Returns

About

Returns is part of an on-going collaboration between Nottingham Trent University and Sheffield Hallam University (SHU). Established in 2012, it formed part of an International Research Project titled Topographies of the Obsolete, set up by Bergen Academy of Art and Design, Norway; and focused on the disused Spode ceramics factory in Stoke-on-Trent.

The aim of the research is to deepen and develop our understanding of the post-industrial landscape with specific reference to the industrial ruin. Through a series of residencies and workshops, a cross-disciplinary group of artists and researchers from a range of international art institutions, set out to explore the socio-economic histories, industrial architecture and production remains of the former Spode Works, the results of which were exhibited and published during the British Ceramics Biennial in September 2013.

Moving forward, this exhibition at Bonington Gallery will be the first showing of the newly generated outcomes, with a subsequent exhibition taking place at Sheffield Hallam SIA Gallery in Winter 2016. Each exhibition will be a new development from the work previously exhibited, demonstrating the progression of the research.

The exhibition brings together artistic research from NTU:
» Andrew Brown » Joanne Lee » Danica Maier » Debra Swann; and from SHU » Chloë Brown.

Recent fine art graduates who participated in the original Spode project will work in resident during the exhibition, from NTU:
» Ciaran Harrington » Christine Stevens.

Read more about the research project by visiting topographies.khib.no.