Amidst much creative hype and media buzz, last November saw the inaugural Title Art Prize attract artistic attention from all across the UK. Now Blank Media Collective present the winner, Joe Doldon in a fantastic solo exhibition set to launch on Thursday 15th November at BLANKSPACE.
The art prize was the initiative of the Manchester arts collective who celebrated five years of supporting emerging artistic practitioners by bringing together an impressive judging panel and attracting an outstanding range of submissions. Despite such incredibly tough competition, the judges, which included Tomas Harold (Cornerhouse), Neil Harris (Arts Council England), Paul Rooney (Artist), Alex Hodby (Curator) and Stephen Gingell (Sandbar Director), decided the prize had to go to installation artists and sculptor Doldon.
Dolden produces work that is primarily materiel led and evolves as he, as artist, explores exactly just what the materiel can do, both in terms of physicality and meaning, that diverges from its conventional use and aesthetic. This experimentation results in productions that are often of significant volume and mass and usually outlandish in nature. Despite their intensity as objects, Doldon’s work offer subtle metaphors and audiences are invited to conclude the exploration with their own interpretation; a process Doldon feels is integral to the overall art experience.
Despite their intensity as objects, Doldon’s work offer subtle metaphors and audiences are invited to conclude the exploration with their own interpretation
Speaking of his work, Doldon explained, “I am amongst the current strand of human beings who have long found a compulsion to construct and make, purely for aesthetic and intellectual reason. Thus my work has an awareness of the fact that everything I and ‘we’ do as natural beings is therefore nature.”
The exhibition opens on Thursday 15 November at 6:30pm and continues until Sunday 9 December. An artist talk and Q&A session will take place on Thursday 22 November 6-8pm featuring a panel discussion including Sarah Perks (Cornerhouse Curator) and Kwong Lee (Castlefield Gallery Director).
Blank Media Collective Director, John Leyland said of the exhibition “We’re really excited to be welcoming Joe back to BLANKSPACE to see a full show from him after his success in the Title Art Prize in 2011. A sculptural solo exhibition is something new for Blank Media Collective and the space will be transformed once again by the team, providing yet another quality fresh experience for audiences.”
“A sculptural solo exhibition is something new for Blank Media Collective and the space will be transformed once again by the team, providing yet another quality fresh experience for audiences.”
To find out more about Joe Doldon visit his website. Read more about Blank Media Collective here.
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