8/12/2008
News - August 2008
‘Preston Market Mystery Project’ First edition (June 2008), Published by the Harris Museum, UK.
Hard back edition, Includes a forward essay by Bob Dickenson, a unique analysis section by John Newling and a DVD of the live reading event and edited film of the project. ISBN 978-1-871575-27-9
Whilst the publication is, in part, a lavish archive of this major project it also contains two, unique to the publication, projects; ‘The Propositional Stalls’ and ‘Constructing a Mystery.’
Throughout the duration of the project the artist had been forming sets of propositional analysis of the 280 mysteries gained from the first event. Using statistical data from the 280 mysteries each proposed stall has a graphical visualisation of its contents. The nature of this process, one of reasoned analysis, paradoxically enforces the context of many of the mysteries, that of incomprehensibility to reason. The propositions construct stalls through reasoned knowledge whilst being wholly imaginative in their proposal; offering new knowledge and possibilities. The final mystery (Mystery 281) is constructed entirely through this process.
The publication has fully illustrated sections on the three events, (the insurance stall, voicing mysteries and the new knowledge meal). It also contains notes by the artist and an essay by Bob Dickenson reviewing the relationship of the project to the context of the market place.
£30 including P&P. Obtainable from The Harris Museum or from John Newling for project information.
Forthcoming:
WHAT DO YOU DO TO MAKE YOURSELF FEEL BETTER?
A commissioned project for the Wellcome Trust.
Opening October 18th at the Wellcome Collection
London medicine ‘Between Two Stations: Euston Road’
The last twenty years have seen the evolution of many new strategies for arts production and dissemination. Social, political and environmental interests have intersected with creative endeavours to produce projects that configure a cartography that widens both the possibility and place for art. Through projects such as, ‘Weight’, ‘Westonbirt Wishes’ and ‘Preston Market Mystery Project’ Newling has developed methods for evolving projects that work through stages towards a changing materiality.
For the Wellcome Collection he will use these strategies to review and develop the actions we employ to make us feel well. These, often repeated, therapeutic rituals are ways of creating a necessary, personal equilibrium.
On the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th of May, Newling and his team collected 500 written responses to the question, ‘what do you do to make yourself feel better?’ These responses were collection from 2 principal sites. The first was outside Euston station on its concourse area, the second was outside the British library on its public square area. Other areas were used visited, St Pancras Station, local hotels between Euston and St Pancras, the fire stations and the Friend’s house, all of which are adjacent to the Euston road. They provided the project with an ‘epic text’ that is both revealing and moving. The texts were then transcribed from hand written texts to typed text in order to form the ground material for the installation and live work.
Forthcoming
Ark: Road Vines
In April 2008 a new company, ‘Ark Lab’, was set up in order to establish a comprehensive feasibility study of John Newling’s proposed project, Ark: Road Vines. Ark Lab will disseminate information on this project at regular intervals throughout the coming months as the project moves from proposal to realisation. Ark: Road Vines will create the first ever mobile hydroponic vine yard; visiting particular sites and bringing itself into the local context, generating a relationship of questions and experiences. Ark: Road Vines will house a space that unfolds to become a laboratory, workshop and seminar space. It will archive all its transactions; collecting evidence of discussions, ideas and ensuing artworks. Ark: Road Vines is a major art project that is a living, moving entity that gathers and gains knowledge whilst being a spectacular visual icon within that landscape. Contact: office@arklab.co.uk For further information visit , also see .
Forthcoming
The Noah lab.
From January to March of this year Newling was invited to be the first recipient of the ‘International artist residency for the Lincoln collection. The residency generated a newly commissioned project ‘The Noah Lab. The ‘Noah lab’ first phase, is now completed and it is hoped that this new
installation will be seen in January 2009. see www.john-newling.com.
Newling will be giving a talk about his projects with an emphasis on his residency experiences at the Lincoln Collection on October 7th.
Forthcoming
Commissioned to write a extensive essay on ‘Art and Social Interaction’ for the World Aesthetics Year Book 2008, to be published in 2009.
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