In 2019 Outset Scotland supported projects by Monster Chetwynd for the 16th Istanbul Biennial, The Seventh Continent, organised by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts.
According to the Biennial’s curator, Nicolas Bourriaud, each venue that hosts the biennial represented a different facet of the exhibition. Chetwynd’s work was exhibited at Büyükada, the largest of the Princes’ Islands on the Marmara Sea. Requiring a journey by boat from the City Centre, the exhibitions at Büyükada allowed visitors to embrace a slower rhythm. Her temporary, otherworldly sculptures, Hybrid Creatures (2019), were exhibited in the garden of the Hacopulo Mansion, where their uncanny nature echoed that of the grand but dilapidated building. Her second work, Gorgon’s Head Playground (2019) was permanently installed at Maçka Sanat Park. This sculptural play equipment was inspired by the stray cats of Istanbul and the Gardens of Bomarzo in central Italy, and is an interactive installation enjoyed by the hundreds of children who visit the park each day.
Monster Chetwynd (b. 1973), (previously known as Spartacus Chetwynd and Marvin Gaye Chetwynd), is a British artist known for her playful performances and sculptures. Her work often incorporates elements of performance, using handmade costumes and props, and tackles iconic moments of cultural history. She lives and works in Glasgow, UK.
