Testing Testing 1 2 3

The new show at The Outside World is just about to ask what it all means, what is the meaning of meaning, the notions of value to an object or situation, or does its value lie in the meaninglessness itself. Testing Testing 1 2 3... is coming at us posing questions like 'is value evaluative? Sunshine Frere has produced her very own machine that purports to measure such values. Everything is subject to comparison all is objectified and personified illustrating a state where all value is obliterated by the ever changing fluctuations of comparative value statements.

Charlotte Patton wants to know just 'Who observes the observer?' She takes the every day and changes it right in front of our very eyes, selecting materials and objects that are our common currency which she then transforms by scoring lines, burning holes, cutting out words and repeating patterns. These ordinary objects seen in altered states, question both the value of the process involved and the and the worth of the object itself.

Finally we come to the question "Who do stories belong to?' Through a series of collages both in video and as paper sculptures Holly Stevenson changes the history and the nature of stories. Stories that told through possessions, souvenirs, photographs and memories, she reworks and reinterprets these objects until the value of the stories are changed and imbued with a new alternative account of their own reconfigured history.

Phew that was lucky I almost forgot what I was doing here, what with the winter and all.  Anyways up The Outside World is very up and certainly running.  This week we are mainly hosting a fabulous cosmic rock show from Flowers Of Sulphur.  The band involves four musicians Matty Skylab (keyboards, words,effects and bendy noises), Abrar Hafiz (bass), Chris Rotter (guitar) and Martin Dean on drums.  Alongside this are Sally Dunbar and Gully Gallifrant who mean to make your eyes swivel whist your ears turn.

If you turn up to the gallery on Redchurch Street, London, Thursday  5th March you'll be able to catch them all at it together.  I will be there of course in my usual cocktail outfit ordered direct from Pree Marque Couture, where we don't bother with hangers just chuck it all on the floor, someone'll pick it up.  You never know there may even beer and badges for those that form an orderly queue.

Remember, keep it short, there's lots of repeats to be getting on with.

welcome to the outside world

The Outside World is a london based gallery, which began its life as a home, a studio and an outsider art venue run by artist C.A.Halpin.  It quickly became the hub of the thriving 90's art scene hosting many parties exhibitions and events for the YBA generation.

 That's all very well but  i am trying desperately to remember the facts, if indeed there were any facts , it could have been a dream, maybe it was wishful thinking but, the story as far as i am concerned is this...  we climbed up the scaffolding, dug a hole in the roof and that indeed was the end of us.  The beginning all said of The Outside World.  It was that place that you ended up half hammered fully fueled and raring to go.  As you climbed the ladder up on to the roof, you clambered up, peering onto the roof of the world.  

These were the days of the shed, yes you remember the shed with its fabric flowers tumbling down hitting your face as you lay looking at the sun as it rose and shone into your face on that fateful midsummer's morning.