Outset Scotland is proud to have supported Kathryn Elkin’s commission for her recent exhibition at fig-2, London. fig-2 is Outset’s most ambitious undertaking to date: 50 exhibitions in 50 weeks at the ICA Studio, London, throughout 2015. The project is a revival of fig-1, an exhibition cycle dating back to the year 2000 and conceived by curator Mark Francis and White Cube’s Jay Jopling, which showcased contemporary artists including Jeremy Deller, Peter Doig and Richard Hamilton.
Elkin’s exhibition during week 18 consisted of a video, The Elephants in the Room (2015) and an evolving live vocal performance, Mud (2015). The work was also subsequently shown at CCA, Glasgow.
For her commission, Elkin wished to work with a classically trained musician to delve into the nature of collaboration and improvisation. Outset Scotland’s support enabled Elkin to approach the renowned cellist Okkyung Lee to be part of the video The Elephants in the Room. With overlaid film and live elements, Elkin presented the back and forth of their exchange, with Elkin’s speech and Lee’s musicality gradually reflecting one another. As a conversation point and a reference for Lee’s improvisation, they explored the adagietto from Mahler’s Symphony No.5, which was famously used in Visconti’s filmic masterpiece Death in Venice. Elkin worked also with artist Lucy Parker to shoot the film, with cellist Richard Thomas acting as a sound recordist.
Kathryn Elkin (b.1983, Belfast) lives and works in Edinburgh. She completed her BA in Environmental Art at Glasgow School of Art. Recent exhibitions and performances include: Speaking Art Writing, Whitechapel Gallery, London (2015), Mutatis Mutandis,Collective Gallery, Edinburgh (2015), and Til The Stars Turn Cold at Glasgow Sculpture Studios (2015). In 2015, Elkin was awarded a six-month residency at BBC Scotland to produce the video work Michael’s Theme and her video Mutatis Mutandis featured as part of the 2014 London Film Festival. Elkin is one of the 2015 Visual Art residents at Cove Park. She will make a duo presentation with Seamus Harahan at CCA Derry in late 2015 and a solo presentation at CCA Glasgow.
