Art of the Lived Experiment

Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts

Kendall College of Art and Design, Ferris State University

Grand Rapids Art Museum  April 10 - July 31, 2015

                                                                                          ARTISTS

Dimple B Shah  Metamorphic Distillation  Etching 46.5 x 23 inches 2006

Katherine Araniello (London), Bobby Baker (London), Anna Berndtson(Malmö), Jeremy Burleson(Oakland), Brian Catling (London), Ellie Collins (London), Ellen Friis (Copenhagen), Raphaëlle de Groot(Montreal), Tony Heaton (London), Wendy Jacob (Boston), Floris Kayak (London), Martin Kernels (New Haven), David Lock (London), Kate Mahony (London), Maurice Mbikayi (Democratic Republic of Congo), Alison O’Daniel (Los Angeles), Sinéad & Hugh O’Donnell (Dublin), Bekki Permian (London), Simon Raven (London), Dimple B. Shah (Bangalore), Katherine Sherwood (Berkeley), Laura Swanson (New York), Matthew Thompson (London), the vacuum cleaner (London), Aaron Williamson(London)




















The inaugural DisArt Festival was from April 10-25, which enlivened the city with several expansive disability art exhibitions, a film festival, a fashion show, theatrical and dance performances, and other learning opportunities, all aimed at championing creativity and conquering prejudice in order to unite and strengthen the community at-large.

The centerpiece of the DisArt Festival was Art of the Lived Experiment. This exhibition was seen at DaDa Fest in Liverpool, England, and made its U.S. premiere in Grand Rapids. Art of the Lived Experiment featured the work of 20 internationally renowned disability artists, including sculptor Tony Heaton and performance artist Simon Raven. In addition to these works, six additional North American pieces were commissioned for the U.S., including those by mixed-media artist Jeremy Burleson and performance artist Raphaelle de Groot. The exhibition was organized by UICA, and was displayed at UICA, The Fed Galleries at KCAD, and Grand Rapids Art Museum from April 10 – July 31, 2015.

Co-curated by Amanda Cachia and Aaron Williamson for DisArt 2015, the exhibition brought together a range of artworks, including sculpture, video, painting, drawing, photography, ceramics and performance by US and international artists, many showing for the first time in this country. Process-based and performative work was strongly featured. An introductory “Ignition Room” at UICA presented an eclectic range of historical ephemera that illuminated the exhibition’s themes and included an acoustic chair, a gold disc and hearing aid as worn by singer Johnnie Ray, and material relating to Goya, Kafka, Isaac Newton, Sarah Bernhardt and Yves Klein. A fully illustrated publication accompanies the exhibition, and an accessible iOS app, ‘Access UICA,’ that is driven by iBeacon technology was active at all three venues.

Dimple B Shah     ' RESISTING COMBUSTION'      Etching     30 x20     2006 

VENUES

Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts

2 Fulton St W, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

April 10 - July 31, 2015

Kendall College of Art and Design, Ferris State University

17 Fountain St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

April 10 - July 31, 2015

Grand Rapids Art Museum

101 Monroe Center St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

April 10 - July 31, 2015

DaDaFest: Art of the Lived Experiment

DaDaFest : Art of Lived Experiment
Sat ,08 Nov 2014-Sun 11 jan 2015

Exhibition at BlueCoat, Liverpool

  http://www.thebluecoat.org.uk/events/view/exhibitions/2277

Exhibiting artists: Katherine Araniello, Bobby Baker, Anna Berndtson, Brian Catling, Ellie Collins, Stephen Cripps, Ellen Friis, Joseph Grigely and Amy Vogel, Tony Heaton, Melanie Jackson and Esther Leslie, Floris Kaayk, David Lock, Kate Mahony, Maurice Mbikayi, Sinead and Hugh O’Donnell, Mike Parr, Bekki Perriman, Simon Raven, Adam Reynolds, Juliet Robson, Dimple B Shah, Terry Smith, Matthew Thompson, the vacuum cleaner, Aaron Williamson

Art of the Lived Experiment addresses the idea that both art and life are in a state of continual change and uncertainty. Both are subject to flux and transformation.

Dimple B Shah   Etching 'Process of Distillation  37 " x 23 Inches 2006 

In contrast to the objectivity of modern science, the ancient practice of alchemy – turning base metalsinto gold - believed that the presence of the experimenter was integral to the experiment itself. In contemporary art, can the artist’s own subjectivity be incorporated, like the alchemist’s, into their work in new, experimental and challenging ways?The artists in this exhibition address this question, not through the fixed certainties of autobiography or illustration, but by acknowledging that the unfixed, mutable nature of existence demands constant adjustment and experiment.

Curated by artist Aaron Williamson for DaDaFest International 2014, the exhibition brings together a range of artworks, including sculpture, video, painting, drawing, photography, ceramics and performance by UK and international artists, several showing for the first time in this country. Process-based and performative work is strongly featured, and includes Brian Catling’s durational performances in the gallery.

Dimple B Shah   Etching  ' Metaphoric Combustion '   47" x 24" inches  2006 

An introductory ‘Ignition Room’ presents an eclectic range of historical ephemera that illuminates the exhibition’s themes and includes an acoustic chair, a gold disc and hearing aid as worn by singer Johnnie Ray, and material relating to Goya, Kafka, Isaac Newton, Sarah Bernhardt and Yves Klein. The exhibition is accompanied by a fully illustrated publication.

Dichotomy Between Body and Mind- Gallery III Glasgow Print Studio

GLASGOW PRINT STUDIO

Gallery III

Dimple B Shah 

Dichotomy between Body and Mind

Dimple B Shah  Studio Setting- Transmutation Digital Print on Canvas
7 x 3 Feet 2006 

Gallery III presented works by Dimple Shah, a multidisciplinary artist from Bangalore who was  been  at Glasgow Print Studio  March to December 2006 ,thanks to financial assistance  from a Commonwealth Arts and Crafts Award. During her time here Dimple has used Glasgow Print Studio workshop facilities to make several new works in etching and digital print, she has also produced new work in paint.artists in residence

“My work has developed in number of ways over the past few years yet from the very beginning of my art practice I have worked in paint, printmaking and performance art. Recently my intention has been to blend these three mediums in to an interdisciplinary language.

In the last few years my work has been concerned with identifying “self ” both on macro and micro levels.

- As an individual who is part of social structure, a self who has to navigate through repercussions of political upheavalsand develop perspicacity on related human issues.

 - As an individual on a personal level of existence, coping with emotive responses of alienation, insecurity and fear,  the byproduct of ‘modern‘ era.

Dimple B Shah     'Confronting City Present and Past'                     Etching               46.5 x 23 inches     2006  

The duality of this exploration is reflected in concepts underlying in my painting, prints and performance work.In the series of works in this exhibition I have tried to present different aspects of “self”, the different parallel dimension of complex human mind relation to finding the ‘true nature of self '.

Dimple B Shah   ' Monologue -Blindfold' Etching 10 x 6 inches  2006
Part of Portfolio Exchange 'Blindfold- 1' Between Scottish and American Artists coordinated by Dimple Shah and Mario Kiran

My works presented for this exhibition addressed the conflicting nature of human of mind and body. I  explored various processes of mind and body,  to extract the ‘purified self’ or ‘true self’ and also to talk of ways of purification (distillation).  References were drawn from my back ground as a Jain and other western sources which I came across in my search to find the answers.  I addressed these issues on different levels by bringing various parallel dimensions into a picture, visually and conceptually.

The change in my environment from Indian to western culture had made me look in my own roots again.  The west is always has been attractive force due its glamour; experiencing Glasgow has helped me made me realize the importance of my own culture. It has also introduced me to other aspects of different cultures. My work has also focused on identity of my ‘self’ and coming to Glasgow has introduced another dimension in thinking and has of course given me way to go one more step forward. I had tired in my work to bring this conflict of my identity in different perspective and different levels. The imagery is drawn from various sources. My work has changed drastically in terms of imagery and colour.  The images in my work are associated with ideas and juxtaposed together to reveal a meaning.  My work can be read at various levels and is complex in nature. Also,I always attempt to bring various aspects of the mind, conscious and subconscious and dreams.”

 - Dimple Shah   2006

Gallery III
Glasgow Print Studio,
25 King Street, Glasgow G1 5QP
0141 5520704 gallery@gpsart.co.uk
www.gpsart.co.uk

28th October - 18th November 2006.

Private view: 6 pm - 7.30 pm Friday 27th October 2006