John Hansard Gallery, Southampton
11 February 2011 - 31 March 2012
Image: Taken by myself at the exhibition
Although I visited this exhibition 20 Feb 2012 I am currently reviewing all the exhibitions I attended this year to practice my reviewing skills. This exhibition, co-curated with Helen Sloan was close to home based on University of Southampton campus and was interesting to see a different approach to art: using video installation, still life and interactive media. Although not being particularly ‘blown away’ by the art itself Cotterrell’s representation of his journeys to Afghanistan has an underlying eeriness that compels the viewer to take notice of his message. Also hearing the use of software used for military training in the exhibition made it more convincing. Though ‘conflict’ may come to mind thinking of war zones, Monsters of the Id ‘takes a deliberately oblique approach’ [1]; it is refreshing to see a different take on this current subject. The advanced interactive installation in the ‘Observer Effect’ absorbs the population in the room and trajects the data to ‘Searchlight 2’ revealing ‘illusory human shadows’ [1] on a desert landscape (see photo above). Landscape is the main theme in his work and how people interact with this space.This gives an idea of surveillance. My first thought of the human shadows was that it reminded me of ants representing how insignificant we are (see video below). I was most compelled by this room giving the illusion that it is lighted underneath however light is being projected from above. The idea of using viewers as part of the exhibition is the talking point making us more involved leaving a disorientated effect. The different rooms feel connected through similar theme however the rooms also feel disconnected too. Walking through the exhibition, despite not being impacted at first leaves an unsettling message, a ‘quiet anxiety between periods of violence’ [1] and makes us think of our unconsciousness, our id and the underlying effects of war.
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Observer Effect room using interactive generative installation
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Close up of Searchlight 2 using generative mobile data-projections
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Back room showing a military field desk raising the question, are we in control?
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Apparent Horizon, 6 channel-HD collimated display
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References:
1. Exhibition Guide document- John Hansard Gallery, David Cotterell: Monsters of the Id
Useful Links:
John Hansard Gallery http://www.hansardgallery.org.uk/
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