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PRESS RELEASE
STUDENTS PORTRAY THE BARBER FOR PRIZE AWARD SHOW
FUNCTION
Photographic Responses to the Barber Institute
7 September 2010 - 9 January 2011
Original work by talented photography students from Birmingham Institute of Art and Design (BIAD) goes on display at the Barber Institute of Fine Arts this week in the prize award exhibition Function.
The show, which runs from Tuesday 7 September until 9 January 2011, is the first of a four-year programme of award exhibitions that are the result of a collaboration between the University of Birmingham-based Barber Institute and BIAD, part of Birmingham City University.
This summer and autumn, the Barber Institute has been, for the first time, focusing on the medium of contemporary photography in two shows that take as their starting point the Barber Institute’s impressive building and its activities.
For Function, five students from the undergraduate BA (Hons) course in photography at BIAD were challenged to create original images representing the unique functions of the Barber – as a world-renowned art gallery, concert hall and centre for academic and informal learning in fine art and music. For one day in May, the students were allowed ‘access all areas’ throughout the Barber, and given free reign to explore its behind-the-scenes spaces as well as its public ones. They were given a brief to explore the concept the ‘function’ of the building and to produce their own photographic responses.
The resulting images have captured corridors and classrooms, front-of-house and backstage areas of the concert hall, and glimpses of the galleries and the service areas – often presenting many spaces in a completely new light.
The winner of the £250 award is announced today as Birmingham-born Nathan Spencer. One of his winning entries will also be sold as a postcard in the Barber shop.
BIAD course tutor Robert Gibb, who also helped judge the competition, said: ‘The process of linking the art college with a totally different institution was very, very beneficial to the students. Most of the students had been to the Barber before, but this exercise allowed them to represent the building in completely new ways.
‘That the Barber has so many different functions – particularly as an educational institution rather than merely an art gallery, for instance, – and the way they were given access to areas that the public wouldn’t see gave the students a chance really to contemplate the concept and interpret it.
‘None of the images in the show are snapshots just documenting the building. The images they have produced portray apparently obvious or less obvious areas of the Barber, but represented in a very non-obvious way through the students’ use of technique, skills and materials. They have used selection, but also design and editing, to produce images that alter our perception of the building.’
Professor Ann Sumner, Director of the Barber Institute and chairman of the judges, added: ‘This collaboration between Birmingham Institute of Art and Design and the Barber is very exciting and marks a new era: the first contemporary photographic show and the first collaboration with BCU. We hope this encourages their students to come regularly to the Barber.
‘Interventions by practising artists, producing their own imaginative responses to works of art in the collection – or in the case of these student photographers, to the architecture and the activities that go on here – really enhance the collection and the institution itself.
‘We are delighted with this partnership and pleased to arrange this important award which enables us to recognise young talent.’
The photographic projection installation Behind The Barber (open until 10 October) also explores life behind the scenes at the museum and features the work of professional photojournalist Pete Marshall, who spent eight months as photographer in residence at the gallery.
Both Function and Behind the Barber are accompanied by a series of events including gallery talks and a photographic workshop.For images or to arrange an interview with Professor Sumner or Robert Gibb, please contact Barber Press and Marketing Officer Andrew Davies on 0121 414 2946/07769 958114 or at andrewdavies@barber.org.uk.
| For further information, please contact Andrew Davies, Barber Press and Marketing Officer, on 0121 414 2946 or andrewdavies@barber.org.uk |