One of the UK鈥檚 most ambitious art exhibitions, the third edition of Folkestone Triennial commissions a number of internationally recognised artists to create a collection of new artworks that will be exhibited in Folkestone鈥檚 public spaces under the title, Lookout. Among the artists included in this year鈥檚 Triennial are Yoko Ono, Andy Goldsworthy, Pablo Bronstein, Tim Etchells and Sarah Staton.
These artists have been invited to make new work in relation to specific sites in Folkestone, with the intention of speaking to the socio-economic and cultural history of the town. The resulting artworks will both rejuvenate existing sites and create new environments in collaboration with the local communities. On a wider level, the works will address aspects of daily life that affect people on a more global scale and explore universal issues such as climate change, environment and sustainability in dialogue with the urban context.
The exhibition will showcase the work of internationally recognised artists such as Yoko Ono alongside locally-based artists and will utilise Folkestone鈥檚 unique heritage to express ideas about its urban development. Yoko Ono鈥檚 proposed works include a text work across Folkestone whilst Andy Goldsworthy collects clay from Folkestone鈥檚 beaches to create to installations in a space on the Old High Street that examine the passing of time. Other works include architecture, sculpture, light installations and more. Many make use of high vantage points in the city and climbing technology to offer the opportunity to look out across the urban landscape. Formerly dilapidated spaces will be transformed as part of the exhibition and regeneration forms a large part of the dialogue around the work.
Strange Cargo will requisition the railway bridge into a Lucky Gateway to the town and artist collaborators rootoftwo are creating five 21st century weathervanes to track and measure the production of fear on the internet. These Whithervanes will rotate and change colour in response to the position and level of fear generated by the world鈥檚 media, and they can also respond to passers-by via Twitter. This highlights how much our contemporary media, policy and political frameworks utilize fear as a persuasive method.
Exploring contemporary myths and global trends through the gateway of one city in Britain, the Folkestone Triennial creates a dialogue between past and future through an understanding of place.
Folkestone Triennial 2014, 30 August – 2 November, Citywide, Folkestone, UK, .
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Credit:
1.Tim Etchells Revolution Neon Sign (2010) Courtsey of the artist.
