Lifting. Theft in Art

25 August - 29 September, 2007

Curated by Atopia Projects

Lifting is a show at Peacock Visual Arts exploring instances when art gets in the way of what is considered “legal”. The show creates an archive of historical and contemporary works of radical appropriation- how theft and vandalism are “lifted” from criminal behaviour and into the art sphere. The results are humourous and poignant revelations on the absurdity of the legal and social ideas of ownership, originality and copyright.

Like kleptomaniac magpies, the artists steal silver limosine hubcaps and arrange them in the gallery space. They go into discount stores at sale time, putting on layers of bargain bin t-shirts and leaving without paying. They chip tiny pieces off of well-known monuments and collect them to add to a cultural Noah’s Ark.

Most of the artists have chosen to do this type of work to question authority and critique institution. However, where artists in the 60s and 70s may have been overlooked, more contemporary artists have become closely scrutinised by the legal systems. Questions of legitimacy and illegitimacy - exactly what the artists themselves are trying to address - are being put to the artist by the law. Artists involved in Lifting include Ann Messner, Scott Myles, Dennis Oppenheim, Joel Ross, Jon Routson, Timm Ulrichs, Ulay, Ivan Moudov and Allison Weise. Along with the gallery show hosted by Peacock Visual Arts, there will be film screenings and workshops to whet the palettes of the curious.

Talk and Discussion

• Saturday 25 August, 2.30pm Atopia projects, artist Scott Myles and others discuss legality and crime in relation to art. Location: main gallery, Admission free

Film Programme (admission free)

• Thursday, 30 August, 6:30pm: Sonic Outlaws
• Thursday, 6 September, 6:30pm: There is a Criminal Touch to Art / The Sean Connery Golf Project
• Thursday, 13 September, 6:30pm: The Yes Men
• Thursday, 20 September, 6:30pm: Pickpocket

Bootleg Workshop

Saturday 8 September, 2-4pm. details

For more information about Atopia Projects and their work, please visit www.atopiaprojects.org