November 12–December 20, 2013
Opening: November 9, 8pm
Artist’s talk: 8:15pm
Void
Patrick Street
Derry, BT48 7EL
Northern Ireland
Santiago Sierra (b. 1966, Madrid) is known for exploring the relationships between labour, capital, empire and oppression through poetic and frequently controversial actions. His representations of the exploitative transactions of everyday life often involve contracting people to perform useless, degrading or repetitive tasks. Offering little by way of apology or solution to the predicament of those involved, his work presents ethical dilemmas for both spectator and art institution and implicates the audience in the events they witness.
In two new site-specific works commissioned by Void—Veterans and Psychophonies—Sierra addresses the legacies of the conflict in Northern Ireland through an engagement with demilitarised sites and former military workers. Employing flying drones, video, sound recordings and postering, Sierra’s latest interventions engage with existing dialogues about the past in Northern Ireland, redrawing the boundaries of confrontation and struggle, and offering a chilling reflection on contemporary war cultures.
Recent solo exhibitions include the No–Global Tour, Centro-Museo Vasco de Arte Contemporáneo Artium in Vitoria, and exhibitions with Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane, Australia; Museu Madre, Naples, Italy; Lisson Gallery, London; Galeria Helga de Alvear, Madrid and the Spanish Pavillion, 50th Venice Biennale.
Curated by Sara Greavu & Jonathan Cummins.
Void is a non-profit organisation and artist-led space. It has a staff of 11 and circa 20 volunteers, which include the Curatorial Committee and Board.
Veterans & Psychophonies is part of the Void programme for City of Culture 2013. UK City of Culture: Derry~Londonderry has made history after winning its bid to be the first ever UK City of Culture in 2013.
Veterans & Psychophonies would like to acknowledge the support of its funders; The Arts Council Northern Ireland, Culture Company, Derry City Council, The British Council & DCAL (The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure).
For further information regarding this event or on any of the projects in Void’s 2013 programme, please contact Emer Grant at Void: communications [at] derryvoid.com / www.derryvoid.com.