Cell Project Space

Curated by Jin Suk Suh & Nathalie Boseul Shin of Alternative Space, Loop Korea, Nobuyuki Hiramatsu of Plus Gallery, Japan, Richard Priestley of Cell Project Space, UK, Jari Juani Lager & Sun Hee Choi of Free Association UK.

Gallery discussion hosted by Edgar Schmitz 8th October 3.30pm

Guest speakers include Jens Hoffmann, curator of exhibitions, ICA, London, Paul O'Neill, writer and curator, Colin Ledwith freelance curator for The British Council.

What do a 20 dollar bill, a spirit level, a geodesic dome, and a loudspeaker chanting Mongolian love songs in Korean have in common? Apparently not much, until two curators in Seoul exposed the fundamental intersection of these disparate items when they decided to outline the network that had brought the two of them together in the first place. On a piece of paper the curators wrote down random names of closely affiliated artists and curators, describing how they met and became close. By drawing lines to connect artists with each other the lines became ever more entangled and some unexpected results appeared. The apparent randomness of their chance meetings and conversations were forming patterns. The basic phenomenon of these events may be understood not in terms of any isolated entities, but more as integrated parts of a whole.

Since 2005 the map has evolved, and with it, the relationships between artists and curators. Contacts have been gathered and lost as the project builds. First the project swelled to include Nagoya, Japan, producing an exhibition in Seoul with both Korean and Japanese artists. Now London has been swept up in the entanglement, and as the project gathers momentum in the future it will incorporate France as well. But at the moment, the result of this expanded network is 'Circuit Diagram,' an international exhibition of Korean, Japanese and British art. It commences in the UK, and then travels to France, Germany, China, and back to Japan and Korea as part of a larger touring programme in 2007-8. The seemingly unrelated items listed above comprise some of the selected works in the exhibition.

Three international artist run spaces have become involved in the project. Their exchange throughout its realisation reflects the nature of the chaotic and unmappable structures of artist and curator networks, and expands a dialogue around the holistic nature of local and global networks for artists. Each curator represents their particular practice by selecting artists with whom they have worked closely. The artists are from mid career to emergent practitioners. The galleries involved - Plus Gallery in Nagoya, Alternative Space Loop in Seoul and Cell Project Space in London - occupy territory within the non-linear, fractal pattern of artist led initiatives. Each country brings to the exhibition a particular identity with its own demographic perspective and political background.

The international exchange that defines 'Circuit Diagram, London' has been made possible by Free Association Free Association examines possibilities and provides a place where experimental forms of artistic presentation can be tried and tested. Without a gallery or office, Free Association adopts viral mechanics within host institutions and projects. Professionally experienced partners are invited to engage and collaborate on an individual basis, subject to project requirements. Free Association was created in 2003 by Jari Lager, Colin Ledwith and Mark Titchner.

'Circuit Diagram' is supported by Arts Council Korea and Arts Council England