#baltic gallery

[joshuapellillustration]

5 minute drawing of the view from the Baltic, Newcastle.

[sylvianowak]

This exhibition draws on the imagination of contemporary artists to inspire a conversation on ideas of citizenship in the digital age. We are said to live in the era of ‘fake news’ – online propaganda which significantly endangers democracy.

Sophisticated AI and CGI technologies have irreversibly blurred the distinction between reality and simulation. We voluntarily subject ourselves to constant surveillance of our online presence, while enjoying the apparent anonymity which grants us the illusion of freedom and encourages the upsurge of internet trolling.

In the time of unprecedented speed of information circulation which has weakened the importance and integrity of the public space, have we lost the ability for informed political action? Are we still able to form a community or has the fragmentation of the present moment deprived us of the capacity of being active enabled citizens? Digital Citizen - The Precarious Subject investigates new possibilities of digital tools and networks for rethinking historical forms of nationalisms and citizenship.

The exhibition revels in digital avatars, game environments and ‘total worlds’ that open up new spaces for creation and fluid gender identities. It asks the question of whether it is still possible to foster new transnational forms of togetherness and activism in the digital realm.

Artists include: James Bridle / Alan Butler / Laura Grace Ford / Peter Hanmer / Daniela Ortiz / Jonas Staal / Kate Stonehill / Petra Szemán / They Are Here / Alan Warburton

[sylvianowak]

Ifeoma U. Anyaeji makes distinctive sculptures and installations from discarded bottles and non-biodegradable plastic bags.

Interested in traditional craft processes and the use of non-conventional materials, her work explores transitions of West African culture, specifically drawing on the folklore, fashion, music and poetry of Nigeria, where she is from.

Using a method which she describes as Plasto-art, Anyaeji creates intricately-woven structures and reliefs with a West African hair-plaiting technique known as Ikpa Owu in Igbo language (Threading), an increasingly obsolete hair-craft in Nigeria. By combining this with traditional basketry and fabric weaving techniques, Anyaeji reflects on the loss of such traditions. For her first solo presentation in the UK, Anyaeji will present a selection of recent work in BALTIC’s Level 2 gallery.

[rad-magazine-blog]

KARLA BLACK

"While there are ideas about psychological and emotional developmental processes held within the sculptures I make, the things themselves are actual physical explorations into thinking, feeling, communicating and relating'". KARLA BLACK

Karla Black uses traditional materials as well as more unusual resources including make up and toiletries to construct beautiful and other worldly sculptural installations. A nominee for the Turner Prize 2011, you have to see these in person if and when you get the chance, they are enchanting!

[laura-mariesaul]

Critical Review of an exhibition at the Baltic Gallery of Contemporary Art

Whilst back in the north east I visted the Baltic gallery of Contemporary Art, hoping to find new artists for inspiration etc. Have to say, I was hugely dissappointed with what was on show or should I say lack of. However, there was some very interesting pieces by artist Mariah Robertson. Her work is simply a stunning visual piece to look at, due to the intense combination of colours scattered around, to the way the piece was presented like a huge sculpture and forced you to follow it around. If you looked more closely you can see how she used photographs and objects and exposed them directly onto the paper. I love how she used photographic paper and chemicals to create an almost rainbow like set of colours in her work, along with texture and pattern. In a way her work could relate to collections, as she collected objects to become part of her image-making process, objects I feel are memoirs, such as photographs and handprints. Her work is very time consuming and using what is considered to be a more out of date form of photographic process, I find her work is reflective of this. The image above shows one of her pieces at the Baltic and I feel the image does not give it justice as to how beautiful and intricate it is.