Get Over It
Sat 16 JAN – Sat 13 MAR 2010
Get Over It
Get Over It is a new interactive exhibition that takes a tongue in cheek look at everyday human activity and associated regulations – such as health and safety. It is the third in a series of site-specific exhibitions at the gallery that have been developed in response to the Gallery space and/or the surrounding natural and urban landscape.
Following a site visit, and research by the artist, Get Over It took inspiration from Burnley’s industrial heritage. Through her ‘Safe and Healthy Art’, artist Carol Mancke explores how rules and regulations can take away opportunities for people to exercise judgement, understand risk and take responsibility as individuals. She also questions the growing culture of people and organisations being forced to tick boxes, rather than having the opportunity to address underlying causes or reasons for problems that are perceived to pose unacceptable risk.
In addition, Carol's exhibition seeks to challenge the popular notion that art is something to be viewed from a comfortable distance. The work in the show invites participation, thereby raising questions about the potential risks to both the visitor and the artwork. By getting the audience to physically engage with the exhibition the artist raises issues about the fragility and durability of an artwork, and what determines its commercial and cultural value.
Carol exploration of ‘Safe and Healthy Art’ grew out of her experience as an architect where she found herself dealing with ever more onerous health and safety requirements. An architect for over 20 years, in 2003 she took the decision to pursue a new direction as a visual artist and subsequently completed a degree in Fine Art at Central St. Martin’s College of Art and Design. She has also established an art and architecture collaborative practice called Machina Loci and is Senior Lecturer in Architecture and Urban Design at Kingston University.