Contemporary Art for Historic Places

“Contemporary Art for Historic Places” involving The National Trust, English Heritage and Commissions East invited artists to create exciting art inspired by historic sites. Richard Wentworth, Louise K. Wilson and Imogen Stidworthy have been influenced by some of our most outstanding sites – Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk, Orford Ness in Suffolk, and De Grey Mausoleum and Dunstable Downs in Bedfordshire. The artists worked closely with property staff, volunteers, visitors and members of neighbouring communities to develop their ideas.

Louise K. Wilson listens to Orford Ness
A Record Of Fear
27 Aug — 1 Oct 2005

Orford Ness was, and in some ways still is, one of the most secret places in Britain. It is often talked about in terms of its mythology, a place of disinformation that has had much to do with ‘broadcasting’ and ‘listening’.

The use of sound and voice was central to Louise K. Wilson’s commission, resulting in temporary audio and video works installed on Orford Ness. A publication exploring the processes underpinning Wilson ’s research, together with a CD of responses including acoustical memories of this extraordinary site accompanied the commission. An off site element of Wilson ’s commission can be viewed at Wolsey Art Gallery at St Mary-at-the-Quay, Ipswich . See www.wolseyartgallery.org.uk for further information.

Orford Ness is an internationally important nature reserve with a fascinating 20th century military history.

27 August — 1 October 2005
Orford Ness NNR, Orford, Suffolk

Louise K Wilson is a visual artist, whose work includes installations, sound pieces and videos. She has undertaken numerous artist residencies and commissions in Europe and North America and produced site-specific work in diverse public sites as well as galleries.

Wilson ’s work explores perceptual, social and cultural aspects of science and technology. Processes of research are central to this practice and she frequently involves the participation of individuals from industry, museums, medicine and scientific research in the making of work. Previous associations have included the Montreal Neurological Institute, the Science Museum , the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training facility in Moscow , the RSPB and the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service.

Recent video and broadcast audio pieces spring from a curiosity about how the technology of flight affects our physiological states and psychological selves. To this end she has participated in a movement experiment in zero gravity, co-opted a team of air traffic controllers in formation cycling on the runway at Newcastle Airport and been a passenger in an aerobatics plane repeatedly looping the loop in Northumbria airspace. Exhibitions have included Artists Airshow, RAF Farnborough (2004); Arena, Baltic (2003); Blue Streak, Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery , Carlisle (2003) and Runway/ Spadeadam, Gallery TPW, Toronto (2003). Her video Spadeadam is in the Archive at the Imperial War Museum , London.