tract live art

Richard Layzell
Friday 18 Saturday 19 August

The Radiant Curve

A series of seafront investigations and collective happenings, including a unique experiential evening at the Jubilee Pool (specific details to follow).

"It’s time to measure the Modernist curve, to assess the slope of wave against wall, to let your shirt fly in the face of the weather, to be in andout of it, a tourist tool, the expansive host."

“Unmissable. Intimate. A one-off.” Tania Koswycz

This new work for Penzance forms part of a broader strategy of recent interventions, enhancements and social amendments, including The Sense Walk and IS (Bristol 2005), Unicanvey (ongoing since 2005, for Essex CC and Canvey Island), International Cleaning (ongoing since 2000), White on White
(ongoing since 2004) and Art Work/ Work Art (for Steder Places, Lillehammer Norway 2003).

I’ve recently found it useful to create a sequence of separations between myself as artist, performer, director and worker. As Ivan Curtin I can concentrate on the exactitude of performed behaviour.

The Radiant Curve will also become the focus of the seventh in a series of global daily dialogues with collaborator Tania Koswycz. Talking to Tania 7: Penzance will appear, as it unfolds, on this website and elsewhere. Previous dialogues (Talking to Tania 1-6) can be found on www.rescen.net.

Richard Layzell’s work in performance, video and installation - and with industry and communities - has been recognised internationally.

He was an active member of the Acme community of artists in London’s EastEnd, first showing at the Acme Gallery and Butlers Wharf, subsequently working at the gallery as an administrator, curating time-based events and initiating the first UK Artists Directory. He held the Arts Council’s Video Art Bursary in 1980 and the resulting videotapes Floor, Power and Guide were
extensively shown in Europe and N America.

Bruno’s Leg was commissioned by the Patrons of New Art of the Tate Gallery in 1987, The Revolution-You’re In It! by Kettles Yard in 1989. The interactive installation Tap Ruffle and Shave, commissioned by Glasgow Museums in 1995, toured to London, Colchester, Manchester and Newcastle (1996-8) and was seen by 100,000 people. A permanent site-specific installation The Boiler House was commissioned by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in 2004.

He developed a series of innovative residencies in industry, defining the role of the 'visionaire', with: AIT Plc, Promise, Chordiant International and Unilever, working organisationally, aesthetically and environmentally, 1996-2002.

Other recent works 2005/6: Beddin for Stroud Valley Arts
Talking to Tania for National Review of Live Art Glasgow
The Exchange for The Public West Bromwich 14 Interventions as part of IS for Bristol City Council and a resulting film shown at Arnolfini and Watershed and series of large-scale photographs shown at Centrespace and throughout Bristol

He is currently collaborating with Tania Koswycz on The Manifestation, a major new work for galleries. He is the author of The Artists Directory, Live Art in Schools and Enhanced Performance.

Talking to Tania click here