A Place for the Work and the Human Being

Throughout 2019 The Common Guild will present an ambitious series of talks that generate discussion around the needs, expectations and possibilities of the space for art today. The talks take place in a range of venues, new and old, across Glasgow and speakers include artists, architects, curators and others. 

The title “A Place for the Work and the Human Being” is borrowed from the sub-title of a text by Swiss artist Rémy Zaugg (1943–2005), “The Art Museum of My Dreams,” written in 1986, which was translated into English in 2013 and is now out of print. Conceived to run in parallel with The Common Guild’s transition, the series takes place while we develop plans for a new location for exhibitions. 

Nicole Wermers
Humanities Lecture Theatre, University of Glasgow,
University Avenue, Glasgow, G12 8QQ
Thursday, March 21, 6pm

For the first event in our new series “A Place for the Work and the Human Being,” we are delighted to present the artist Nicole Wermers. 

Wermers will talk about her recent work and her comprehensive solo show, “Women Between Buildings,” which took place at Kunstverein in Hamburg in 2018. Wermers was shortlisted for the Turner Prize 2015 and her work was shown at Tramway, Glasgow. She is currently a professor of sculpture, ceramics and glass at Akademie der Bildenden Künste in Munich.

The Humanities Lecture Theatre is the University of Glasgow’s only lecture theatre that remains largely unchanged since its construction in 1870, with original Victorian amphitheatre layout, 17th century benches from the University’s original campus on High Street and wood panelling. The talk will be followed by drinks in the Cloisters.

Discounted tickets available. Please book via our website.

Stephanie Macdonald
Merchants House, 7 West George Street, Glasgow, G2 1BA
Thursday, March 28, 6pm

The second talk in the series will be by architect Stephanie Macdonald.

Macdonald co-founded 6a architects with Tom Emerson in 2001. She has developed the practice’s collaboration with artists, designers, scientists and manufacturers in building projects encompassing exhibitions, products and furniture alongside these. Macdonald will talk about 6a’s recent projects, which include South London Gallery Fire Station and Milton Keynes Gallery, which opens this month.

The Merchants House of Glasgow is one of the oldest and most important bodies in the City of Glasgow. Its current premises, on the corner of George Square and West George Street, was designed by John Burnet and completed in 1877.

Discounted tickets available. Please book via our website​.