Output details

Curated Exhibition: Potential Architecture: An Exhibition of Work by Lucy and Jorge Orta, held 7 September to 7 November 2013,

Beeson curated this exhibition held in the Gallery, Arts University Bournemouth; it formed part of the ArtsSouth Collaborations series.

Research Imperatives

Drawing on experience gained from the curation of other exhibitions (including the work of internationally recognised artists Siah Armajani, Per Kirkeby and Erwin Heerich, Beeson explored the artists’ creative practice and in particular, their contribution to architectural thought; he also considered how an audience might engage in interpreting the works. Furthermore, it provided an opportunity to present Lucy Orta’s work at AUB where she had been made a Design Fellow (2012).

Initial research included visits to the artists’ two studio sites east of Paris, at the Old Dairy, St.Simeon and Les Moulin, Marne-la-Vallée. This gave an insight of the context in which these works were made, the methods and materials of production, the archive of stored works and the future plans for Studio Orta.

One of the main challenges for Beeson was the installation of Totipotent Architecture-Tuscany (studies) which included blown crystal glass. Created in collaboration with local craftsmen and made for the Arte all’Arte project in the Buonconvento, Tuscany, Italy, 2004, the work was originally installed in the town’s Sacred Art Museum. A single large plinth was used to show other Totipotent works, six Les Moulin studies and two Greenham Observatory studies.

The exhibition was conceived to engage the audience, with opportunities to contribute “dreams” to the Tower of Dreams, contemplate the Annunciation or engage in a “gallery studio”. Dissemination activities included a curator’s talk as part of the Arts By the Sea Festival (Bournemouth); a gallery event with dialogue between curator and artist; and a symposium (Architecture and Body) jointly organised by Beeson at which Lucy Orta spoke.

The publication/catalogue Potential Architecture: Lucy + Jorge Orta includes a text by Beeson.

Portfolio

CD:

(i) Exhibition images

Paper Portfolio

(i) Book: Potential architecture to accompany exhibition

(ii) Gallery programme: date of dissemination