I visited the Hatton Gallery within Newcastle University’s campus for their Illuminating the Self exhibition during February. There were three gallery spaces open to the public, and I wish to share some of the contents from two of the rooms in this blog post.
The Illuminating the Self exhibition showcases artworks in response to the University’s current research and progress in understanding the causes of epilepsy and the treatment of it.
Susan Aldworth’s installation Out of the Blue (and artist book) explores “…the human perspective of living with epilepsy and the potential impact of technological interventions within the brain.” Aldworth’s piece is within a small room, and somewhat interactive.
Aldworth’s installation includes Victorian undergarments that have been embodied by community sewing groups and students from the Royal College of Needlework, using ultraviolet threads. The clothes are hung from the ceiling amongst strobe lights.
Inside the artist book are photographs of models wearing the embodied Victorian garments and the testimonies of individuals living with epilepsy.
The suspended clothes were blocked off by a barrier. The lights flickered on and off in groups seemingly at random – maybe there was a pattern to it. I spend a good 20 minutes in the room, looking through the artist book and noticing the light pattern change.
There was a small room with work by Marianne Wilde concerning gene and embryonic research during the 1990s. I only appreciated the screen prints of MRI videos in this room, but the works were entirely difficult to photograph, and I can’t do them justice with my phone photography. There were glass and mixed media sculptures, videos and objects left from a performance piece.
The largest gallery space was a dark room filled with installations by Andrew Carnie; full of art in response to the perspective of living with epilepsy, it is a complimentary show of work to Susan Aldworth’s piece.
The largest artwork was a screen-projection of drawings and computer animation called Blue Matter. Large sheets of thin, black material ran the length of the long room and were used to display the images. The simple-looking pattern and outline images were layered and changed gradually, always forming different compositions.
There were two eyeball-like balloons that expanded, lit up, and collapsed in response to those walking about the space. I don’t recall how long I spent in this room, but it was long enough to notice the balloons inflate and collapse a number of times. The space was quiet when I was visiting (at midday).
In the corner of this dark room was a small electronic piece made of fans and lights. I took short videos of it. I really liked the momentum and pace the art was set to display text and spin its lights.
There was a LOT going on in Carnie’s exhibition space; but again it is difficult to photograph the type of artwork on show. There were many strange constructs as part of the installation. If it were possible, I’d recommend for those interested in the subject matter and works to go and see this for yourselves, with your own eyes.
As to be expected of contemporary artwork, the response to current topics and scientific research was enlightening and engaging to see. I feel my understanding of epilepsy, those who live with it, and the way it is treated today is stronger, too.
DESIGN WORKS 