As part of the MLitt Curatorial Practice, my work placement was arranged with Jenny Brownrigg, Director, Glasgow School of Art Exhibitions from January to March, 2020.
My responsibilities included assisting towards the upcoming events and programs through research, admin and skill-based work. Events slated for the months moving forward included preparation towards the exhibition Practicing Landscape: Land, Histories and Transformation (January 2020) followed by a symposium; research for New York-based artist Kameela Janan Resheed’s exhibition titled Are We Reading Closely? (II) that was to be presented during Glasgow International 2020 (April 2020); preparation towards the GSA Grad shows, and research for an exhibition titled ambi involving artists Rabiya Choudhry, Fiona Jardine, Raisa Kabir and Hanneline Visnes making work around textile archives. Additionally, I was required to prepare a Research Poster from these learnings for a Seminar that was to be held at the University of Glasgow in April 2020.
However, due to the onset of the global pandemic, a lot that we were enthusiastically looking forward to had to be cancelled or postponed to a later date.
PROJECT 01: Exhibition
Practicing Landscape: Land, Histories and Transformation
GSA Exhibitions in collaboration with The Lighthouse, Glasgow.
25 January – 22 March, 2020.
Practicing Landscape: Land, Histories and Transformation showcases the works of 16 researchers part of the research group ‘Reading Landscape’.
A symposium as part of the exhibition that was scheduled for the 19th and 20th of March 2020, had to be cancelled due to Covid-19 and took place later in the year.
Participaing artists: Nicky Bird, Susan Brind, Justin Carter, Alan Currall, Marianne Greated, Michail Mersinis, Christine McBride, Shauna McMullan, Lesley Punton, Frances Robertson, Ross Sinclair, Michael Stumpf, Amanda Thomson, Gina Wall and Hugh Watt.
GSA Exhibition Page
Reading Landscape Blog
View More Images on GSA Flickr
Press
Source: GSA
Left to Right images sources: 1-6: GSA Flickr; images 7, 8: Shalmali Shetty; image 9: Newspaper clipping.
PROJECT 02: Research Poster for Seminar
Alternative Archives: Histories in Circulation
MLitt Curatorial Practice with University of Glasgow
April 2020 – Cancelled
I have been interested in approaching my research with the theme of the history of everyday objects that challenge larger, more established narratives.
While I was involved in the preparation towards the exhibition and symposium entitled Practicing Landscape: Land, Histories and Transformation, I was especially interested in the works of Jenny Brownrigg and Michail Mersinis, both working around different notions of time and materiality.
Beginning with the handling of Brownrigg’s archival postcards and the brochure, got me thinking of the historically relevant material objects in circulation beyond institutionalized archives. Accompanied by handwritten notes at the back, it also signified an emotion frozen in time, an emotion we can only imagine and fetishize, not physically experience. I decided to work around this experience for the Poster.
Photo: Jack McCombe; Source: Jenny Brownrigg
Titled Alternative Archives: Histories in Circulation, the Poster briefly introduces my research interests and how I approached this theme on handling Brownrigg’s collection of postcards and the brochure. I then move on to explaining Brownrigg’s own research and eBay as her platform to source her research material.
Through ‘Methodology, Analysis and Discussions’, I become interested in these online shopping platforms (specifically eBay) that have inadvertently enabled the circulation of ‘used’ goods and collectibles between interested consumers, who through online auctions and deals, buy these in lots for their personal use. This online culture of exchange and distribution has facilitated individual interest in such objects and the scope for research of their provenance, leading to numerous outcomes. Similarly, Brownrigg is currently working on the histories of thirteen women photographers and filmmakers from the early 20th century from across Scotland – histories that have otherwise remained undocumented by formal spaces such as museums.
The ‘Conclusion’ alludes to how research around everyday histories (facilitated by digital platforms), begin to challenge formal linear histories as proffered by museums.
PROJECT 03: Research
Upcoming Projects
Upcoming Projects included a solo exhibiton of the New York-based artist Kameelah Janan Rasheed that was to be presented at the historical Adelphi Terrace School; and an exhibition around textile archives involving artists Rabiya Choudhry, Fiona Jardine, Raisa Kabir and Hanneline Visnes. I was involved in the very initial stages of the research but not the final outcome of the exhibitions, as both exhibitions had to be postponed to 2021.
They can be viewed here:
1. Are We Reading Closely? (II): Kameelah Janan Rasheed; GSA Exhibitions and Glasgow International 2021 at 5 Florence Street, Glasgow
2. ambi: Rabiya Choudhry, Fiona Jardine, Raisa Kabir and Hanneline Visnes; GSA Exhibitions and CCA, Glasgow
Adelphi Terrace School, 5 Florence Street, Gorbals, Glasgow
Image Source: Mitchell Library
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I wish to thank my tutor Alexandra Ross for discussing my research interests before helping me choose an appropriate work placement. I am immensely grateful to Jenny Brownrigg for the superb mentorship, support and encouragement throughout the work placement. Further, I wish to thank the members of the GSA Exhibitions team who supported me at every stage.
Cover image: Work table during the week of the Practicing Landscape exhibition install. Shalmali Shetty.
SHALMALI SHETTY 