Approved: 16.08.2006

Bruce Allan

Artist, Curator, Event organiser, Film-maker, Researcher

Approved: 16.08.2006

My preference is to work across international boundaries, often collectively or in partnership with other people. I investigate the appearance and impact of human ideas, relationships and practices on each-other and on natural and man-made landscapes and environments. I make images, objects, structures, installations and events using natural, man-made and found materials that may be contextually symbiotic

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Artist Statement

My preference is to work across international boundaries, often collectively or in partnership with other people. I investigate the appearance and impact of human ideas, relationships and practices on each-other and on natural and man-made landscapes and environments. I make images, objects, structures, installations and events using natural, man-made and found materials that may be contextually symbiotic or divergent. My methods and applications include writing, text, interventions, drawing, time-based digital recording and natural processes. I am currently co-curating Difference Screen, an evolving project of international artists' moving image reflecting on changing realities through portraits of people and place. It is traveling across 20 countries over two years.

CV & Education

1973  Diploma AD Sculpture, Bath Academy of Art, Corsham

  • 1975 Founder Member, Artspace Bristol [became Spike Island 1998]
  • 1984 Founder Member, Bristol Sculpture Shed [became Spike Island 1998]
  • 1986- ongoing Curator to exhibitions and projects in the UK and elsewhere
  • 1993/4 Trustee Artspace Bristol Charity
  • 1994 Co-organiser Silk Road residency and exhibition, Tbilisi, Georgia
  • 1994-2000 Trustee Forest of Dean Sculpture Trust
  • 2000-2006 Advisory Board Member Braziers International Artists Workshop
  • 2000- Associate Beilstein International Collection Frankfurt
  • 2000 English tour management, Filmbrigade Nord, Berlin, performances at 5 locations
  • 2000/01 Project Manager Forest of Dean Sculpture Trust YoTA Residencies
  • 2001-2008 Trustee Kingsgate Workshops Trust and Gallery, London
  • 2001/2 Revive Time Kaki Tree Project (Nagasaki) - initiator and co-ordinator of projects and tree planting ceremony working with a Primary School in Gloucestershire
  • 2004 Nominator, Pilot London, International Art Symposium, London
  • 2005 Jury member, 2nd Film Festival Eberswalde, Germany
  • 2013-15 Co-curator Difference Screen

Solo exhibitions

  • 2008  Repository (for One Two)  Dhoolie Tea Estate, Assam, India
  • 2004  Muidebrug (a dialogue with tram travellers)  Window Gallery installation, Experimental Intermedia, Gent, Belgium
  • 1998  a temporary exclusion of light  artist's studio, Blakeney, Gloucestershire
  • 1997  Looking at the River  Severn Revels Festival, Blaisdon, Gloucestershire
  • 1997  Propositions  Cairn Gallery, Nailsworth, Gloucestershire
  • 1996  Dreaming in Different Languages  Kingsgate Gallery, London
  • 1996  Eight Days Green  Blakeney, Gloucestershire
  • 1996 Outside In  Galeria On, Poznan, Poland
  • 1995  the green appearance of plants  artist's studio, Blakeney, Gloucestershire
  • 1994  Between Seven Days  Galerie Ramses Msera, Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia
  • 1994  Beyond the Lines  Cairn Gallery, Nailsworth, Gloucestershire
  • 1993  Red and Green  Gas Ferry Studios, Bristol
  • 1993  Walking Through Walls  Spacex Gallery, Exeter
  • 1991  Mimic  Gas Ferry Studios, Bristol
  • 1989  Bruce Allan Skulptur  Galerie Barz, Hanover, Germany

Group exhibitions

  • 2013 Preservation is Future, Moodeung Museum of Contemporary Art, Gwangju, South Korea
  • 2013  Loco Moo Cow  The Farm, Berecry Road, Mangrove Mountain, NSW, Australia
  • 2012  Sarajevo Winter  28th International Festival, Sarajevo, Bosnia Herzegovina
  • 2012  The Protest That Never Ends  Artisterium 5, Tbilisi, Georgia
  • 2011  3PAW  Art Etage /PasquArt, Biel Bienne, Switzerland
  • 2011  Fobos  Galerii Sztuki Wspólczesnej, Opole, Poland
  • 2010  Appetite  Gallery Panaceum, Opole, Poland
  • 2010  Brahmaputra@The MEANTIME Multiplex, Cheltenham Film Festival Fringe Event, Cheltenham, UK
  • 2010  Imagine the Future  Artisterium '10, Tbilisi, Georgia
  • 2010  Nomadic Party  ARKO Art Center, Seoul, South Korea
  • 2010  World Art Tendency  26th Sarajevo International Festival, Sarajevo, Bosnia Herzegovina
  • 2009  Eyes on Art in Hualien  National Dong Hwa University, Hualien, Taiwan
  • 2009  the manifest of changes and an inner experience  Artisterium '09, Tbilisi, Georgia
  • 2007  Grand Bleu  Galerie Artcore, Paris
  • 2005  46th October Art Salon  various locations, Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro
  • 2005  Leçons d'Arménien  Galerie Artcore, Paris, France
  • 2005  News From Nowhere: Visions of Utopia  William Morris Gallery, London
  • 2004  4th International Biennale of Contemporary Art  Gyumri, Armenia
  • 2004  50th Hiroshima Peace Art Exhibition  Hiroshima, Japan
  • 2004  Curiouser and curiouser  Bourton House Gardens, Bourton on the Hill, Gloucestershire
  • 2004  Rien a declarer  Garage Moderne, Bordeaux, France
  • 2004  Taiwan Documenta C04  Various venues, Taipei, Taiwan
  • 2003  Field Station@Second Nature  brucebruce+novvy, Millers Farm, Blakeney, Gloucestershire
  • 2002  3rd International Biennale of Contemporary Art  Gyumri, Armenia
  • 2001  10 Jare  Gallerie 13, Hanover, Germany
  • 2001  Resistance Is Futile  Re.projects / SVA, Stroud, Gloucestershire
  • 2001  River, Estuary, Ocean  Gallerie 21, Malmö, Sweden
  • 2000  a meditation on the relationship of iron to blood and stone  Balance 2000, Hanover, Germany
  • 2000  Land, Space and Place  Sofiero Castle, Sweden
  • 1999  60 seconds  Kingsgate Gallery, London
  • 1999  Passion  Gasworks Gallery, London
  • 1999  Scale  Kingsgate Gallery, London
  • 1999  Spacex 21  Spacex Gallery, Exeter
  • 1999  The Equinox  Cairn Gallery, Nailsworth
  • 1998  20/20  Angel Row, Nottingham
  • 1998  Grow  The Garden, Bristol
  • 1998  Out of Place (site interventions), Bristol
  • 1997  20/20  Kingsgate Gallery, London
  • 1997  Arnolfini Multiple Commissions  Arnolfini, Bristol
  • 1997  Location  Usher Gallery, Lincoln
  • 1997  Thanks  Hiroshima, Japan
  • 1995  Natural Settings  Chelsea Physic Garden, London
  • 1994  Exposition Mivart  Mivart Studios, Bristol
  • 1994  Silk Road  Caravanserai, Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia
  • 1992  Fifty Ideas  City Museum and Art Gallery, Bristol
  • 1992  Not For Sale  20 / 21, Lower Park Row, Bristol
  • 1991  Galerie Barz  Hanover, Germany
  • 1990  Sommer Atelier  Messe, Hannover, Germany
  • 1989  Altes Und Neues  Galerie Barz, Hanover, Germany
  • 1989  Artspace and Sculpture Shed  Arnolfini, Bristol
  • 1989  Installationen Objekte  Eisfabrik, Hanover, Germany
  • 1987  Bristol Hanover Art Show  Cannons Marsh, Bristol

Curated projects

  • 2013-15 Co-curator Difference Screen an evolving project of international artists' moving image reflecting on changing realities through portraits of people and place. It is traveling across 20 countries over two years. www.differencescreen.net
  • 2010  Co-curator of exhibitions, upstairs at the George, Newnham on Severn, Gloucestershire
  • 2005  UK co-curator with Louise Short, Art Caucasus, National Art Center, Tbilisi, Georgia
  • 2004  Co-curator 4th Gyumri International Biennale, Gyumri, Armenia
  • 2001  Table  performance banquet for YoTA. Co-curated with Anthea Nicholson and Mamuka Japharidze, Southville Centre, Bristol
  • 1999  Initiator/co-curator brucebruce screen artists’ films and projections, 2 Mount Pleasant, Blakeney, Forest of Dean, UK
  • 1986  10th Anniversary Exhibition  Artspace and Bristol Sculpture Shed,  V Shed, Bordeaux Quay, Bristol

Live/Performance

  • 2012  Harvest the Kaki  10th Anniversary with Churcham Primary School , Nature In Art, Gloucester, UK
  • 2010  Silk Road Ceremony with Denizhan Ozer, NDH Nomadic Party#1, yurt, Tien Shan, China
  • 2005  A Midsummer Table  with Mamuka Japharidze and participants, 2nd HweiLan International Artists Workshop, Shih Ti Ping, Taiwan
  • 2003  (un)broken view? Action, Cultural Policy Symposium, AIRL, Tbilisi, Georgia
  • 2003  brucebruce@aromat  performance with Bruce Stinson, Café Aromat, Vienna
  • 2002  Revive Time Kaki Tree Project  Nagasaki Japan / Gloucestershire UK, initiator and curator of projects, exhibition and tree planting ceremony , Churcham Primary School and Nature In Art, Gloucestershire
  • 2001  Table  performance banquet for YoTA with Anthea Nicholson and Mamuka Japharidze, Southville Centre, Bristol
  • 1998  At Pirosmani's Table  Pirosmani Museum, Mirzaani, Georgia
  • 1997  Between Tides  River Severn, Newnham on Severn, Gloucestershire

Artist talks

  • 2012  Speaker: Nine Dragon Heads Presentation 3PAW  Turkish Cultural Centre, Sarajevo, B&H
  • 2012  Speaker: Nine Dragon Heads Presentation Nomadic Party Literature Museum, Tbilisi, Georgia
  • 2010  Conference speaker: Nomadic Party  ARKO Art Center, Seoul, South Korea
  • 2009  Conference speaker Making Friends Through Art  National Dong Hwa University, Hualien, Taiwan
  • 2009  Speaker: Two Rivers  Symposium, Periferry@ Khoj Guwahati, Brahmaputra, Guwahati, India
  • 2008  Participant: Two Rivers  Symposium, Chelsea Art School, Thames, London

Workshops

  • 2012  Nomadic Party #2  Nine Dragon Heads Symposium, Tashkent, Aral Sea, Tbilisi
  • 2011  'Plener' Student workshop Mielno, in association with Opole Art Institute, Opole, Poland
  • 2010  Nomadic Party #1  Nine Dragon Heads Symposium, Beijing-Dunhuang-Urumqi, China
  • 2010  'Plener' Student workshop Ladek Zdrój, in association with Opole Art Institute, Opole, Poland
  • 2009  5th Hweilan International Artists Workshop and Conference, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien, Taiwan
  • 2008  Periferry 1.0, MV Chandradinga, Brahmaputra river, Guwahati, India
  • 2006  Khoj Kolkata International Artists Workshop , Artspace India, Kolkata India
  • 2005  2nd HweiLan International Artists Workshop, Shih ti ping, Hualien County, Taiwan
  •  2004  EI, Experimental Intermedia, Gent, Belgium
  • 2000  Balance Expo 2000, Hannover Kulturamt, Hannover, Germany
  • 1998  International Artists Workshop, Pirosmani Museum, Mirzaani, Georgia
  • 1994  Silk Road  Studio Ramses Msera , Tbilisi, Georgia

Private commissions

  • 1998  Grow  The Garden, Bristol
  • 1998  Promenade (intervention), Out of Place, Castle Park, Bristol
  • 1997  Looking at the River  Severn Revels Festival, Blaisdon, Gloucestershire
  • 1994  In Oleg's House  12, Ardonskaia Str., Tbilisi, Georgia

Public commissions

  • 2005  Pacific Window  Shihtiping, Hualien County, Taiwan
  • 2003  Blue Lines  John Watkins Plaza, London School of Economics (with MJP architects), London
  • 2001  Table  performance banquet for YoTA, with Anthea Nicholson and Mamuka Japharidze, Southville Centre, Bristol
  • 1998  Research and development for Bideford Tidal Defence Scheme, Bideford, Devon
  • 1997  Seeing Red  Arnolfini Multiple Commissions, Arnolfini, Bristol
  • 1991  Double Window  Arts Council Collection, Southbank Centre
  • 1988  Observatory  Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail, Gloucestershire Projects

Educational experience - tertiary

  • 2003  Visiting Lecturer, Department of Countryside and Landscape, Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education
  • 1997  Visiting Lecturer, Art and Visual Culture, University of the West of England (until 1998)
  • 1997  Visiting Lecturer, Department of Countryside and Landscape, Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education (until 1998)
  • 1997  Visiting Lecturer, Fine Art Department, Wimbledon School of Fine Art
  • 1993  Visiting Lecturer, Fine Art Department, University of Plymouth
  • 1990  Part-time Lecturer, Artspace Studios, visiting students from University of West of England and Bath College (until 1993)
  • 1990  Visiting Lecturer, Fine Art Department, Bath College

Site specific

  • 2012  RIPPLE and RIP  Boat to Boat, NDH Nomadic Party #2, various locations, Aral Sea, Uzbekistan
  • 2008  Repository (for One Two)  Dhoolie Tea Estate, Assam, India
  • 2005  Pacific Window  Shihtiping, Hualien County, Taiwan 2004 - Muidebrug, Experimental Intermedia, Gent, Belgium
  • 2003  Blue Lines  John Watkins Plaza, London School of Economics (with MJP architects), London
  • 1998  a temporary exclusion of light  artist's studio, Blakeney, Gloucestershire
  • 1997  Between Tides  River Severn, Newnham, Gloucestershire
  • 1996  Dreaming in Different Languages  Kingsgate Gallery, London
  • 1996  Eight Days Green  studio, Blakeney, Gloucestershire
  • 1995  Opening and Closing  shop window, Cinderford, Gloucestershire
  • 1993  Extracts  35 King Street, Bristol 1993 - Red and Green, Gas Ferry Studios, Bristol
  • 1993  Walking Through Walls  Spacex Gallery, Exeter
  • 1992  Intramural  Gas Ferry Studios, Bristol 1991 - Hanging Windows, Theatre Royal, Bristol
  • 1991  Mimic  Gas Ferry Studios, Bristol
  • 1988  Observatory  Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail, Gloucestershire

Publications

  • 2012  Artisterium 5 The Protest That Never Ends  exhibition catalogue, Tbilisi, Georgia
  • 2010  Artisterium '10 Imagine the Future  exhibition catalogue, Tbilisi, Georgia
  • 2009  Artisterium '09 the manifest of changes and an inner experience  exhibition catalogue, Tbilisi, Georgia
  • 2005  Art That Works - Catch Me  46th October Art Salon, Belgrade, 2005, exhibition catalogue ISBN 86-84235-49-5
  • 2005  2nd HweiLan International Artists Workshop 2005, catalogue
  • 2005  Like a Cold Drink on a Hot Day  The 4th International Biennial, Gyumri, Armenia, 2004. Marlyne Sahakian, Review Article Third Text no. 75. Routledge, 2005 ISBN 0415 373808
  • 19944  Keti Japharidze Between Seven Days  catalogue, Tbilisi, Georgia
  • 2003  Braziers International Artists Workshop UK, catalogue, 2003
  • 2001  Bob Butler Edible Offerings  Table, 365 YOTA/SW pp18-19, Agre Books 
  • 2001  Paul Harper River, Estuary, Ocean  exhibition catalogue, Galleri 21, Malmö, Sweden 2001
  • 2000  Balance 2000 exhibition catalogue + video, Medienhaus Hanover for Kulturamt Hanover 2000
  • 1999  Thomas A. Clark The Equinox  Moschatel Press, October 1999
  • 1997  Thomas A. Clark Location  exhibition guide Usher Gallery, Lincoln, September 1997
  • 1993  Conor Joyce Bruce Allan  Art Monthly, March 1993
  • 1993  Jonathan Livingstone Walking Through Walls  Spacex Gallery, Exeter, January 1993 ISBN 0 9520903 0 9
  • 1990  Rupert Martin The Sculpted Forest  Redcliffe Press, Bristol, 1990 ISBN 0 948265 04 3
  • 1989  Alexandra Glanz Khules Kalkul  Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung, June 1989
  • 1988  Margaret Garlake Forest of Dean re-visited  Art Monthly, October 1988
  • 1988  William Packer Summer Sculpture  Financial Times, July 1988