Arduous Intent

This group exhibition grew out of viewing the video documentation of Chris Burden’s seminal Shoot, 1971 and physical performances involving the circumnavigation of, or direct contact with, an obstacle. Matthew Barney’s Drawing Restraint 14, 2006 performance drawing, installed in the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, embodies both aspects of this.

The piece examines the obstacle as a metaphor and suggests that its presence is intrinsic to the creation of an artwork. Barney’s harness and rock climbing actively prevent him from the accurate movements involved in making what is a representational drawing. The works in video works gathered together in Arduous Intent seem to celebrate restraint and the overcoming of it.

The action-based works in this presentation could all be said to reference the obstacle be it a staircase (Brian Duggan), a wall to be conquered (Daniel Shipsides/Neal Beggs) or gravity itself (Shaun Gladwell) as an issue. Making function based actions the organizing principle for the creation of these artists works.

 Shaun Gladwell’s recent video works engage these concerns through forms of urban expression such as skateboarding, hip-hop, graffiti, BMX biking and breakdancing. Saun Gladwell was born in 1972. He lives and works in Sydney. He has exhibited in significent exhibitions including: 52nd International Eehibition, Venice Biennale; 2006 Bienal de Sao Paulo, Brazil; Busan Biennale 2006, Korea; Space for your Future, Museum of Contemporary Art Toyko MOT 2008;. In June 20009, Gladwell will represent Australia at the 53rd Venice Biennale.

Brian Duggan lives and works in Dublin. His work re-examines the role and function of the individual, through staging what can appear illogical actions, that tests boundries and rules that make up lived experience. His solo projects include; A long walk of a short pier, G126 Galway and Atelier portes Ouvertes, CCI, Paris.

Neal Beggs and Dan Shipsides are occasional collaborators since becoming aware of each others work – which often involves their passion for mountaineering or rock clin=mbing. Working in similar areas and themes, the two practices run on parallel trajectories – often sharing research or production processes and directly collaborating or assisting. Neal Beggs was born in Larne, Northern Ireland in 1959 and lives in France and the UK. His projects include; Users’ End BePart Belgium; Corridor, CCA, Glasgow and surface action, Galerie La Sous-Sol, Paris. Dan Shipsides was born in Lancashire, England. His projects include; Users’ End BePart, Belgium; Games and Theory South London Gallery; and Echo Valle…Void, Dublin