Deconstructing Records

Explore Your Archive

November 2019

A collaborative effort between Artist Archivist and eight archive institutions based in the United Kingdom. The challenge was an exploration as to what occurs when an artist challenges archivists’ to source random historical information from within their holdings to be processed within an artist studio.

Participants were invited to mail colour photocopies for the purposes of drawing, collage or painting. The creative outputs were unsure, critical questions emerged during the creative process as to how reliable the artwork was in retaining the records original historical context, does it matter? New narratives unintentionally subvert the information integrity, creating ethical and moral discussion. How much value should be placed on photocopied information, how much context should an artwork reveal to an audience?

The artwork series was exhibited late November 2019, to co-inside with Explore Your Archive week 2019.