Barry Schwartz on the paradox of choice

VS Ramachandran: The neurons that shaped civilization

Imagining the unknown

Drawing of the homunculus inside human spermatozoa by Nicolaas Hartsoeker
1694

The drawing was conceived by Hartsoeker not from what had seen, but what he presumed would be visible if sperm could be adequately viewed.

Memory Portrait

After a busy year working on the Mutations project I feel able to think about new work. During the project I began working with movement, which has opened up new ways of considering the body. With this new focus I want to go re-visit a work I completed several years ago working with my Grandfather, who at 79 is a practicing 3rd Dan, Black Belt in Karate. The work entitled The Rules of Engagement (see below) created a portrait, not only of the individual and the actions but of memory The work, filmed from a static camera documented 11 Wadō-ryū style katas - fighting dances with an invisible opponent.

The practice of the kata and Karate can be viewed as a strive for perfection, for a harmony of body and mind, the attainment of which can only be achieved through repetition. Repetition encodes the action in the body and muscle, making it reflex, making it instinct.

I am interested in exploring proprioception and kinesthetics, the memory of my body, muscle and genes. I am going to work with my Grandfather again, we share genes, will this effect the way we work together? I have asked him to teach me to perform kata. I will attempt to learn from observation, mirroring his actions, perhaps we will have to re-think? I will be attempting to run before I can walk, obviously.

The Rules of Engagement (2006) from Paul Grimmer on Vimeo.

Changeling closes at Globe tomorrow

Changeling
Preview: Thursday June 24th 18:30 - 20:30
Exhibition: Friday June 25th - Saturday August 14th (gallery opening times: Wednesday - Saturday, 11:30 - 17:00)

Globe Gallery
97 Howard Street
North Shields
NE30 1NA

0191 259 2614
info@globe gallery.org

Changeling reviewed in The Journal

Review of on current Globe shows by David Whetstone, download PDF here.

MRC Network Magazine, article on Continuum

Triparks update

The Triparks project is drawing to a close after touring the UK for the past 18 months. A final show of the work Bridget Kennedy and myself produced from our residencies in Northumberland National Park is being planned for Allenheads Contemporaty Arts Shop Gallery space along with an evaluation.

A publication to mark the completion of the Triparks project is available to buy from Blurb here

More information about Triparks and other Aune Head Arts (AHA) projects in rural communities is available on their website

Chimera, one of the works produced during the residency is now available to view in full on Vimeo -

Chimera (2008) from Paul Grimmer on Vimeo.

Continuum - Dome Views

Images: Colin Davison

Changeling - Video Captures

Notes on Continuum (first edit)

Fiona Wright has written a response to Continuum, download the PDF here

Continuum Screening at ArtPrize 2010

Very pleased to receive final confirmation today that Continuum will screen during ArtPrize 2010 at the Grand Rapids Public Museum, Michigan. The event will take place September 22nd - October 10th and Continuum will show throughout on a cycle with 2 other planetarium works.

The work will also screen later this year at ThinkTank in Birmingham, more details to follow...

Changeling

Changeling from Paul Grimmer on Vimeo.
A portal to an unspecific place opens to reveal glimpses of a body form that constantly mutates. Changeling explores themes of control, ambiguity and the constructed self, challenging and transforming perceptions of beauty and perfection.

Peer through the looking glass into another world, an unseen world, some things seem familiar, some strange, like a dream. Here, in this other world a body moves, in and out of focus, suspended, opening and closing, forming and re-forming, seeking perfection, struggling to fit between ends always unknown.

Changeling is a gallery adaptation of the fulldome work Continuum and part of a larger body of work Mutations. The work was developed during residencies with the Medical Research Council, Virology Unit, Glasgow (2008), Allenheads Contemporary Arts, Northumberland (2009) and Dance City, Newcastle (2009).

Supported by: Allenheads Contemporary Arts, Arts Council England, Dance City, Globe Gallery & Medical Research Council.
After Effects Editor: Andrzej Wojtas
Sound Composition: Nick Able