Artur Zmijewski
Following Bauhaus

2 July - 14 August 2010

A Foundation presents Artur Zmijewski’s first new work produced in the UK, Following Bauhaus, created during a residency within the culturally and politically resonant city of Liverpool.

A Foundation invited Zmijewski to explore the social stratification of  ‘art’, and after a series of initial meetings with the various groups of people that make up the city’s art community he set up a ‘pop-up art school’ that would attempt to explore this ‘something’ called art and to reconfigure art’s relationship to the wider society. Hosted by the existing School of Fine Art and Design at Liverpool John Moores University, the pop-up school was modelled on the Bauhaus, established in Weimar by Walter Gropius in 1919. The Bauhaus explored a total meltdown of aesthetics and function, revolutionising art training through the notion that design should not merely reflect society but positively influence it. Zmijewski states “Eighty years ago the Bauhaus school invented a new visual reality – I would like to re-attempt this today. It is probably an impossible task, but that is why it is interesting.”

Zmijewski is well known for his use of the workshop as a site to explore social and political stratification. Solutions are never guaranteed, but the journeys are both compelling and revealing. In Liverpool, techniques frequently utilised at the Bauhaus such as drawing using both hands, presenting colour by the posture of the body and collective building became the conduit through which participants were encouraged to analyse their relationship to art, and to each other. Zmijewski and other visiting artists, including Pawel Althamer took the roles of ‘masters’ and ‘journeymen’ for the pop-up school while conscripts from the Art School became ‘apprentices’ - who probably got more than they bargained for but doubtless had an experience that will transform their perspective on the place of art in society.

The final installation in the Furnace at A Foundation will combine a new video work documenting the project along with materials produced during its production.

Artist Workshops
3 July 2010, 1-5pm
Students of the temporary art school set up as part of Zmijewski’s Liverpool Commission, ‘Following Bauhaus’, will be holding a series of workshops at A Foundation Liverpool to complete the circle of their Bauhaus experience. Zmijewski’s ‘apprentices’ will become ‘journeymen’ leading workshops in movement, architecture, sculpture and graphic design.

Movement: Paula Hampson
Paula has been working as a dance maker, performer and teacher since 1989, working nationally and internationally with various dance companies and artists. Paula will lead a workshop exploring movement and posture in relation to the Bauhaus principles of colour.

Sculpture Terry McGunigle
In 2003, Terry founded the Merseyside Forum for Sculpture, Painting and Allied Crafts with the fundamental aim of teaching classical and traditional crafts and techniques. For the workshop at A Foundation Terry will lead an introduction to stone carving.

Graphic Design Justyna Czasnowicz
Justyna is currently studying Fine Art at Liverpool John Moores University. In Justyna’s workshop, participants will work both independently and collaboratively to design a poster for an imaginary gallery exhibition using traditional poster making techniques such as stencil, collage, painting and mono-printing.

Architecture: Viola Kreczmer
Viola is a student at Liverpool John Moores’ University School of Architecture. Viola’s workshop will explore the idea of common space-private space through building architectural models to investigate how light and shade create different ambience in space and how this space is then adapted for function.

Places are free but booking is essential. Please email info@afoundation.org.uk or call 0151 706 0600 to book.

Artur Żmijewski
Following Bauhaus , 2010
Image by Justyana Czasnowicz