For Spacex’s rich summer programme of TOPOPHOBIA related activities see Spacex website TOPOPHOBIA events.

Louise K Wilson has been invited to produce a new work in parallel to the exhibition. This work, Missing Scenes 
- An Evening at Hanging Rock, is based on Peter Weir’s iconic film Picnic at Hanging Rock. The work explores the film’s multiple interpretations and resistance to resolution. It will be presented at Exeter Phoenix on 5 July and consist of a screening of Weir’s original 1975 feature film with video and sound interventions by the artist.  For booking details and the trailer see here.

TOPOPHOBIA attracted a great deal of attention as it opened at the Bluecoat in Liverpool on Friday 3 March 2012.  Rich new works by Uta Kogelsberger, Almut Rink, and Louise K Wilson and the huge shift in architectural scale meant a stunning new experience of the expanded exhibition.  In addition to all of this Emily Speed’s unhomely commission, Panoply, for TOPOPHOBIA at the Bluecoat had insinuated itself into the valuting ceiling of the gallery’s corridor.  From time to time during the evening disturbing little glimpses of naked twitching legs, or hanging hair, were visible poking through small window cuts in the high structure.

The TOPOPHOBIA preview was also the moment chosen to introduce and celebrate the arrival of the Bluecoat’s new chief executive Mary Cloake, former director of Arts Council Ireland.

See the Guardian online Art and Design mention and image.

TOPOPHOBIA’s themes have also prompted an essay by C James Fagan on the Double Negative website along with a review by Linda Pittwood.

See www.sevenstreets.com for the latest review.

And another strong review at www.manchestersalon.org.uk and Emily Speed interviewed on her TOPOPHOBIA commission for the Bluecoat.

Stephen Clarke reviews TOPOPHOBIA through the language of photography for Redeye.

Anneka French has just published the final review of TOPOPHOBIA at the Bluecoat for an Interface platform for critical writing.

Emily Speed

Almut Rink

Almut Rink

Abigail Reynolds

Abigail Reynolds, Uta Kogelsberger and Emily Speed

Uta Kogelsberger

Emily Speed and Uta Kogelsberger

Louise K Wilson

Anne Eggebert

Polly Gould and Anne Eggebert

Marja Helander and Polly Gould

David Ferrando Giraut

David Ferrando Giraut

The symposium was a Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design Art: Public Realm research programme event and provided a platform to further extend the themes of TOPOPHOBIA in a live debate.

TOPOPHOBIA examines the fear of place in contemporary art. Following an introduction by curators Eggebert-and-Gould, Dr Caterina Albano opened the afternoon with a discussion on the history and development of this anxiety disorder and its relationship to the modern urban context. Exhibiting artists Matthias Einhoff, David Ferrando Giraut, Polly Gould, Uta Kogelsberger, Emily Speed and Louise K Wilson, and writer Leslie Forbes, each gave a talk and came together to discuss their work in relation to the themes of TOPOPHOBIA. This symposium contributes to current debates on freedom and the culture of fear, and connects us to the existential human question of how each of us finds our place in the world.

This event coincided with the TOPOPHOBIA touring exhibition at the Danielle Arnaud Gallery (until 19 February 2012).  Please visit www.daniellearnaud.com for opening hours.

The TOPOPHOBIA Symposium is a Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design Art: Public Realm research group event.