Saturday, 14 June 2008
Internationally acclaimed artists unveil 22 new works for first Folkestone Triennial
Published in Triennial News
The inaugural Folkestone Triennial, Tales of Time and Space, opens today with 22 major new projects by internationally acclaimed contemporary artists, including Tracey Emin, Mark Wallinger, Jeremy Deller and Christian Boltanski.
Tracey Emin has installed a trail of baby clothes in reference to the high number of teen pregnancies in the area. 19,240 beach pebbles numbered by Mark Wallinger represent the British fatalities on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. Other commissions include a sound installation from Christian Boltanski and a Mobile Gull Appreciation Unit by artist Mark Dion. American artist Pae White has created Barking Rocks, a rustic dogpark for Folkestone’s dogs and their owners, while Jeremy Deller has worked with local amateur dramatic groups to create daily performances based on the comic tradition of Buster Keaton and Jacques Tati.
The Folkestone Triennial (14 June – 14 September 2008) is one of the most ambitious public art projects ever to be presented in the UK. The selected artists have been invited to develop new works for Folkestone’s streets, squares, beaches and historic buildings to create a cutting-edge contemporary art exhibition in the public domain.
The Triennial includes both temporary works, which will remain in situ for the three months of the exhibition, and a number of permanent works. This pattern will be repeated in subsequent Triennials so that, over time, Folkestone will become a true creative centre for contemporary art. The Triennial is conceived and led by curator Andrea Schlieker, co-curator of the British Art Show 2005/06 and one of the jurors for the 2009 Turner Prize.
Participating artists are David Batchelor, Christian Boltanski, Adam Chodzko, Nathan Coley, Tacita Dean, Jeremy Deller, Mark Dion, Tracey Emin, Ayse Erkmen, Sejla Kameric, Robert Kusmirowski, Langlands & Bell, Kaffe Matthews, Ivan & Heather Morison, Nils Norman with Gavin Wade mit Simon & Tom Bloor, Susan Philipsz, Public Works, Patrick Tuttofuoco, Mark Wallinger, Richard Wentworth, Pae White and Richard Wilson.
The Folkestone Triennial forms a major component of the creativity and arts-led regeneration of Folkestone which is being driven by The Creative Foundation, chaired by Roger De Haan, former chairman of Saga.
Other elements of the regeneration programme include a Foster + Partners Masterplan for the redevelopment of the harbour and seafront, a new £38m City Academy specialising in the arts, a new University campus with a strong focus on arts courses, a new performing arts centre, and a Creative Quarter with over 100 artists already established in a growing number of refurbished studio, living and retail spaces. A new high-speed rail link from London will open in 2009.