Hayward Curatorial Open: Quiet Revolution

Exhibitions

4 July - 30 August 2009

Exhibiting artists: David Beattie (Ireland), Margret H. Blondal (Iceland), Matt Calderwood (UK), Alice Channer (UK), Hreinn Fridfinnsson (Iceland), Mitzi Pederson (US) and Joelle Tuerlinckx (Belgium).

Quiet Revolution was an international group exhibition of sculptural works that playfully subvert our relationship with our everyday surroundings. The exhibition featured seven artists who take familiar and unnoticed materials and transform them to create artworks that challenge us to look at our world with fresh eyes.

The exhibition was curated by Chris Fite-Wassilak, winner of the first of three annual Hayward Touring Curatorial Open competitions.  The expression ‘quiet revolution’ refers to a social or cultural shift that isn’t obvious or violent. In a similar fashion, the works in this exhibition help alter public perception of the qualities of commonplace objects. From David Beattie’s laconic homemade science projects and Alice Channer’s explorations of space and pattern to the slapstick tension of Matt Calderwood’s assemblages and the disarmingly simple poetic conceptualism of Hreinn Fridfinnsson, this quiet revolution shifts our attention to new and creative possibilities. Whether working with cardboard, wood, or flour, these artists share a light touch and a deft sense of humour in transforming what they find ready to hand.

The Hayward Touring Curatorial Open programme supports emerging UK-based curators in realising innovative contemporary art exhibitions. In 2009, Chris Fite-Wassilak was chosen by a panel, including the artist Chris Evans and curators from the Hayward Gallery, Milton Keynes Gallery and the Harris Museum & Art Gallery, Preston for his proposal Quiet Revolution.

The second exhibition in the series, Hayward Curatorial Open II is touring venues in the UK during 2010/11.