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Artist Statement:
I work through an assorted range of media and techniques from photography to site-specific environmental works but underpinning the variety of pieces that I produce is an essentially unified approach. On the whole my work deals with a diverse and contemporary approach to the history, mythology and traditions of our past. Whether by trying to capture the underlying spirit of a certain landscape, by the use of traditional patterns and forms or even by the direct retelling and reinterpretation of folktales and customs, this thread runs throughout the work. Its philosophy is that of using artistic practice as a vehicle for the re-engagement with heritage and collective folk traditions from which our contemporary culture is to an extent alienated by the speed and sanitised convenience of modern life. I seek to make work that can captivate and momentarily reconnect people with deeply submerged folk memories and the historical past of the spaces in which they exist. It becomes both a reinterpretation of such subject matter through a contemporary context and yet also an act of preservation. Through breathing new creative life into ancient stories and traditions I seek to shield them against extinction beneath the casual apathy of much modern mass culture.
Chris Collier 2008.
Past Work:
2008:
Open Studio event, Hereford
Group Exhibition, with Tros Gynnal, Swansea Museum
Artist in Residence at Grove Farm, Herefordshire
Herefordshire Life, Group Exhibition, The Courtyard Arts Centre, Hereford
Installation for FRED 08, Europe's largest annual festival of site-specific installation art.
Work selected for the Hidden Histories exhibition/archive, National Library of Wales.
h.Art exhibition, Hereford Museum and Art Gallery
h.Art Open Studios event, Hereford.
Selected to take part in Wet Sounds, nationally touring group exhibition of underwater installations (London, Brighton, Bath, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Carlisle, Edinburgh, Nairn).
Installation at the Pitt Studio Worcester to coincide with the Worcester Open Exhibition.
Numerous Art markets; Brindleyplace Birmingham, Flair Wolverhampton, Chepstow, Hereford City Centre etc.
Installation/Art Workshops 'The Big Event' Hereford.
Solo Exhibition, Solihull Arts Complex.
Awarded special prize for a conceptual written piece, Ceredigion Museum and Art Gallery, World Book Day exhibition.
Exhibited at Toko Gallery, Aberystwyth.
2007:
Arts Council of Wales funded project entitled Legendary Landmarks involving the installation of a network of site specific sculptural installations across Wales:
Sculptural installation suspended above the gorge at Rhos Gafallt, Ceredigion with the support of the Forestry Commission and the Hafod Estate Trust.
Installation of sub-tidal environmental work at Ynyslas beach with support from the Countryside Council for Wales.
Installation of floating sculpture at Llyn Barfog, Gwynedd.
Installation at Meirion Mill visitors centre, Dinas Mawddwy, with the support of Meirion Mill.
Installation at Llanbadarn Church, Ceredigion with the support of the Church.
Installation at Nanteos Mansion, with support of Nanteos Mansion Hotel.
Solo Exhibition, Chapel Gallery, Leek, Staffordshire
Group Exhibition Oriel Ysgol Gelf, Aberystwyth
Sculptural Installation on the banks of the River Wye, at the Old Bridge, Hereford.
2006:
Undertook a site specific installation project / web art network entitled 'Legendary Landmarks' involving artistic interventions in the landscape at locations across west Wales:
Sculptural/Environmental art Installation with the support of the Forestry Commission and Pentir Pumlumon at Coed Maenarthur.
Interactive sculptural installation with the support of the Elan Valley Trust and Welsh Water at the Elan Valley Visitors Centre, Rhayader.
Performance Installation at Rhos Gafallt, Ceredigion and simultaneously display of installation at Strata Florida Sculpture Festival fringe, Pontrhydfendigaid, Ceredigion.
Sculptural installation on the National Trust beach at Penbryn.
Sculptural installation with the support of Carmarthenshire County Council at Llyn Llech Owain.
Installation at Bedd Taliesin pre-historic monument near Talybont, Ceredigion.
Group Exhibition, 'Lines and Strata', Oriel Mwldan, Cardigan.
Contributed to the collaborative work 'Modern Day Miracles' exhibited at APT gallery, Deptford and work published in the accompanying book.
2005:
Installation of sub-tidal environmental installations at Borth and Sarn Gynfelyn.
Exhibited in the Postcard Show, Surface Gallery, Nottingham.
Selected for the online exhibition of the London Photographic Awards.
Group exhibition at Oriel Cambria in Tregaron.
Printed a number of 'fine art posters' that were displayed at Welsh heritage sites in a series of digital installations and at the poster wall section of the RISK Creative Action in Political Culture project at the Centre for Contemporary Arts Glasgow
2004:
Touring solo exhibition 'Moorland's Mythical History' of drawing, photography and installation across a number of venues in North Staffordshire including Moorlands Arts centre, Leek and Severn Trent Water's Tittesworth Reservoir visitors centre, Meerbrook.
Exibited handmade book at the 'Binding' show, Picture House Centre for Photography, Leicester.
Group exhibition, Memorial Gallery, Wrexham.
Group exhibition, 'Angel Wings' Picture House Centre for Photography, Leicester.
2003:
Group exhibition 'Air Mail' at Artscape, Swindon.
Group exhibition (Degree Show) Oriel Ysgol Gelf, Aberystwyth.