Topographies of the Obsolete is an artistic research project that focuses on the closed Spode Works in Stoke-on-Trent, UK.

The first workshop Resurrecting the Obsolete took place in September 2012 in the Spode Factory, Stoke on Trent, UK organized by Bergen Academy of Art and Design, Norway (KHiB).

KHiB was invited as a Research Fellow Partner Institution by the British Ceramics Biennial 2013 and the first workshop included 33 staff and students from KHiB, The Royal Academy of Art Copenhagen, Muthesius Kunsthochschule Kiel, Sheffield Hallam Univerisity, University of Nottingham Trent and invited alumni/artists from KHiB. Together we explored the Spode site’s histories, industrial space and infrastructure.

The workshops have uncovered a variety of methods and strategies exploring the complexity of the site from different perspectives and practices particular to each of the artists/students involved. We had a great variation of expressions ranging from the performative intervention based to installation and object based work.

The second of the research residency took place in March 2013 as the artistic research project Topographies of the Obsolete. The third workshop takes place in August 2013.

In September a number of participants from the research project will present their works during the British Ceramics Biennial 2013.

This site will act as a meeting point for participants and others interested in our progress.

Thursday 29 August 2013

Topographies of the Obsolete: Vociferous Void

We do now have a title for our exhibition that will be part of the British Ceramics Biennial 2013 in Stoke on Trent:
 
Topographies of the Obsolete: Vociferous Void
 

This is the first major exhibition of our ongoing artistic research project "Topographies of the Obsolete: Exploring the Site Specific and Associated Histories of Post-Industry", which has engaged multi disciplinary artists from several nations and institutions in workshops and residencies to investigate the remnants of Spode Works; once a leading manufacturing facility of ceramics. The result is a selection of works made in situ; to be found in various areas of the original Spode site where the production of bone china lasted for over 230 years.
 
Here is the link to BCB's post regarding the exhibition and the project: 
 
 
The exhibitor line-up for Topographies of the Obsolete: Vociferous Void is now official:
 
 
Kerstin Abraham
Karin Linnèa Blomgren
Margrethe Kolstad Brekke
Andrew Brown
Chloë Brown
Neil Brownsword
Andreas Fabian
Tina Gibbs
Karen Harsbo
Gwen Heeney
Camilla Holm Birkeland
Sofie Holten
Lena Kaapke
KELLY / MARHAUG
Richard Launder & Julia Collura
Danica Maier
Morten Modin
Anne Helen Mydland
Heidi Nikolaisen
Sabine Popp
Toril Redalen
Tone Saastad
Johan Sandborg
Erna Skuladottir
Caroline Slotte
Anne Stinessen
Øyvind Suul
Corrina Thornton
Númi Thorvarsson


 




Wednesday 28 August 2013

Logo for Topographies of the Obsolete released






We are proud to present the logo for our artistic research project!

The visual profile for Topographies of the Obsolete is developed by Philip Rawle, based in Uttoxeter, close to Stoke on Trent. This includes, in addition to the logo, also the publication which is underway as a result of the project's artistic activity and discourse. We are making a totally made in Britain publication (printing and design) in consideration of the out sourcing happening to European industry, which of course is a major ethical question/factor in our project.