Abstract

‘Beyond the Studio’ is a touring exhibition comprising four artists/designers who produce work in very different ways. The differences, similarities and contrasts provide the basis for a sustained dialogue that is articulated through textual and visual language of the exhibition series and reflected in the nature of the outputs. Although each practitioner has a contrasting notion of the studio, all agree that it is a critical element in the production of their work. During the preparation for the exhibition series the emerging dialogue focussed on the role of the studio and what it means to each participant, often this would involve attempting to describe the complex or even irrational methods and processes they employ. The exhibition explores the phenomenon of the studio through the outputs, supporting the emerging discourse and documenting each practitioner’s responses to the challenge of defining what the ‘studio’ means. The work has been selected by each exhibitor for its ability to represent their personal definition, providing a visual comparative analysis that illuminates the different methods and processes that define the work. The discourse raises the question of whether the ‘studio’ is simply a space capable of accommodating physical needs, or a seminal juncture for contemplation and reflection. Increasingly, it works towards a position of articulating the inescapable and profound influence the studio has on our thinking and practice, perhaps even defining us as practitioners. No matter how we describe the studio, physically or intellectually, it encapsulates the process that leads to a finished piece of work. The exhibited work represents an emerging discourse, disseminated through the exhibition series and associated publication which is curated by Paul Middleton, reviewed by Prof Evripedes Zantides.