Minimum Crisis
Sam Hewland
21 April - 5 May2017
What do we have when attempting to be aware of our position in the system of the world? How do we attempt to be concerned with what we are making and the legacy of those things we leave behind?
What does it mean to be European?
What did it used to mean?
What will it mean in the future?
What are the physical remnants that people will be able to recognise as european and if not just a set of ideas what else represents it apart from colonial decay?
In the weeks leading up to Minimum Crisis, Sam has been discussing notions of European identity with Connor Brazier who has written an essay as an introduction to the exhibition.
Sam Hewland’s Minimum Crisis investigates boundaries in shape and form of architectural history and political histories that have shaped notions of what Europe looks like today. Using references of physical structures and the collaging of imagery, the work looks at physical notions surrounding architecture and troubles with european architectural histories.
Minimum Crisis is the second part of the ‘Nottingham month’ of arebyteLASER’s 2017 programme titled hotel generation - a series of paired exhibitions by a generation of young artists from around the UK, all responding to either contemporary Ordinaryism, information overload, collective practice or reacting to the ‘extreme present’.
Sam is also part of LosersGym, a gallery and project space in Nottingham. Using the platform as a space for experimentation and giving artists the opportunity and space to explore current concerns in their practice. There is a strong focus on presenting emerging or pre-career artists, delivering experimental and professional exhibitions as well as open communal events.
Sam Hewlands's exhibition is paired with SUPERPOWERLESS by Connor Brazier. Both artists have written about each others work in an attempt to contextualise their practice, and surrounding ideas, within the remit of hotel generation.
Sam Hewland, b.1991, Stockport, studied Fine Art at Nottingham Trent University, graduating in 2014. Sam will be undertaking an MFA at Glasgow School of Art in 2017. Selected exhibitions include: Nottingham Castle Open, Nottingham Castle, (2016-17); Terrorformers/ Mould Map 6, Bonington Gallery, Nottingham (2016); Rate of Decline w/ Mark Riddington, LosersGym, Nottingham, (2016); Trace Programme, Aspirational Living, Nottingham, (2016); Not As We Know It- Part Two, MUESLI, Liverpool (2016); Back/Box, Lee Rosy’s/ Hutt Gallery, Nottingham, (2016); In the Paravent, Harley Gallery, Worksop (2016); Fans & Legends, Quad, Derby (2015); Assembly Project, Bloc Projects, Sheffield, (2015); THANKS, The Pipe Factory, Glasgow (2014).