An artwork made in the crystal-works of renowned French company Hermès is to be unveiled at Ikon Gallery on 1 May 2013.
The work, Outside-In, by British artist Oliver Beer, will be a permanent addition to Ikon’s reception area, installed in a window looking out onto Oozells Square, Brindleyplace. A simple transparent glass form, Outside-In is fitted into a window pane like an ear trumpet, through which visitors will hear filtered echoes of the world outside.
The work is the outcome of the artist’s recent residency with Fondation Hermès, which gave him access to highly skilled artisans and specialist crystal equipment.
Oliver Beer said: “Piercing a hole in the architecture of Ikon, Outside-In blurs the physical boundary between the gallery and the outside world, allowing a little air, space and sound to permeate. The window is no longer like a picture frame presenting a mute image of the outside world; instead it draws the outside world into the gallery, impregnating it with sounds whilst distorting the view through the refractive effect of the crystal.”
Outside-In continues Oliver Beer’s fascination with the aural world in everyday life. In 2011 Ikon presented his video installation Pay and Display, in which choral singers from Ex Cathedra performed in a 1960s Birmingham multistorey carpark, finding notes that tuned into the natural frequencies of the building and causing the carpark to ‘sing back’ to the artists.
Oliver Beer is a British artist, filmmaker and winner of various awards, including the 2009 Saatchi Gallery New Sensations prize. With a background in both music and fine art, he often works with actors, musicians and choirs to make films, installations, photography and performances.
His recent projects include a nine month programme as artist-in-residence at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris and a film commission for new concert hall The Space in Seveonoaks, UK. His work has recently been shown at venues such as the Pompidou Centre, Paris, Wiels Contemporary Art Centre, Brussels and Modern Art Oxford.
Outside-In adds to Ikon’s growing collection of contemporary work permanently installed in our reception area, which also includes pieces by Martin Creed, Beat Streuli and Ron Terada.
Oliver Beer
Outside-In
Opens 1 May 2013
Ikon reception area, Free
Ikon Gallery, 1 Oozells Square, Brindleyplace, Birmingham b1 2hs
tel. +44 (0) 121 248 0708
website. www.ikon-gallery.co.uk