SWAP Editions No.5 : ISLAND > Launched on 22nd January @ WWW.SKELF.ORG.UK
SWAP Editions invites artists to each create a small artwork as an edition. The multiples are then published into sets and each artist receives back a complete set containing all the works in that edition. SWAP is a growing collection of artist’s multiples made as editions in a wide range of materials from casts and prints, to mixed media, video and photographs. The aim is to collaborate with artists to explore the process of making editions and forge an alternate non-commercial socially driven platform to enable swapping and collecting original artworks between artists. Each published edition is curated and launched with a gallery exhibition or public event and the works will join a growing showcase of art multiples available to view online. Through invitation and open submission opportunities we aim to commission new works from both established and emerging artists, whilst acting as a network, resource and online showcase for artists making multiples and editions.
SWAP Editions is a curated set of small scale art multiples in a range of media, materials and approaches that together form an eclectic collection for each participating artist to own. For each published edition, several complete sets will be gifted to high profile international museum collections and academic institutions to ensure a wide reaching public legacy and help to develop the profile of the artists involved. A further complete edition will be kept as part of a growing archive. The remaining editions will act as the art bank to be promoted and swapped for goods or services as complete sets to exchange to facilitate future editions.
SWAP Editions is a curated set of small scale art multiples in a range of media, materials and approaches that together form an eclectic collection for each participating artist to own. For each published edition, several complete sets will be gifted to high profile international museum collections and academic institutions to ensure a wide reaching public legacy and help to develop the profile of the artists involved. A further complete edition will be kept as part of a growing archive. The remaining editions will act as the art bank to be promoted and swapped for goods or services as complete sets to exchange to facilitate future editions.
SWAP Editions partnered with SKELF (www.skelf.org.uk) virtual project space to curate a digital exhibition as part of Edition 5: ISLAND. This was the first time SWAP Editions had included an online component to an edition and the project was live on SKELF from 22rd January to 20th april, accompanied by an exhibition at Creekside Projects in Deptford 12-15th March (PV Friday 13th March 6-9pm) ......... which happened to be the week preceding the UK going into total lockdown due to the Corvid 19 global pandemic.
Edition 5: ISLAND started on SKELF as a virtual landscape inter-connecting 10 artists selected through an open-call, who were asked > Are You An Island? The artists were geographically spread across The British Isles, and their contributions along with their collected data such as images and sounds were all submitted digitally as they responded to a set of questions. In doing this each artist created the visual components to represent themselves as an island, and at the time of submitting their content (and up until SKELF went live) none of the artists were aware of who the other 9 participants are.
They do now...... Edition 5: ISLAND brings together the work of Ruth Chambers / Daniel Clark / Philip Crewe / Jake Francis / Ed French / Helen Grove-White / Jack Holme / Tim Offredi & Mez Kerr Jones / Shir Raz / Sara Trillo
A few days before lockdown (back in March 2020) SWAP Editions founder Robin Tarbet spoke with Karl England from Sluice Magazine about collaborating with SKELF as part of the latest edition ISLAND exhibition at Creekside Projects and in keeping with 'The Common Good' theme of the publication, conversation moved to encouraging artists to look beyond the commercial art market, self organising and having more fun with sharing economies. Order a copy of the magazine here: http://sluice.info and a short edited version of the interview exists here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2Y_URBl5pc&feature=youtu.be
Edition 5: ISLAND started on SKELF as a virtual landscape inter-connecting 10 artists selected through an open-call, who were asked > Are You An Island? The artists were geographically spread across The British Isles, and their contributions along with their collected data such as images and sounds were all submitted digitally as they responded to a set of questions. In doing this each artist created the visual components to represent themselves as an island, and at the time of submitting their content (and up until SKELF went live) none of the artists were aware of who the other 9 participants are.
They do now...... Edition 5: ISLAND brings together the work of Ruth Chambers / Daniel Clark / Philip Crewe / Jake Francis / Ed French / Helen Grove-White / Jack Holme / Tim Offredi & Mez Kerr Jones / Shir Raz / Sara Trillo
A few days before lockdown (back in March 2020) SWAP Editions founder Robin Tarbet spoke with Karl England from Sluice Magazine about collaborating with SKELF as part of the latest edition ISLAND exhibition at Creekside Projects and in keeping with 'The Common Good' theme of the publication, conversation moved to encouraging artists to look beyond the commercial art market, self organising and having more fun with sharing economies. Order a copy of the magazine here: http://sluice.info and a short edited version of the interview exists here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2Y_URBl5pc&feature=youtu.be
Edition 5: ISLAND echoes and continues many underlying themes from the preceding Edition 4: BREXkit, and as a series of artworks reflect a wide interpretation from feelings of insular and geographic remoteness, to political misbelief and conceptual utopias. As a curated project Edition 5: ISLAND combines physical art objects set against a virtual landscape, and as with the ethos of SWAP Editions limited edition archives of the complete project are exchanged between all the artists and participants. As a finissage in Spring 2020 an exhibition showcased the physical art editions against the backdrop of the virtual islands from SKELF.
To accompany the exhibition Episode Five of the Skelf Podcast by Mark Beldan is also available to listen, download and subscribe on the site. Tune in to hear Mark in conversation with SWAP Editions founder Robin Tarbet, who explains the history of SWAP Editions, discusses past editions, and outlines the ideas behind Edition No.5 : ISLAND.
To accompany the exhibition Episode Five of the Skelf Podcast by Mark Beldan is also available to listen, download and subscribe on the site. Tune in to hear Mark in conversation with SWAP Editions founder Robin Tarbet, who explains the history of SWAP Editions, discusses past editions, and outlines the ideas behind Edition No.5 : ISLAND.
SWAP Editions is a not-for-profit publishing initiative by London based artist Robin Tarbet. As an artist run project it is sustained by commissioning and swapping art objects with time and services, and deliberately puts all emphasis of value within the collective artworks rather than their potential monetary value. SWAP Editions and associated artworks are not for sale - but a limited number are available to swap.