Acts of Resistance by Marianne Forrest
Acts of Resistance by Marianne Forrest
The Vittoria Street Gallery is delighted to host Acts of Resistance a solo exhibition by Marianne Forrest, watchmaker and creator of sculptural timepieces for urban spaces. As the seasons changes and the clocks turn back for the autumn equinox this timely exhibition showcases Marianne’s lifelong obsession with time.
During her career as a master silversmith she has not only made machines and timepieces to tell the time but has also examined the idea of time through processes used in drawing and making.
Timepieces on display will include watches that wear away with time, pocket watches created as evidence of moments and wristwatches with inlaid metals capturing fragments as visual reminders of moments past and fractions of memory. The centrepiece for the exhibition is ‘BREATHE’ a pendulum that illustrates time through motion not only in itself but in the attraction of fine elements that reach towards it as it passes above like wind on grass. BREATHE encourages the viewer to pause and wait, watching the mesmerising passage of the pendulum.
Alongside the three-dimensional pieces her exhibited drawings explore resistance in the form of barriers that represent the obstacles to creative practice that occur as a part of
everyday life. These include ideas which reference divergence, interruptions, interference, massing, collections, repetition and collective fingerprints. This draws on feelings and fragments captured as a method of making via contrasting archetypes of speed versus slowness and digital versus analogue. These starting points have enabled a discovery of processes which are visually articulated in the making of final pieces and drawn panels. These four metres long majestic drawings created through speed and slowness describe resistance to the passing of time and the loss of moments. It is in effect a rage against the passage of time and yet a celebration of the time spent in creative practice.
Although a solo show Marianne has deep concerns with the social functions of design and of drawing in particular. Her practice and development for the show has encompassed the engagement of others in drawing as a collective and cohesive approach to social interaction. Therefore these drawings are created with the help of others, working together on one canvas as a team, leaving behind the evidence of their coming together for a moment in time. The works are attributed but simultaneously anonymous as each mark merges with that of the next leaving behind traces of time well spent.
About Marianne Forrest
Marianne Forrest is currently the Head of Cass 3D and Course Leader for BA (Hons) Jewellery and Silversmithing and BA (Hons) Fashion Accessories & Jewellery. She graduated from the Royal College of Art with a Masters Degree in Silversmithing. She has specialised in the making of Timepieces from the tiniest of wristwatches to huge architectural installations for urban spaces.
Her work stretches function and the visual language behind telling the time to encompass research themes based on the idea of Time. Her work can be seen in many collections including the Victoria and Albert Museum, The Royal Museum of Scotland and The Goldsmiths Company.
Dates
Exhibition Run
Monday 15th October – Friday 9th November 2018
Private View with Artist Talk
Wednesday 24th October 2018 6pm – 8pm
To Book
Venue
Vittoria Street Gallery
School of Jewellery
82-86 Vittoria St,
Birmingham
B1 3PA
bcu.ac.uk/vittoriastreetgallery
