My (We) is a new commission by London-based artists Katie Schwab and Jamie George. The exhibition comprises new sculptural and photographic works and a collaboratively-produced publication, available to take away for free. The work responds specifically to the architecture of the Project Space and the ways in which it is commonly inhabited by visitors. The publication incorporated some of the research undertaken to make the work, a short story written by Schwab and a text written by George.
Schwab has produced two separate works for this exhibition. The first is a large-scale relief carving that incorporates five block finger shapes assembled from a patchwork surface of newsprint. This work takes the symbol of a raised hand and a rising sun as its starting point and is specifically positioned on the wall of the project space. The second piece of work is made from three passport photos which have been framed together. Each photo depicts the torso of the artist dressed in different patterned tops. The patterns and colours allude to different shapes and tropes of international flag design, as well as ideas of customisation and individuality.
George has also produced two pieces of work for the exhibition. The first is a set of large-scale, framed, colour photographs. These photographs present images of different objects produced in the artist’s studio, which work with drawn elements inscribed in wet concrete. These works might be said to approximate the spontaneous gestures that can often be found preserved in pavements and other concrete architectural features of urban environments. The second piece of work is comprised of two coloured lengths that have been cast in concrete. The surfaces of these sculptures also relate to the different ‘mannered’ and appropriated gestures which can be found in everyday interventions.
Project Space provides exhibition and development opportunities to emerging artists offering a small grant to develop new experimental work for exhibition in the unique environment of Café 171 at Jerwood Space, adjacent to the galleries. Since 2004 it has presented new work from artists including Luke McCreadie, Alice May Williams, Paul Schneider, Rhys Coren, Anna Bunting-Branch, Emma Charles, Alec Kronacker, Meg Mosley, Sara Nunes Fernandes, Johann Arens, Matthew Johnstone, Ben Senior, Ralph Dorey, Mindy Lee, Patrick Coyle, Gemma Anderson, Annabel Tilley, Alice Browne, and Holly Antrum.
