Folkestone Triennial 2017: Public Programme

Gary Woodley, Impingement No. 66, Cube Circumscribed by Tetrahedron – Tetrahedron Circumscribed by Cube, 2017
Commissioned by the Creative Foundation for Folkestone Triennial 2017
Image: Thierry Bal

Folkestone Triennial
double edge
Public Programme
September 2 – November 5, 2017
http://www.folkestonetriennial.org.uk

International artists have created 20 new works for the fourth edition of Folkestone Triennial, titled double edge. Presented by the Creative Foundation, Folkestone Triennial is one of the UK’s most ambitious public art exhibitions, and opens on September 2, 2017.

The 2017 artists are Rigo 23, Sol Calero, Michael Craig-Martin, Antony Gormley, Alex Hartley, Lubaina Himid, Emily Peasgood, Diane Dever and The Decorators, Amalia Pica, Marc Schmitz and Dolgor Ser-Od, David Shrigley, Bob and Roberta Smith, Sinta Tantra, Studio Ben Allen, Nomeda and Gediminas Urbonas, HoyCheong Wong, Gary Woodley, Bill Woodrow, Richard Woods, and Jonathan Wright.

These artists have been invited to make new work in relation to specific sites in Folkestone. The resultant artworks create a dialogue with the town’s socio-economic and cultural history, and through this microcosm necessarily reflect on universal concerns. double edge highlights problematics that have recently attracted considerable academic study: borders; thresholds; margins; the periphery; gateways and the liminal. Some of the works will remain permanently on site as a part of the Folkestone Artworks collection.

Lewis Biggs, Curator of Folkestone Triennial 2017, said: “The public programme is a key element of Folkestone Triennial and we are excited to have such a strong line-up of talks, workshops and events for 2017. The title double edge plays with ambiguity, dialogue and deceit, and we hope to stimulate speakers and audiences alike to explore the artworks and their relation to the broad issues such as why the world is the way that it is, how it might be, and how change is always possible.”

Public Programmes
Throughout the duration of Folkestone Triennial 2017, local residents and visitors are invited to participate in the public programmes, comprising free talks, tours, conferences, field trips and study days, artist-led events, and family and schools workshops.

Here are some of the highlights:

“On the Edge: Time and Truth”
The programme starts with an opening day symposium titled “On the Edge: Time and Truth” at Folkestone’s Quarterhouse on September 2 at 11am.

During the symposium a number of Folkestone Triennial 2017 participating artists will discuss their projects in the context of the title double edge, focusing on two major sub-themes: the edges of truth and time. Guests speakers include: Dr. Maria Balshaw, Tate Director; Philosopher Dr. Julian Baggini; Dr. Amelia Groom, editor of the MIT/Whitechapel Gallery anthology, TIME; Dr. Paul Rennie, design historian; Prof. Colin Waters, Secretary of the Anthropocene Working Group; Prof. Bashir Makhoul, Vice-Chancellor, University for the Creative Arts; Lisa Le Feuvre, writer and editor; and producer and arts consultant, Emma Wilcox.

EDGE: GATEWAY / PERIPHERY / BORDER: a trio of events
In partnership with University College London’s (UCL) Urban Laboratory, Folkestone Triennial presents EDGE, a trio of events exploring the concept of situated practice in contemporary art, architecture and urbanism. These events will follow the High Speed 1 rail line from central London to Folkestone via Stratford’s Olympic Park over the course of the Triennial. Each session will bring together prominent practitioners and thinkers who will be invited to respond to the transformation of these current or former “edge” locations, as they investigate the sensory, social and environmental impact of their practices. The first event, GATEWAY, will happen at UCL Bloomsbury, King’s Cross on September 14, followed by a second event, PERIPHERY, at UCL Here East, Stratford, October 7, and a final instalment, BORDER, on November 4 at Folkestone Quarterhouse.

Speakers include: Friedrich Ludewig, ACME founding director; Princess Marilyn Douala Manga Bell, director, doual’art, Cameroon; Sorcha Carey, director, Edinburgh Art Festival; Dr. JJ Charlesworth, art critic and ArtReview director of digital content; Triennial artist Diane Dever; Prof. Anthony Downey, professor of visual culture in North Africa and the Middle East, Birmingham City University; Dr. Lesley Hardy, historian, Canterbury Christ Church University; Suzanne O’Connell, architect and co-founder, The Decorators; James O’Leary, The Bartlett, UCL; Prof. Charles Quick, co-founder, In Certain Places; Arno van Roosmalen, director, Stroom, The Hague; Kieren Reed, The Slade, UCL; Dr. Darrell Rohl, archaeologist, Canterbury Christ Church University; Dr. Jonathan Ward, researcher into culture-led regeneration. For more information and tickets for the trio of events go to www.edge.situated-practice.net

Salon events
Folkestone Triennial will also present informal salon-style events every Wednesday, 6:30–8pm at Quarterhouse, in which the speaker will give a short presentation followed by a chance for further discussion on the double edge theme.

Guests are: Dr. Christopher Houghton Budd, director of Finance Folkestone; Karen Douglas, professor of social psychology, University of Kent; Ben Allen, founder of the multidisciplinary practice Studio Ben Allen; Kent Refugee Action Network (Razia Shariff and Wendy Catterick); Samuel Supple, creative director of Violafilms; Gary Woodley, Triennial artist; James Harkin, Syria reporter and director of the Centre for Investigative Journalism at Goldsmiths, University of London; Dr. Bridget MacDonald, consultant neurologist; and Triennial artist Bob and Roberta Smith.

The public programme events are mostly free but in some cases booking is essential. For the full Folkestone Triennial public programme and listings please visit www.folkestonetriennial.org.uk/events