erifili missiou: January 2013

51° 29′ 35″ N, 0° 5′ 46″ W
51° 29′ 21.84″ N, 0° 6′ 1.8″ W

In parallel to my individual artistic pursuit I am keen in curating projects where an idea is explored by a group of artists, for a length of time and in relation to a space. Living close to Elephant and Castle, i set up a proposal for a double project in 2 emblematic buildings of the area in conjunction with Elefest (annual art festival). An open-air show took place from 3-6 am in the public space of the Heygate Estate that was followed by an in doors exhibition (6-9) in Pullens buildings community centre. A team of 8 artists (including me), worked for a month visiting regularly the 2 sites and meeting each other.

"My mobile prison cell"

Interactive sculpture made for the open air show. It was presented at the Heygate Estate's premises.

reebars, jubilee clips, castor wheels, wooden board, office chair, plant, iron bars

"Mobile Prison Cell" - video

-->With this piece I am playing with humans’ desperate effort to escape their problems by changing their location. I created this handy interactive sculpture so that everybody can carry some of his problems, deadlocks, domestic safety and imprisonment to his work, his holidays and his everyday activities. This mobile piece resembles a domestic environment and a prison cell. A careful look proves the fallacy - the cage is wide open and not difficult to escape, but we still stay in and carry it with us.

Visitors playing with my "Mobile Prison Cell" during the opening.

"Heygate Estate" - the show:

The artists responded to the specific characteristics and the history of each space, avoiding dictating the context through title.This gave the viewer a unique experience, a freedom to engage with each individual artist’s work as well as picking up on the inevitable connections and relationships that take place amongst the works, the buildings and the two projects.We showed mixed media work, some of us brought some pre-conceived elements others not and we all collectively played and bouncing ideas off each other.

SIMON ATKINSON⁄ NADIA BERRI⁄ VICTORIA BURGHER⁄ TERRY DYNES⁄ BEN FAGA⁄ JAYNE LLOYD⁄ ERIFILI MISSIOU/ CRISTINA PEDREIRA ⁄

ERIFILI MISSIOU - project organiser