Of all the British artists participating in SCAPE 2006, one of the best known is certainly Martin Creed. Creed came to worldwide attention when he won the Tate Gallery's 2001 Turner Prize with 'Work No. 227, the lights going on and off'. Since 1987, Creed has numbered each of his works and given them titles that sound exactly like what they are, hence 'Work No. 227' really was an empty room in which the lights went on and off ...Of all the British artists participating in SCAPE 2006, one of the best known is certainly Martin Creed. Creed came to worldwide attention when he won the Tate Gallery's 2001 Turner Prize with 'Work No. 227, the lights going on and off'. Since 1987, Creed has numbered each of his works and given them titles that sound exactly like what they are, hence 'Work No. 227' really was an empty room in which the lights went on and off ...on a timer.

His art often playfully considers the validity of experimental
movements of the 1960s and 70s such as minimalism and conceptual installation, and also expresses the anxieties and uncertainties surrounding the process of making art.

Creed's response to the don't misbehave! theme is twofold. By creating a garden of his own, Creed relates to Christchurch's status as the Garden City of New Zealand. In keeping with his now famous minimal gestures, he
utilises a public greenspace to erect a characteristically playful garden monument of native New Zealand plants.

In addition on Saturday 30 September Martin Creed and Band will premier a one-off performance for SCAPE at the Old Boys' Theatre, Christ's College on Rolleston Ave. This event fuses the boundaries of theatre, music and live performance, promising to be a stand-out event for SCAPE 2006.

Another Brit artist represented in SCAPE 2006 is artist and filmmaker Mike Stubbs. Stubbs, who now lives and works in Melbourne, Australia, is an observer of the idiosyncratic pastimes turned obsession of British culture. Stubbs often adopts a documentary style, blending social realism
and political awareness with poignancy. His contribution is the videowork 'Cultural Quarter' (2005).

Mark Titchner's works explore discredited systems of belief or marginalised ideologies and objects, using language and motifs taken from advertising, religious iconography, club flyers, Trade Union banners, political propaganda and occultism. Titchner's works attempt to address the big questions of belief and audience engagement. His contributions to SCAPE are the large billboard works 'Invisible Republic' (2006) and 'How to Change Behaviour (Tiny masters of the world come out)' (2006) which
will be displayed in the Christchurch Art Gallery foyer.

Carey Young's contribution, 'Lines made by walking' (2003) recalls Richard Long's famous 'A Line Made by Walking', England (1967) in which the artist walked back and forth in a field, leaving a line of flattened grass. Young expands the implications of this action to the artist's role within the
wider social field, by transferring it to a busy urban crowd.

SPONSOR MESSAGE: BRITISH COUNCIL NEW ZEALAND

How many artists does it take to turn on a light bulb? The Blu-tack man.Martin Creed definitely makes good copy. The 2001 Turner prize winner consistently challenges the conventions of art in his minimalist, site specific works. While the UK tabloid press might not love him, we at British Council do, and we're delighted to be bringing him to SCAPE 2006
don't misbehave!

This is the third time we have sponsored SCAPE, and this year we're pleased to be supporting the visit of Martin and his band, as well as bringing works from UK artists Mike Stubbs, Mark Titchner and Carey Young to Christchurch.

British Council aims to connect young New Zealanders with the best creative ideas and opportunities from the UK, and SCAPE provides a perfect forum for us to do this. We appreciate the strong partnership we have with the Art & Industry Trust, and look forward to this year's event.

Paula Middleton
Director, British Council New Zealand

SCAPE 2006
Biennial of Art in Public Space
Sep 30 - Nov 12 2006
Christchurch New Zealand

Emma Velde
Programme Manager
SCAPE Biennial 2006

Art & Industry Biennial Trust
PO Box 763 Christchurch 8140
Telephone: +643 365 7995 or 64 (0)27 3422 704
Facsimile: +643 365 7994
Email: SCAPEBiennial@xtra.co.nz
www.scapebiennial.org.nz
www.artandindustry.org.nz