Join us for the launch of New York-based artist Clifford Owens’s debut European exhibition. Owens will perform his new commission Anthology (2014) live, delivering scores (short sets of instructions, some specific, others open to interpretation) contributed by a selection of British artists.
The scores, contributed by artists including Godfried Donkor, David Blandy and Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, draw on British and African-American history and convey themes of pop culture, violence and generosity. Owens’s interpretations will encompass sound, video, photography and live performance.
Some performances contain explicit language, partial nudity, dramatised violence and low lighting, so you must be aged 18 or over to attend this event. Performances also take place on Thu 8 May and throughout the opening weekend, see below for details.
The exhibition also features key existing work first shown at New York’s MoMA PS1, and a second new commission.
In October 2013, Owens invited people to take part in the process of creating the piece Photographs with an Audience: Manchester. During sessions held over two nights, he prompted the assembled group to reveal personal information (‘who has experienced an eating disorder’, ‘who is in love’, ‘who has an alcoholic parent’). The group bravely and generously laid themselves bare, revealing intimate details about their lives. Reacting to their responses, Owens constructed a series of photographic compositions, capturing his audience’s histories, personalities and identities, and the exchanges that took place during the performances. The photographs will be shown in the galleries as a collection of sequences, portraits and diptychs.
Live performances: Anthology (2014)
Thu 8 May, 18:00 – 19:00
Anthology (Naomi Kashiwagi)
Anthology (Jack Tan)
Anthology (Lynette Yiadom-Boakye)
Anthology (Lubaina Himid)
Fri 9 May, 19:00 – 20:00. These performances will take place during the exhibition preview, which opens at 18:00
Anthology (David Blandy)
Anthology (John Akomfrah and Trevor Mathison)
Anthology (Godfried Donkor)
Anthology (Lynette Yiadom-Boakye)
Sat 10 May, 16:00 – 17:00
Anthology (David Blandy)
Anthology (Jack Tan)
Anthology (Lynette Yiadom-Boakye)
Anthology (Lubaina Himid)
Please note that the timings indicated are a guide only and are subject to change.