Summer exhibitions to examine migration, society and the environment
posted 19 Jun 2019
Exhibitions
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Grace Ndiritu: The Ark
Grace Ndiritu: The Ark 2017
6 July – 13 October 2019
Exhibition Preview: 5 July
Grace Ndiritu’s The Ark is an experimental scientific and spiritual community, which formed for 8 days at Les Laboratories Aubervillers in Paris in 2017.
Ndiritu’s living experiment drew on the artist’s own experiences of living in New Age communities. The group focused on creative thinking and radical new ways of thinking about life, society and the problems of the 21st century.
At Bluecoat, Ndiritu presents the findings of The Ark and presents their creative output, such as costumes and banners from a closing parade through the streets of Aubervillers. Born in Birmingham and based in Brussels, Grace Ndiritu is a British-Kenyan video artist and performer who, in her works, refers to the issue of race and identity as well as to problems connected with transformation of contemporary world after decolonization including, in particular, the impact of globalisation and aggressive geopolitics.
Grace Ndiritu, The Ark, 2017 Recent solo performances and screenings include Fundació Antoni Tàpies, Barcelona (2017), Laboratoires d'Aubervilliers, Paris (2016), Glasgow School of Art (2015), Galveston Artists Residency, Texas (2015), Museum Modern of Art, Warsaw (2014), Musee Chasse & Nature and Centre Pompidou, Paris (2013), ICA Artist Film Survey, London (2011), Artprojx at Prince Charles Cinema London (2009) Recent solo exhibitions include, Klowden Mann Gallery, Los Angeles (2016), Glasgow School of Art (Turner Prize season 2015); La Ira De Dios, Buenos Aires (2014), Chisenhale Gallery, London (2007), the 51st Venice Biennale (2005) and Ikon Gallery, Birmingham (2005).
More about Grace Ndiritu
Ndiritu took the radical decision in 2012 only to spend time in the city when necessary, and to otherwise live in rural, alternative and often spiritual communities while expanding her research into nomadic lifestyles and training in esoteric studies such as shamanism, which she began over 16 years ago. Her research so far has taken her to both Thai and Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, permaculture communities in New Zealand, forest tree dwellers in Argentina, neo-tribal festivals such the 'Burning Man' in Nevada, a Hare Krishna ashram and the 'Findhorn' New Age community in Scotland. Her research into community life has so far resulted in the founding of The Ark: Center For Interdisciplinary Experimentation.
Ndiritu has been included in the group exhibition In the Peaceful Dome at Bluecoat in 2017 and her work was also selected by Sonia Boyce for inclusion in her exhibition Like Love at Bluecoat in 2010. In 2018 Ndiritu launched COVERSLUT© a new ‘Pay What You Can’ fashion label focused on democracy & class struggle, that involves working with refugees and migrants.