Model for Ideology VI, Nicola Dale, 2015

In 2013 I was awarded a month-long residency in Shanghai, China, courtesy of Metal Liverpool and Shanghai College of Fine Arts. I undertook a research and development trip that would inspire new artworks around the theme of knowledge and how our relationship to it is changing. As the ancient birthplace of paper, ink and books, and as the supreme manufacturer of electronic devices, China seemed the perfect place to go for someone wishing to learn more about the shift from the former to the latter.

Untitled, Nicola Dale, 2013

My overriding and lasting impression is that China is a double-edged place, simultaneously full of constraint and potential. There is a ferocious drive to tear down, start again, build and expand. The state channels the energy of millions of Chinese citizens into a devastatingly effective work ethic, but this comes at a cost: the unbelievably heavy burden of top-down work crushes creativity. Over there, perspiration is not inspiration. “Ideas” are not encouraged. “Imagination” is not in evidence. What a different world to ours – we Westerners wouldn’t know hard work if it booted us in the jaw, but we’re up to our necks in blue-sky thinking…

Photograph taken in Shanghai, Nicola Dale, 2013

My experience of China encouraged me to reflect on the path that my work takes. When I think about my process, I see that it can be broken down into three parts: the first is the most exciting – the ping of an unexpected connection, the thrill of the idea; the second is the most draining – making the work, dealing with its physicality; and the third is the most mysterious – the moment of understanding that comes once you see your work reflected in the eyes of others. With luck, the first and second parts of this process do a little dance together: they wiggle back and forth happily between idea and practical decision-making. However, this dance is easily destabilised: wallowing in ideas without realising them is an insult to your practical skills; becoming slave to a technique is offensive to your imagination and both are forms of cowardice. Being in China helped me to understand that my practice feeds off a BALANCE between constraint and potential, between letting my mind wander and hard work, between imagination and technique and that this balance is, above all else, what I should aim for with my process.

Kexy, Nicola Dale, 2014

Nicola Dale will be showing new work inspired by her residency in Shanghai as part of her forthcoming touring solo exhibition, Not so firm as faded ink. Commissioned and curated by Mark Devereux Projects, the exhibition will visit Centrespace Gallery (Bristol) from 11 – 22 April before moving on to Arcadecardiff (Cardiff) 15 – 23 May.

More: Website

//////

Want to read more blogs by artists? Look here.

There are substantial numbers of creatives with the talent, ambition and drive to succeed within the market but lack support and direction to get there. Mark Devereux Projects provides a generous and thoughtful approach to working with artists. This July, CUBE hosts the official launch and exhibition for new Manchester-based organisation, Mark Devereux Projects. Means of Feedback features new and recent works from the organisation’s three inaugural artists: Nicola Dale, David Ogle and Nicola Ellis.

Nicola Dale, Sequel, 2012

As part of Means of Feedback, Manchester-based Nicola Dale is creating The Weight Between Words – a new work consisting of thousands of paper rectangles, each hand-cut with a bookbinding awl to the same size, shape and accumulative weight of a printer’s lead type. In conversation with Yorkshire Sculpture Park’s Curator, Helen Pheby [to be included in the accompanying publication], Nicola Dale reflects on how this work first started: “The first piece I picked up wasn’t a letter, but a space – being made of lead, this small rectangle was heavy despite its size and it made me think how once upon a time even a gap, a pause, a breath had some actual weight in the production of knowledge… but now even words themselves are weightless when they pass into digital form.”

David Ogle, Pink, Orange, Yellow, Green, 4, 2013

After his recent solo exhibition for this year’s Sculpture Shock and Catlin Art Prize awards in London, David Ogle is developing a new site-specific work especially for Mark Devereux Projects exhibition, Means of Feedback. Exploring materials and notions of how objects are perceived in space, Ogle’s work uses light to create innately ephemeral experiences. Beginning as a strict mathematical procedure, the rules and formulas are then ‘played-out’ within an environment, allowing the physical space to shape and manipulate the work. Ogle states; “Through negating material properties my work seeks a kind of fragility; resting on the edge between a sculptural form and an environmental effect of light that manifests itself within a space, a context from which the work is inseparable.”

Nicola Ellis, Paregro, 2013

Nicola Ellis will be exhibiting new works responding to her recent piece, Paregro part of the FOUR exhibition at Cornerhouse, Manchester. Exploring her fascination with natural and synthetic materials, Ellis has collected thousands of pieces of reclaimed glass from building and demolition sites to create a new sculptural work. In a recent conversation about the process behind the making of her works, Ellis comments: “It’s about finding something out about the material and process, which then explodes into the final work. The origins of the piece are in that discovery process. The spectrum starts broad and is then narrowed down with specific focus on the creation of the work, but once the final piece has been made this process then opens up again.”

Coinciding with Means of Feedback and formed in collaboration with Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester, Mark Devereux Projects will be working with Nicola Dale, David Ogle and Nicola Ellis to create new, site-specific and performative responses to the exhibitions in Whitworth Art Gallery for a special After Hours event on Saturday 13 July from 7:30-10:30pm. Further information about this event will be announced on the Mark Devereux Projects website shortly.

Accompanying the launch of Mark Devereux Projects and Means of Feedback, a new publication will be available showcasing the work of Nicola Dale, David Ogle and Nicola Ellis, along with texts from Project Space Leeds’ Director Kerry Harker, Yorkshire Sculpture Park’s Curator Helen Pheby, Whitworth Art Gallery’s Curator Mary Griffiths and Mark Devereux.

Initially trained as an artist, Mark Devereux founded and Directed Blank Media Collective in 2006 and was later pivotal in the launch of Manchester’s BLANKSPACE Gallery, before stepping-down from his role as Director & Head of Exhibitions last July. Now concentrating on a focused and dedicated support structure for early-career artists, Devereux comments: “I have spoken to hundreds of artists over the years and one of the key areas that continued to arise was the need for more one-to-one guidance and support. Already, since making my idea public in January, artists from not just the North-West but from around the UK have contacted me and we’ve met to talk about their work.”

Find out more about Mark Devereux Projects on Central Station here. Information about how any early-career artist can join Mark Devereux Projects Associate Membership can be found on the MDP website.

Means of Feedback is at CUBE, 113-115 Portland Street, Manchester, M1 6DW from 12 – 17 July 2013 (Preview: 11 July, 6-9pm).

More: Website | Twitter | Facebook

/////

Read more about Mark Devereux on Central Station here.

During his six-years as Founder, Director & Head of Exhibitions for Blank Media Collective (Manchester), Devereux worked with and talked to hundreds of artists. One of the common and most significant issues was the lack of dedicated, one-to-one support available to give the artists the bespoke and channeled information needed to help further their practice.

Research shows that many positive and informative schemes varying from open workshops to discussion groups exist; however, there are few organisations that are able to offer a focused one-to-one service for early-career artists.

Through the experience and contacts Devereux has acquired, MDP is able to start looking at ways in which the organisation can fill-in some of these gaps. Working alongside other industry professionals, MDP is launching in the North-West of England with two entry-points for early-career artists, audiences and collaborators.

“His [Devereux’s] idea of starting our working relationship with 100 questions around every aspect of my practice was inspired. Since that, I’ve had an interview and studio visit with a fantastic curator from Yorkshire Sculpture Park. A visit from another arts professional and a further session with Mark are already penciled in. I feel really lucky that’s he’s taking such a nurturing approach.” [Nicola Dale]

Sequel, Nicola Dale, 2012

MDP will be working with Nicola Dale, David Ogle and Nicola Ellis as a long-term ‘collaboration’ to support the growth of their practices. With support ranging from critique of new works and ideas to support with promotion and business skills, varying aims and targets have been set to help each artist increase their profile and achieve their personal ambitions.

The work between MDP and the inaugural artists will be an ongoing process and conversation, rather than short-term fixes of information or exposure. Reflection, consideration and time for thinking are all integral factors into making the process and activities comfortable and successful for the artists.

“As opportunities for artists often seem to follow on from one another (new commissions arising from previous shows) it can feel as though any kind of career development lacks a level of direction or concerted focus on specific goals. Working with MDP has allowed me to consider in detail the types of opportunities that I am most interested in undertaking and how this can contribute to long-term aspirations” [David Ogle]

08005, David Ogle, 2011

The second strand of the organisation is the new MDP Associate Membership Scheme and one-to-one mentoring sessions. Early-career artists from the North-West of England can join the scheme to benefit from bespoke one-to-one mentoring and guidance sessions. They will gain exposure through annual group exhibitions selected by Mark Devereux together with two other curators, producers or industry professionals. They will also have access to group information sessions and events as well as access to a range of online advisory materials.

The Associate Membership is a great opportunity for early-career artists to not only increase their exposure and awareness but also get invaluable advice, guidance and support helping them get to where they want to be in the future. It also gives each of the Associate Members the opportunity to be considered by MDP to compliment the existing artists mentioned above.

To compliment the Associate Membership or for early-career artists from outside of the North-West of England, additional bespoke one-to-one mentoring and guidance sessions can be booked with MDP to discuss support, advice and information needed to help further individuals careers.

Lassus, Nicola Ellis, 2011

“There will be a lot of new experiences for me while working with MDP. I look forward to engaging with the public in different ways and focusing on specific areas of my practice that will help develop and compliment the work I produce.” [Nicola Ellis]

MDP is currently working towards the first exhibition; Means of Feedback, which will take place in Manchester from 11-17 July, showcasing the work of Nicola Dale, David Ogle and Nicola Ellis. Complimenting the exhibition will be specially commissioned videos about each of the artists and the work of MDP. A publication including the writing of Kerry Harker (Co-Founder & Director Project Space Leeds) and Helen Pheby (Curator Yorkshire Sculpture Park) will be launched to accompany the exhibition.

For further information about Mark Devereux Projects please visit the brand-new website, Twitter or Facebook. To join MDP Associate Membership scheme or find out more about one-to-one mentoring sessions for any early-career artist visit the Membership & Mentoring page or email info@markdevereuxprojects.com.

/////

Read more about Mark Devereux on Central Station here.