Approved: 02.12.2016

Heather Ross

Curator, Film-maker, Lecturer / academic

Approved: 02.12.2016

The catalyst for my work is typically a hole in my understanding of something, a sensation of distance from it and a desire to get closer. I often become absorbed with seemingly simple or straightforward things, which I then earnestly study, scrutinize and unpack. I expand, repeat and blow up minute details and gestures which tend to become more significant than the subject itself. I love the simple and believe nothing is as simple as it seems. 

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Artist Statement

The catalyst for my work is typically a hole in my understanding of something, a sensation of distance from it and a desire to get closer. I often become absorbed with seemingly simple or straightforward things, which I then earnestly study, scrutinize and unpack. I expand, repeat and blow up minute details and gestures which tend to become more significant than the subject itself. I love the simple and believe nothing is as simple as it seems. 

My work is about revision: how can I alter something to better reflect my understanding and experience of it? How can I harness the overlooked? How might my work encourage an audience to find new ways to connect with a neglected, elusive or distanced subject? My work is essentially about how we come to know and learn about the world through the senses. I’m interested in agitating and disrupting the stability of facts, artifacts and historical material by creating a space to test, challenge or measure authenticity, discover discrepancies and to revel in subjective ambiguity. My tussle with (and in) this space is the work. 

My interactions with a subject usually take place across a series of images or objects – emphasising the time based nature of experience and the active role of the body (of both the artist and viewer) in the production of meaning. I combine traditional artistic materials and processes with non- professional, even amateur methods, or tools within the domestic sphere, and use techniques such as re-making, copying and repetition. 

I have no consistent subject matter. Past subjects of interest are eclectic and include: Various artworks by avant-garde artist Kurt Schwitters; Conservation, restoration and the re-presentation of ephemeral monuments in the Hatton Gallery’s archive; Lockdown visits to Haslam Park, Preston; The print archive of Gwyneth Alban Davis; The Observer’s Book of Birds; A newspaper photograph of Donald Trump and Theresa May; Found slides and photographs; The physical and virtual/ analogue and digital architecture of the window and screen; Bathing as a practice and ritual in Japanese culture. 

I’m originally from Hamilton, Scotland, but now live and work in Preston, Lancashire. I’m a member of The Birley Artist Studios, Preston and The Kurt Schwitters Society (International). I’m currently undertaking a practice-based PhD at Newcastle University, on Kurt Schwitters’ Merz Barn Wall in conjunction with the Hatton Gallery, where the work is situated. I hold an MA in Fine Art from Chelsea College of Art, London, and a BA (hons) degree in Painting from Grays School of Art, Aberdeen. I work on a part time basis as a Lecturer in Fine Art at The University of Central Lancashire, Preston.

 

 

CV & Education

Education

2017-present  PhD (practice-based) Fine Art, Newcastle University

2012-13 MA Fine Art, Chelsea College of Art, London. 

2009-10 PG HELT (Postgraduate Higher Education Learning and Teaching).The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen. 

2001-05 BA Honours Degree in Fine Art (Painting), Grays School of Art, The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen. 


(Selected) Professional Grants and Awards

2019 Northern Bridge Placement Award (Sprengel Museum, Germany) 

2017 AHRC Northern Bridge Studenship Award

2017 Heritage Lottery Grant 'Sharing Heritage.'

2013 Vice Chancellors Scholarship Award, Central St. Martin's, London

2012 The Dewar Arts Award, Scotland

2010 Alistair Salvesen Traveling Scholarship to Japan (in conjunction with RSA)

2009 Shell Premier Award, Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museum

2007 Royal Scottish Academy Guthrie Award and Medal for Painting

2006 Royal Scottish Academy Guthrie Award and Medal for Painting

2006 Scottish Arts Council ‘Artist In Residence,’ His Majesty’s Theatre,

Aberdeen

2006 Royal Scottish Academy Meyer Oppenheim Award

2005 Royal Scottish Academy John Kinross Scholarship to Florence

2005 Royal Scottish Academy Painting Prize and McLean Waters Medal


Professional Experience

2016- present Visiting Practitioner, MA Fine Art, Chelsea College of Art, London

2015- present 0.4 Lecturer in MA/BA Fine Art, University of Central Lancashire, Preston

2013 Visiting Practitioner, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge,

2007-12 0.5 Lecturer in Painting, Grays School of Art, The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland.

2011 Visiting Lecturer, The Academy of Fine Arts, Prague (Erasmus Exchange)

2006-07 Full Time Lecturer in Painting, Grays School of Art, The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland.


(Selected) Conferences/Presentations

2018  TAPRA, Royal School of Speech and Drama, London.

2018  ARI , University of Cumbria, Carlisle.

2018  'Women in Print' , Harris Art Gallery, Preston.

2018  'Schwitters in Internment' Bury Art Gallery, Bury.

2018. Murmurations (hosted by Chris Watson and Jez Riley French)

2017  Sound and Environment, Hull.

2017 Merz North Conference, The University of York.

2016 'Making Meaning' AHRC Postgraduate Consortium, Manchester.

2016 Entartete Kunst Conference, Merz Barn, Cumbria

2016 Research Talk, Chelsea College of Art, London

2015 'Creating Sound in Context,' Panel Member/Facilitator, Sonica Festival, Glasgow

2015 Artist Talk, West End Film Festival, Glasgow

2014 Artist Talk, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge

2014 LUX Seminar Member, Oberhausen Film Festival, Germany

2011 Artist Talk, The Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh

2010 Artist Talk, The Academy of Fine Arts, Prague


(Selected) Solo Shows

2018-19 The Loud and the Soft Speakers, Hatton Gallery, Newcastle

2018.  Patterns of Consumption, Long Gallery Newcastle University

2017 All The Better To Hear You With, Merz Barn, Cumbria

2015 Domestic Dawn Chorus, Studio3Arts, London

2013 Things to Come, The Morgue, Chelsea College of Art

2011 Constants In Practice, The Royal Scottish Academy, National Galleries, Edinburgh

2009 Stages of Control , The Foyer, Gallery Aberdeen


(Selected) Group Shows

2019  The State of Print (Touring) Artlab, Preston.

2018  Merzwomen and the Daughters of Dada (with Jackie Haynes), Vallum Gallery, University of Cumbria.

2017  Post Truth Screening, Sheffield Hallum University

2017 The Caravan Press: Making Visible The Archive of Gwyneth Alban Davis, Florence Arts Centre, Egremont.

2017 A Bird In The Head, Danielle Arnaud, London

2016  Hanover Research Group, Bloc Projects, Sheffield

2016  'FSP', The Brunel Museum, London (CRISAP/EAVI)

2016  Works For Air, Hanover Project, Preston

2016  One Minute Volume 9, curated By Kerry Baldry (touring)

2015  Concrete Gestures: Brunel-Fly-By-Night, Brunel Museum, London

2015  The Programme (Film Festival), Hanover Project, Preston

2014 Taint, GRAD Gallery, London

2013 The Exchange Project: Part Two, APT Gallery, Deptford, London

2010 Nord Art, Kunst in Carlshutte, Hamburg, Germany

Curatorial Projects

2017 Typ-ooo North Print Collective

2016 Co-Founder of SKELF Virtual Project Space (monthly curated projects)

2015 Brunel Fly-By-Night: Concrete Gestures, The Brunel Museum, London

2015 (Co-Curated) The Film Programme, Hanover Gallery, Preston

2013 Brunel Fly By Night: Division of Labour, The Brunel Museum, London