The International 3

…into the labyrinth  

Sarah Boulter, Emma Bradley, Hazel Rebecca Clegg, Rika Jones, Anita Kwiecien and Polly Palmerini. Co-curated by : Chris Bailkoski and Manuela Zammit

Exhibition Preview:

Thursday 23^rd November 6pm – 8pm. Aperitivo :

Exhibition opening at International 3 with Venetian inspired refreshments supplied by Soup Kitchen, Manchester.

Exhibition Events:

Saturday 25^th November. 1pm – 4pm. Digestif :

1pm: Exhibition walk-through led by artists and curators at The International 3, 142 Chapel Street, Salford, M3 6AF

2pm- 4pm: Panel discussion: Artists and curators talk about their work, the fellowship experience and the exhibition at The Kings Arms, 11 Bloom St, Salford M3 6AN with Gwen Webber (British Council), Sam Ingleson (University of Salford), Paulette Terry Brien (The International 3) and Venice Fellowship alumni Sarah Boulter, Manuela Zammit and Chris Bailkoski

Exhibition continues: 12-5pm on Friday 24^th, Saturday 25^th, Wednesday 29^th, Thursday 30^th November and Friday 1^st December 2017.

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…into the labyrinth, is the final exhibition that will take place at The International 3 prior to its closure at the end of 2017 and fittingly, it represents a key ethos of The International 3 since its inception, that of providing early career opportunities for emerging artists and creative practitioners.

The exhibition will showcase the work of 8 creative practitioners inspired by the 57^th Venice Art Biennale and the wider setting of the city, after their experiences on a four-week residency in Venice.

Each individual investigated ideas of residency through visual diaries and explored themes of materiality and decay, voyeurism, claustrophobia, repetition and time, all of which are synonymous with mythology surrounding Venice.

In 1786, influential colour theorist and philosopher, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe resided in Venice for a short time and …into the labyrinth is a phrase taken from his own diary that repeatedly found its way in his writing. The repetition of navigating the labyrinthine city in a time when Venetians ‘live in public’ yet conversely find ‘solitude in the crowd’ mirrors these practitioners’ own experiences, documented in this exhibition. The work spans across diverse practices including photography, installation art, painting and sculpture, incorporating both direct and subtler references to Venice.

The opportunity to travel to Venice came as a result of being awarded a steward-research fellowship by the British Council in partnership with their respective institutions, Manchester Metropolitan University and Salford University. During the residency, the artists and curators divided time between invigilating Phyllida Barlow’s folly at the British Pavilion in the Giardini and carrying out individual research projects, using their experience to inform their practices.  The fellowships programme was designed to render the exhibition at the British Pavilion a space where discussion and exchange of ideas can actively take place and lead to further collaborative projects and professional development in the artistic and cultural fields.

This exhibition and accompanying programme of events are supported by the British Council, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester School of Art, University of Salford, University of Salford Art Collection and The International 3. For more information about the British Council at the Venice Biennale, kindly visit the following links:

Website: venicebiennale.britishcouncil.org

Instagram: @Brit_VisualArts, @British_Design, #BritishPavili

About the British Council

The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We work with over 100 countries in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society. Last year we reached over 65 million people directly and 731 million people overall including online, broadcasts and publications. We make a positive contribution to the countries we work with – changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust. Founded in 1934 we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body. We receive 15 per cent core funding grant from the UK government. Visit britishcouncil.org.

The International 3 website: international3.com

Manchester School of Art website: art.mmu.ac.uk

University of Salford and University of Salford Art Collection websites: salford.ac.uk, artcollection.salford.ac.uk

Soup Kitchen website: soupkitchenmcr.co.uk