Crisis theory. Contemporary art at Castlefield.

Kate Feld finds a brave new world inspired by Aldous Huxley at Castlefield Gallery

Welcome to the apocalypse. What with global economic collapse, a new nuclear arms race looming, the seas rising faster than scientists expected and popular culture warping by the hour into twisted new levels of virtuality, it’s a jittery time to be alive. Thank God for the artists. As our collective lightning rods, they’re helping the mass subconscious process this widespread uncertainty about our future.

And in this, Castlefield Gallery is doing its bit: Apocatopia is a new exhibition featuring the work of artists Ruth Ewan, Evi Grigoropoulou, Siobhán Hapaska and Pil & Galia Kollectiv. Their works, which encompass sculpture, film and painting, were selected by Castlefield’s Clarissa Corfe and Kwong Lee as an artistic response to the mass economic turmoil of recent months, and the uncertain world order that is slowly emerging. In different ways, these works reassess the changing roles of production and consumption, politics, media, commerce and power in this new landscape.

Corfe says the thinking behind the show evolved with two literary works in mind: Sir Thomas More’s Utopia and Aldous Huxley’s BraveNew World . ‘We used these two pieces of literature as the reference point for developing ideas around utopia and distopia.’ Corfe points out that these themes always seem to rise to prominence in times of trouble. ‘Brave New World in particular is written against the backdrop of the Great Depression. It’s quite interesting to look at these parallels in history.’

The exhibition features new work including Ruth Ewan’s piece inspired by the book Le Gran Catastrophe and produced during a recent residency in Bolivia. Salford-based Evi Grigoropoulou’s work employs cheap materials to look at concepts of value and culture. And Pil & Galia Kollectiv’s The Future Trilogy draws on the Ikea riots of 2005 for inspiration.

The gallery is also hosting two talks on Wednesday 11 November on related themes. Dr. Kaye Mitchell will discuss the use of utopian and distopian literature as a vehicle for socialist, feminist, queer and radical politics; and Jasper Joffe will focus on the annual Free Art Fair and its ideology in light of the current economic climate. (Free, but booking required.)

Apocatopia opens with a private view October 8, 6-8pm and runs from 9 October to 22 November at Castlefield Gallery.

Image: Evi Grigoropoulou

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