Cultural and community leaders have joined new and established artists for the launch of the first Plymouth Contemporary Open. Being hosted in the Peninsula Arts Gallery at Plymouth University, the exhibition features 24 striking works by artists and collaborations from across the UK and Europe.
Open from now until the end of August, the works explore the relationship between history and the very latest innovations and understanding within contemporary art practice.
The Open, sponsored by Santander Universities, is the first initiative from the Plymouth Contemporary Partnership, a new collaboration between Peninsula Arts, Plymouth University and the Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery.
Dr Sarah Chapman, Director of Peninsula Arts, said:
'The impressive line-up of artists in the Plymouth Contemporary Open demonstrates this is an exhibition that is international in scope, reflecting Plymouth’s global influence as both a major port and a setting off point for pioneering explorers and travellers. It is also representative of all the ages and stages of an artist’s career, from those in study to more established artists. All of them are testing out ideas and questioning, through art practice, the many ways in which history is seen to collide and merge with the present.'
Following its launch in February, more than 450 submissions were received from Europe, Japan, Peru, India and the USA, and included works of video, painting, drawing, textiles, photography and installation.
A panel of respected judges – including Turner Prize judge Helen Legg and Sam Thorne, Artistic Director of Tate St Ives – selected the works to go on show, and they included pieces by Ruaidhri Ryan, Cathy Lomax, Stephen Paige, Pilar Mata Dupont, and Ailbhe Ni Bhriain.
The panel also selected the winners of three associated prizes:
- The Art Mill Prize, valued at £2,500, was awarded to Pilar Mata Dupont;
- A Special Recognition Award of £1,000 was presented to Ruadhri Ryan;
- The New Artist Award of £1,000, sponsored by Martin Bush Fine Art, was awarded to Harriet Bowman.
The public will also get to vote for their favourite piece, with a £500 Audience Choice award to be decided by visitors to the exhibition.Sam Thorne, Artistic Director of Tate St Ives and part of the judging panel, added:
'It was a thrill to be on the selection panel for the Plymouth Contemporary Open, and fascinating to be introduced to a lot of new names, voices and positions. The exhibition is a great platform for all kinds of artists, whether from the South West, around the UK or beyond.'
Councillor Peter Smith, Deputy Leader at Plymouth City Council said:
'The Plymouth Contemporary Open is an exciting new venture for the City and has hit the ground running, showcasing a stunning range of contemporary art practice. The relationship between history and the present is a dynamic one and has proved to be a relevant question for the first Plymouth Contemporary Open to address.'
