RED PARADIGM for Eidos Foundation, Ukrane  GOGOL FEST 2009  Mystetskyi Arsenal, KIEV, Ukraine, Curator Adam Nankervis

During the live performance, red sheets were torn into strips and then hand-sewn back together into a large banner. On the opening night, FI also smashed old china, for which the public was invited to glue the broken dishes back together.

The Fifth Floor: Ideas Taking Space at the Tate Liverpool, a thought provoking although aesthetically pleasing installation that could be described as an audible tableau vivant for visitors to look at and listen to was presented. The space has been facilitated by International Festival who designed a modular and flexible installation that can be modified and reconfigured to host a myriad of performances and activities. The tableau consists of a formal afternoon tea party with two-dozen invited guests, locked into a perpetual discussion of the vexed question of science and fecundity. As in previous works, The Immaculate Conception is typical in its lack of theatrical pretension and its combination of quiet earnestness, and a sense of playful amusement and generosity that is rare in contemporary art-works. Flanked by scarlet red partition walls, the guests eat and drink while analyzing recent advances in genetic science. The invited guests are drawn from a range of professions Philosopher, Priest, Gene scientist, Utopian, General Practitioner, Mathematician, Physicist, Architect, Nun, Gynaecologist, Computer scientist, Psychologist, Therapist, Sceptic, Banker, Linguist, Biologist, Art critic, Artist.  They are likely, but not obliged, to roam around topics such as designer babies, the big bang, gene technology, creation eugenics and hospital hygiene.

Was Jesus the first designer baby?

another ‘Immaculate Conception’ Event took place in October 2008 – to celebrate the opening of The Wharf Road Project organised by V22,  Colm Lally of E:vent Gallery has invited foreign investment to collaborate and to (re)create the famous Iguanodon dinnerof 1853

The GOLD series, which continues to this day, is one of FI’s most successful projects. The first incarnation of gold-x-change was commissioned by Beral Madra of BM Contemporary Art, Istanbul, during the 1997 Biennale.                                                                                                                                                                                                           EVERYTHING MUST GO  | CFCCA | Manchester 2011 A collection of hundreds of small unloved items donated by local retailers and the people of Manchester was gathered. Over a period of 6 weeks the worthless object were gilded with 18-carat gold leaf in the gallery space that was transformed into a workshop and showroom. Visitors and bystanders were invited to carry out the gilding as well, assisted by the FI team. At the end all gilded articles were available by a number – In an almost alchemical process, a re-distribution of gold took place at the CFCCA on Thomas street.

OSLO GOLD EXCHANGE was part of Hva Gjør Du Her? a project, supported and produced by Mesen (http://mesen.no/) in Oslo. As ‘Travelling Alchemists’ FI set up workshops in Groruddalen using “child labour” to transform unloved and discarded toys into golden objects of desire. These objects were re-distributed in a unique performance – art tombola – held at Galleri FORMAT ( http://www.format.no/) to raise funds for a local charity working with disadvantaged children. The project was funded by Arts Council Norway and Oslo Kommune. See more here : https://www.facebook.com/oslogoldexchange

GOLD FOR DEPTFORD 2008 London, received the Macdonald Egan Award 2008 (commissioned by Deptford X ) A magical re- distribution of meaning took place when street rubbish was turned into gold. All gold was displayed on the bar counter of the Deptford Arms Pub. On the last Sunday of Deptford X all gilded items were put back onto the streets – ready for a lucky passer-by.

GOLD FOR EVERY BODY (2001, Rio de Janeiro) The Brazil nut was re-imported in gold to its country of origin: Brazil Trading and cultural exchange took place at Funarte, Ministry of Culture (above) Parque Lage, Galeria Capacete and Bar de Minero, Santa Teresa.

GOLD EXCHANGE BM Contemporary Art Center, Istanbul, Turkey Curator: Beral Madra GOLD X CHANGE was included  in the fringe programme of the 5th Istanbul Biennale. Ordinary objects were turned into golden objects of desire by gilding with 18 karat gold. It almost caused a scandal, when in 1997, it coincided with violent protests against the exploitative and destructive policies of the international gold-mining industries.

commissioned and funded by FACT off site projects, Liverpool

This unique and highly innovative project pioneers new collaborative practice with elderly tenants in High Rise Tower blocks throughout Liverpool. In Sunday Matinee, a choreographed afternoon of heightened sensual experiences including music, poetry food and dance.

A roundtable discussion with Sir Norman Rosenthal (curator/art historian), Alessio Antoniolli (Director, Gasworks & Triangle Network), Mark Mcgowen (performance artist) Claudia Wegener and Guy Brett (art critic/curator) on the exhibition, Joseph Beuys: Actions, Vitrines, Environments at Tate Modern. Our key proposition was to introduce customer trolleys at the Tate Modern to make shopping easier. 

from left to right:  Alessio Antoniolli Guy Brett, Mark Mcgowen, Norman Rosenthal, Claudia Wegener

Neighbours in Dialogue, Venice Agendas IV, 51st Venice Biennale, THE JANUS FACE OF VENICE Chair: William Furlong, Audio Arts, London and Mel Gooding

TUNING -IN OP. 2 represents the last movement and concluding fugue of the work. It is a polyphonic composition in which a short melodic theme is introduced by one part and successively taken up by others and developed by interweaving the parts in an impressive fugue for ghetto blasters. The artists have been for some years working on an Oratory based on its archive of inspirational voices by artists and thinkers. This Oratory written for Venice is a semi-dramatic musical composition without action, scenery or costume. As always the collective, generates a lasting dialogue with their audience. Known for their provocative but always elegantly composed works, in Venice they created an open space to listen and share other voices whilst the artists remains in silence.

TUNING -IN OP. 2 from the Venice Oratory in an arrangement for 4 Ghetto Blasters, Fuga: commodo scherzando and misterioso – performed on day three of Venice Agendas –

The one-day event in the House gallery was part of a month-long series of
shows and events called Yesvember organised by Mark McGowen, PaulKane and Chunky Arts  in November 2004.

Good Morning Camberwell unfolded as a one-day, super-local on-the-pavement radio broadcast with and for the people of Camberwell Church Street. DJ Terry was broad-casting the favourite songs of residents and passers-by from behind the window display of the Gallery, while members of foreign investment were facilitating the drop-in radio studio, assisting people to connect their personal portable music devices to the amplifiers, joining the mix, inviting shoppers to make use of the ‘open mic’ and handing out a limited edition of Good Morning Camberwell t-shirt to all participants. At times, people were dancing in the high street, drivers raving behind their steering wheels; it was an impromptu street celebration, an unexpected gift on a chilly November day to everyone involved.

Yesvember, London