenario not unlike that depicted in the Wachowski brothers' The Matrix. Rees suggests that such a world will not be possible without post-human intelligence. The post-human conjures up images of science fiction. Today, the collaborative relationships between artists, scientists, technologists, ethicists and philosophers mean that the reality of the post-human is creeping into the broader public perception. Cloned animals, crops genetically bred to resist disease, glow in the dark mice and zebra fish, human embryos cultivated to avoid genetic deficiencies. These are all possible today and fifty years from now it may be commonplace to combine human DNA with that of other species to eradicate disease, boost intelligence, increase life expectancy, or even to better our chances of survival on another planet. Human intelligence is evolving to incorporate the possibility of life beyond human. It is a reality that may still seem alien in the present, but it is a inevitable aspect of our future. It is the future that we know, that we are able to predict and describe. An entirely human construct. What we must expect therefore as we move towards the post-human is the unknown: the future that is not ours to shape.

Roseberry Primary School Art Workshops Achievement

2013-04-18T21:27:00.000+01:00

I was fortunate to be asked by The Forge to run a sculpture workshop on the theme of 'The Coast' for Roseberry Primary School in Chester-le-Street towards the end of last year. Combining sand and sculpture is a recipe for mess and fun, just right for a primary school workshop! The sculptural process of sand casting is also used by the marine industry in the region (at North Shields) to make machine parts and so the children were able to learn about hot metal sand casting, whilst using the same process to make their own relief casts in plaster, using items found on the beach.

As a result of Roseberry Primary's commitment the arts, they were The Forge's 'Project of the Term' winners. Details of their art projects and images can be found at the following link:

http://www.intheforge.com/site/wp-content/uploads/Roseberry-Nursery-and-Primary-Winners.pdf

Newcastle University Degree Show 2013

2013-04-09T17:33:00.002+01:00

GIVE at Moorbank

2013-03-19T09:18:00.001Z

On hearing about the imminent closure of Moorbank Botanic Gardens in Newcastle, those of us with nature in our practice felt compelled to make a gesture of support in an attempt to raise the profile of this beautiful but threatened location. Our exhibition, Unearthed, began as a one day only event, on Thursday 14th March, but was extended to the public as part of Moorbank Garden's Open Day this Sunday 17th March. Some of the work from Unearthed will also be shown again or developed upon at Symbiosis, as part of the The Late Shows in May this year http://www.thelateshows.org.uk/home.html.

My work, GIVE, is a continuation of my current research into micro-algae, arguably the origins of life on earth. Moorbank has further Open Days later this year and is participating in The Late Shows during May 2013, so please do try to give this fantastic venue your support. http://www.ncl.ac.uk/biology/about/facilities/moorbank/mbopen.html

GIVE (DO NOT INHALE)

Plastic bags, plastic tubing, oxygen masks, micro-algae (Tetraselmis)

Louise Mackenzie

Micro-algae are some of the earliest forms of life on earth. Coming from the ocean, micro-algae were among the first species to photosynthesise: producing oxygen via chloroplasts that exist within these single-celled organisms. The chloroplasts evolved into chlorophyll within plants, allowing the development of plant life and ultimately all land-based species. Thus these micro organisms are arguably the origins of life on earth.

GIVE asks you to consider for a moment the importance of earthly flora to our fragile human existence. By exhaling into the mask, we can give back directly to the species that originally enabled our existence, providing it with the nutrients it needs to flourish and grow. A reciprocal arrangement that we all too often take for granted.

Louise Mackenzie is a visual artist whose current work involves research into micro-algae.

This collaborative project has been possible with the support of Moorbank and staff of the Micro-Biology Department at Newcastle University.

Current Exhibitions

2013-03-15T16:04:00.001Z

Unearthed, Moorbank Botanic Gardens, Open Day: 17 March 2013, 1pm - 4pm

Eve's Curse, Great North Museum, 11-17 March 2013, Evening Opening: 15 March 5 - 8pm

Un-Natural Selection, Hold Tight, Eldon Gardens, 15-20 March 2013, PV: 14 March 5 - 8pm

Hotbed Press 20:20

2013-03-08T18:10:00.002Z

This collaborative exhibition of contemporary printmakers is now showing in Wakefield and then continuing to tour, details in the link below...

http://www.hotbedpress.org/exhibitions/2020-now-showing-in-wakefield/

UNEARTHED at Moorbank Botanic Gardens

2013-03-07T17:36:00.002Z

Open to University staff and students only, and for one day only, I will be exhibiting 'GIVE', my algae lung bags at Moorbank Botanic Gardens, Newcastle. The exhibition has been created by a group of students in support of Moorbank's fabulous facilities, which are scheduled for closure in the coming 12 months.

The gardens are having a public open day on Sunday 17th March, where hopefully the work will be shown again. All welcome. https://www.facebook.com/Moorbank?fref=ts

TRANSITION, December 2012

2013-01-07T15:01:00.000Z

Transition: non stasis / in between

somewhere between the synthetic and the organic

the distinction is irrelevant, both exist simultaneously, always-already there

a work in progress, idea development, Newcastle University Final Year

Fine Art Auction Friday December 7th

2012-12-06T14:57:00.001Z

Click on the link below to bid and help raise funds for the 4th year art students of Newcastle University

www.nclfineartauction.tumblr.com

ZAP Open 2012 Preview

2012-11-18T20:29:00.000Z

Annabel Tilley and Rosalind Davis talking about ZAP 2012, an Open with a difference.

http://www.eastlondonlines.co.uk/2012/11/the-zeitgeist-open-exhibition/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Courtesy of Broughton Birnie, http://broughtonbirnie.co.uk/blog/, and Corinna Spencer, http://www.corinnaspencer.com/, on flickr, here is some footage of the preview of the ZAP Open 2012

http://youtu.be/ZMyu08Ll4pU

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48722588@N04/sets/72157632035531298/

The exhibition was selected by Graham Crowley, Rosalind Davis, David Kefford, Alistair Gentry and Annabel Tilley – the show continues until 1st December at Bond House, Goodwood Road, New Cross Gate, London, SE14 6BL.

Inspirational

2012-11-17T00:00:00.000Z

I had a great night at the Zeitgeist Open. Packed preview, great flow to the work. I felt a strong resonance with some of the artists: flower bones, red rooms, chaos and order in minuscule marks and patterns. So many other works I wish there were less people in front of so I could spend more time with them. Met inspiring and encouraging people, so pleased I was able to make the journey.

Zeitgeist Open 2012 Press Release

2012-11-03T13:54:00.002Z

ZAP warmly invites you to ...

Press Release:

The Zeitgeist Open Exhibition is a compelling view of a cross section of critically engaged artists who are currently producing profound and intriguing works.

From the 557 images received, the five judges – all artists, themselves - Graham Crowley, Alistair Gentry, David Kefford and Zeitgeist founders, Rosalind Davis and Annabel Tilley looked at all 557 works before finally selecting the above 41 artists:

We discovered in all the selected artists “A cherished and obsessive practice” (Ben Coode-Adams) As well as: Melancholia, fantasy, identity, macabre, dreamlike people, places. There is absurdity and there is death. There is mystery and sharp realisation. Familiar and yet devastatingly unfamiliar spaces. Morbidity and things verging on the grotesque. Seriousness, playfulness. Joy….

All the work was seen, and scrutinised carefully on the basis of image alone – artists were not judged on their CV, age, art-school history, gallery connections or art-world renown.

These 41 artists have between them all a stunning array of achievements. We could tell you that these artists have international careers, they come from across the world, that they have exhibited extensively or very little at all, that they came from famous art colleges now, or 30 years ago. Many have won some kind of art prize, or been involved in major exhibitions. There have been private and public commissions. Their works are in major collections as well as no doubt numerous private collections.

They work in paint, drawing, photography and sculpture using a wide range of materials, concepts and processes. They have done residencies, are in publications, they write for publications, they curate.

But none of this mattered to us. The work did. And that is why this will be a different open exhibition.

The philosophy behind The Zeitgeist Open – judged on a single anonymous image - was to create a really open Open, resulting in an exhibition that is about the artwork, and about intelligent artists making critical, educated and also instinctive decisions about the artwork: looking at 557 works over seven intense hours meant for the judges that each work had to hold its own; had to engage them totally and immediately – subtly or with force.

We hope you can make the show.

Rosalind Davis and Annabel Tilley

ART TOURS:

Hoxton and Shoreditch

La Scatola Gallery, Payne Shurvell, Hales Gallery, Studio 1.1, Aubin Gallery, Standpoint Gallery and Charlie Smith.

Friday, November 9, 4-6pm

Book Here: £10 / £8 DIY Members

Led by Annabel Tilley and Rosalind Davis, this insider art tour covers a variety of East London art spaces, commercialand public galleries, artist-led and pop up spaces. By speaking to gallery directors, artists and curators, we aim to give you an intimate insight into relationship between artist and arts organisation.

The tour will allow you to discover (or re-discover) various art communities in London, evoking discussion and question about your own practice and career. The tour will round off with a glass of wine at a local pub.

The tour will begin at La Scatola Gallery at 4pm.

Next Artist Talk:

Virginia Verran

Sustaining A Practice

Thursday, November 22, 6:30-8:30pm

Book here: £5/ £10 DIY Members

Virginia Verran is an established internationally acclaimed artist dedicated to painting and drawing, with a wonderful sense of story-telling. Winner of the Jerwood Drawing Prize 2010, Virginia discusses the highs and lows, pressures and expectations on a long term career in the arts.

Plot, image courtesy of Virginia Verran

Verran's work exists on a ground between potentially recognisable images and painted as an independent and physical force. The paintings feel inevitable, a result of chance and intent, conveying a sense of the body and skin where there are rubbed back areas, movement, indefinable space but one which acknowledges the artifice in the activity.

"I am often very aware of the unending space above our heads and this is somehow compounded by working in (favoured) basement studios. Recent developments in the paintings have been affected by the new drawings so more graphic marks are appearing, also collage occasionally."

Coming soon…

Phoebe Unwin

Thursday, November 29, 6:30-8:30pm

Book here: £5/ £10 DIY Members
British Art Star 7 Phoebe Unwin gives a passionate insight into her artistic practice and explains what it is like to be represented by Wilkinson Gallery.

Email: diyeducate@gmail.com

Website: www.ZeitgeistArtsProjects.com

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The Zeitgeist Open 2012

2012-10-13T14:13:00.002+01:00

Evolution of the Object, 2012
selected for the Zeitgeist Open 2012

Exhibition Dates:

15^th November Preview 6-9pm

16^th November- 1^st December, Thursday - Saturday 12-5pm

1^st December: Artists and Curators in Dialogue Saturday 1^st December 3-4.30pm

Where: Bond House Project Space, ASC Studios, Goodwood Road, New Cross, London, SE14 6BL

Consumer's Pride (Without Malice) at the launch of The Bleed Mag #2 at Mr Lynch in Jesmond

2012-09-29T14:51:00.002+01:00

Entropy (working title)

2012-09-24T23:02:00.001+01:00

ENTROPY

Inspired by fragmented pieces of a defunct church organ, I am working on a collaborative installation that reflects upon the changing form of human spirit. Connected to my interest in human creativity and innovation, both archaeological and current, Entropy explores shifts in energy, an evolution of the object from its past, deeply rooted in a strong sense of community, to the dissipated, fragmented community emergent in contemporary society. In relation to this body of work, I am developing the different strands outlined below:

1. Lament, Sculptural print, music score and sound installation.

Print: Dust from century old planks of wood that once held organ pipes are imprinted onto a cotton sheet, donated by the widow of the organist. The imprinted sheet a poignant reminder of the organ and organist’s past unity;

Music Score: The circular holes in the organ wood planks create a pattern which form the basis for a musical composition, transcribed from the dust print and arranged for the organ, in collaboration with the music department at Newcastle University;

Sound Installation: A live recording of the music score played in St Thomas’ Church, Haymarket, Newcastle, interspersed with fragments of an original recording of the (now defunct) organ and former congregation in song.

2. Evolution of the Object, found objects, dust imprinted paper and glass, cyanotype prints.

Arrangement of fragmented organ wood: strangely lifelike objects, some unchanged, others evolved into discordant musical creations such as a hand-cranked ‘pianola’ and a glass ‘xylophone’ (in collaboration with Wearside Glass, National Glass Centre, Sunderland);

Cyanotype prints: a series of original prints using cyanotype - the technology available at the time of the organ's creation - capturing oddly lifelike objects: blueprints of emergent forms; fragmented, discordant musical objects resonant of, but distant from their original source.

I have been fortunate enough to work with St Thomas' Church, Newcastle, the former Robert Young Memorial Church, Gateshead and Newcastle University Music Department in developing these strands and aim to continue to develop this work.

Departure Foundation Student Art Prize, extended until November 2012

2012-09-18T19:38:00.000+01:00

Entropy (detail) 2012

Departure Foundation, Sunderland

Entropy (detail) 2012

Departure Foundation, Sunderland

Exhibition of Works at Gateway West, Newburn, June 2012

2012-07-14T20:38:00.001+01:00

Studies in Cyanotype

2012-05-23T11:41:00.004+01:00

Entropy (working title), Open Studios May 2012

2012-05-23T11:40:00.000+01:00

Current Exhibitions

2012-05-08T21:17:00.000+01:00

For George

2012-05-07T19:36:00.000+01:00

Etching, work in progress at 'Story of a Studio' exhibition, Northern Print 2011

untitled 2012

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Haywire

2012-04-30T20:11:00.002+01:00

Five Legs

2012-04-30T20:10:00.004+01:00

Untitled 1: Work in Progress 2012

2012-04-30T19:58:00.002+01:00