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POSITIONS: THE PRIMITIVES [part 1], POSITIONS: CAVEGIRL [part2]

Opening date: 01/6 /2009

Closing date: 7/2/ 2010

20 sculptural works

2 x texts – artist editions

1 x sculpture by Anthony Caro borrowed from Tate collection

For Positions, a two-part exhibition of 2009-10, commissioned by Laing Gallery curator Gemma Millward, Cullinan Richards engaged with histories of modern and contemporary British sculpture. Funded by Arts Council England [£33k], the exhibition centred on ‘hosting’ two sculptures: Anthony Caro’s ‘Early One Morning’, 1962 and Rachel Whiteread’s ‘Untitled (Stairs)’, 2011. In response to these works, Cullinan Richards produced twenty-five new works; two artists’ invite texts and event menus, and two slide shows.

Conceived as exhibition-as-event, the sculptures arrival were announced by a lightbox sculpture, resembling a free-standing cinema sign positioned in the entrance hall two months prior to each exhibition. For Part 1, ‘Positions: The Primitives’, Cullinan Richards exhibited two sets of 3 metre curtains hung in display cases (embellished with 15 hand-made tapestries and 3 abstract paintings), two ‘chandelier’ works [100cm x 60cm] alongside the Caro sculpture loaned by the Tate. The exhibition invitation, an artists’ text edition in 2 parts, invited viewers to approach the work as a hosted event replete with a specially devised menu. The hosting event, marking the arrival of Caro’s sculpture, included a slideshow projected through the sculpture showing its arrival and installation, and a film screening.

Part 2, ‘The Cavegirl’, announced by the sculptural lightbox, consisted of a Cullinan Richards 4m ‘Upright Chandelier’ placed in the hall in response to the absent Whiteread sculpture. A second invite text and hosting evening menu and slide show were produced, and the double-curtains turned to display Cullinan Richards prints. By ‘hosting’ Caro and Whiteread’s sculpture as part of an extended exhibition-as-event, Positions expanded possibilities of collaborative practice and proposed insertion of their work into recent sculptural histories. The Laing purchased 2 ‘chandelier’ sculptures, now on permanent display.

Guardian Review: 15/8/2009]. Cullinan presented their research at the Salzburg Academy of Fine Art, 2012.