Output details

Prints of Darkness. (Curated Exhibition: Edinburgh Printmakers, 17.7-14.8.2010; Engramme, Quebec, Canada, 28.10 – 11.12. 2011; Pallant House Gallery, Chichester, England, 21.8. - 21.10. 2012. Associated Catalogue: ‘Prints of Darkness’ Box-set with gatefold-sleeved LP picture-disc record with texts, and fold-out poster. Edited by Norman Shaw and Sarah-Manning Cordwell (Edinburgh Printmakers, 2010) ISBN: 978-0-9541530-2-1).

An investigation of the impact of record cover art on visual artists. The project also explored relationships between visual art and music as manifest on the record cover. The record cover provides a fundamental interface between music and the still image, and has become an essential aspect of musical and visual subcultures. The art is often viewed for at least as long as the duration of the record – for much longer than most gallery-based work. The record cover synaesthetically maps the sonic journey inscribed on the record. Exploring the vinyl record as an abiding audio-visual artefact, this project references the golden age of the record cover in the thick of post-psychedelia’s goth-surrealistic art-nouveau apocalyptic landscape explosion, now being revived in a current resurgence of collectable limited-edition records with original artwork.

Twelve artists were commissioned to produce one print in record-cover format as a response to the research theme. The publication is a lavish record-box style boxed set containing a limited edition picture-disc LP by audio/visual artist People Like Us (Vicky Bennett), plus a publication/poster with all of the artists’ images, and critical texts by Norman Shaw and by Vicky Bennett. Related ephemera included t-shirts and badges designed by the artists.

Related research activities included an event organised in conjunction with the exhibition, entitled Instruments of Darkness, at The Electric Circus in Edinburgh, and featuring performances by The Frankensteins (including ex-members of rock band The Fall), Nob, El Search. Also, a ‘record swap’ event and a sound-collage workshop, plus a talk given by Vicky Bennett about her own working processes.

Funded by The Scottish Arts Council (£15000) and The Carnegie Trust (£1757)