Scotland + Venice
Sworn Campbell Tompkins
presented by
The Common Guild
Scotland and Venice 2013: curator and artists announced
Creative Scotland and its partners have appointed The Common Guild as curators for the
Scotland + Venice 2013 presentation.
The Venice Biennale is the largest and most prestigious visual arts exhibition in the world.
This will be the sixth presentation from Scotland and Venice, a partnership between Creative
Scotland, National Galleries of Scotland and British Council Scotland. The 2013 Biennale will
be the 55th International Art Exhibition.
The Common Guild is a visual arts organisation based in Glasgow. It was established in 2006
and presents a dynamic, international programme of contemporary visual art projects,
exhibitions, and events.
The Common Guild will present projects by three of Scotland’s most compelling and
consistently interesting artists: Duncan Campbell, Hayley Tompkins and Corin Sworn. The
exhibition will be presented in the Palazzo Pisani, Venice from June to November 2013.
Previous Scotland + Venice presentations have included Karla Black (curated by the
Fruitmarket Gallery) in 2011 and Martin Boyce (curated by Dundee Contemporary Arts) in
2009. The 2013 project will mark 10 years since Scotland’s first participation, in an
exhibition that included Claire Barclay, Jim Lambie and Simon Starling.
Amanda Catto, Chair of Scotland and Venice Partnership and Portfolio Manager for Visual
Arts at Creative Scotland said:
‘The Scotland and Venice partnership is delighted to announce its plans for the 2013
exhibition.
‘Since its establishment ten years ago the Scotland and Venice project has emerged as a
significant international platform, promoting artists at the highest level internationally and
building Scotland's reputation as a centre of excellence in and for the visual arts.
‘The exhibition will showcase the vision, imagination and skill of the artists selected and we
are looking forward to working in partnership with The Common Guild, who bring their
significant knowledge and expertise to the project.’
Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop said:
“Scotland is a creative and innovative nation, boasting a wealth of artistic talent. The Venice
Biennale, as the largest arts festival in the world, is an ideal platform to showcase our talent
to a global audience.
“I am sure that the Scottish presence in 2013 will build on the tremendous success of
previous years, which saw exhibitions from Turner Prize-winning artist Martin Boyce and
nominee Karla Black.”
Katrina Brown, Director of The Common Guild:
“It is remarkable to think of all that has happened with contemporary art in Scotland since
the first participation in the Venice Biennale back in 2003. This project will continue to
foreground our artists and the wealth and breadth of talent here in a hugely significant
international arena. We are very much looking forward to working with Duncan, Hayley and
Corin in this context.”
Scotland + Venice 2013: artists
Duncan Campbell is known for his film works that blend archive, documentary material with
fictional, imaginary elements. His films, which have been described as “slippery biopics”, have
focused on often visionary protagonists, such as car-maker John DeLorean (‘Make it New
John’, 2009) or Irish political activist Bernadette Devlin (‘Bernadette’, 2008).
He welcomed his inclusion in the project and added:
“I am extremely pleased to be representing Scotland at Venice next year. For an
artist, the Biennale represents a unique opportunity: to make work that has currency. I
am excited by this challenge and to be part of the general buzz. I am grateful to The
Common Guild for the compliment they have paid me.”
Corin Sworn creates atmospheric installations that weave fiction and history through film
and objects. She is currently artist-in-residence at St.John’s College, Oxford, in association
with the Ruskin School.
Sworn said of her participation in the project:
“The prospect of working in Venice feels both formidable and thrilling and I look
forward to seeing what work I can make for this dramatic and intriguing atmosphere.”
Hayley Tompkins makes intensely delicate paintings and painted objects that she describes
as being sampled from the world as we know it. She was short-listed for the 2004 Becks
Futures Prize.
Tompkins said:
“I am delighted to exhibit at next year’s Venice Biennale, and to be working with The
Common Guild. I look forward to imagining a new work and seeing it installed in such
unique and historic surroundings, a mysterious place like Venice. It's a wonderful
opportunity for any artist.”
The 2013 exhibition continues The Common Guild’s commitment to dynamic internationalism,
and builds on the organisation’s reputation for presenting artists’ work in interesting and
engaging ways through world-class contemporary art experiences and discussions. It will
involve new works by the three artists in diverse forms and materials.
Notes to Editors:
1. Scotland + Venice is a partnership between Creative Scotland, National Galleries of
Scotland and British Council Scotland: www.scotlandandvenice.com
2. Creative Scotland is the national development agency for the arts, screen and
creative industries. Our vision is that Scotland will be recognised as one of the
world’s most creative nations – one that attracts, develops and retains talent, where
the arts and the creative industries are supported and celebrated and their economic
contribution fully captured; a nation where the arts and creativity play a central part
in the lives, education and well-being of our population
3. The Common Guild is a visual arts organisation based in Glasgow. It was established in
2006 and presents a dynamic, international programme of contemporary visual art projects,
exhibitions, and events. These include gallery-based exhibitions at our current premises as
well as non-gallery, one-off projects, talks and collaborations. It is committed to presenting
artists’ work in interesting and engaging ways and aim to offer access to world-class
contemporary art experiences and discussions. The Common Guild is a not-for-profit visual
arts organisation, supported by Creative Scotland and Glasgow City Council.
www.thecommonguild.org.uk
4. The Venice Biennale has, for over a century, been one of the most prestigious cultural
institutions in the world. Ever since its foundation in 1895, it has been in the avant-garde,
promoting new artistic trends and organising international events in contemporary arts.
www.labiennale.org
5. Since 2003 Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland have developed separate exhibitions as a
compliment to the British Pavilion, broadening the range of the country’s representation at
the Biennale. The artist selected for the British Pavilion is Jeremy Deller.
6. The Year of Creative Scotland is a chance to showcase, celebrate and promote
Scotland’s cultural and creative strengths. Through a dynamic and exciting year-long
programme of activity celebrating our world-class events, festivals, culture and heritage, the
year puts Scotland’s culture and creativity in the international spotlight with a focus on
cultural tourism and developing the events industry and creative sector in Scotland.
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Artist biographies:
Duncan Campbell was born in Dublin in 1972. He completed an MFA at The Glasgow School
of Art in 1998 and lives and works in Glasgow.
Recent solo exhibitions include the Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh (2012), Belfast
Exposed (2011); Artist’s Space, New York (2010); The Model, Sligo (2010); Tramway,
Glasgow (2010); Chisenhale Gallery, London (2009); Ludlow 38, New York (2009);
Kunstverein Munich (2009); MIT List Visual Arts Center, Cambridge, Mass. (2009); Scottish
National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh (2009); MUMOK, Vienna (2009); Tate Britain,
London (2009); Baltic, Gateshead (2008); ICA, London (2008); and Art Statements, Art Basel
38 (2008), where he was awarded the Baloise Art Prize.
Recent group exhibitions include Manifesta 9, Genk, Limburg, Belgium (2012), ‘British Art
Show 7’, Nottingham Contemporary (2010); Gwangju Biennale, South Korea (2010); ‘Fight
the Power’, Museo Nacional Centro de Reina Sofia, Madrid (2009); and Art Now, Tate Britain,
London (2006).
Duncan Campbell is represented by Hotel, London.
Corin Sworn was born in London in 1976. She completed an MFA at The Glasgow School of
Art in 2009 and lives and works in Glasgow.
Recent solo exhibitions include Contemporary Art Gallery, Vancouver, Timespan Museum and
Arts Centre, Helmsdale, Scotland; Art Now at Tate Britain (all 2011); Tramway (2010) and
Washington Garcia for Glasgow International (2010).
Recent group exhibitions include ‘Dialogue for Hands’, Three Blows in association with
Glasgow International Festival of Visual Art 2012; ‘Tomorrow Never Knows’ - Jerwood/Film
and Video Umbrella Awards, Jerwood Space, London (both 2012); Hors Pistes, Centre
Pompidou, Paris (2011); ‘Morality’, Witte de With, Rotterdam (2010); ‘EAST International’,
Norwich (2009); ‘Report on Probability’ Kunsthalle Basel (2009) and ‘The Psychology of the
Pawn’ Participant Inc., New York (2008).
Forthcoming exhibitions include a solo show at Chisenhale Gallery, London, in 2013.
Corin Sworn is represented by Kendall Koppe Gallery, Glasgow and Blanket Contemporary
Inc, Vancouver.
Hayley Tompkins was born in Leighton Buzzard in 1971. She completed an MFA at The
Glasgow School of Art in 1998 and lives and works in Glasgow.
Recent solo exhibitions include ‘Currents’, Studio Voltaire, London; ‘A Piece of Eight’, The
Modern Institute, Glasgow (both 2011); ‘Autobuilding’, Inverleith House, Royal Botanic
Garden Edinburgh (2009) and ‘Transfer’ (with Sue Tompkins) Spike Island, Bristol (2007).
Recent group exhibitions include 'Painting Show', Eastside Projects, Birmingham;
'Watercolour', Tate Britain, London; 'Vegetable Loves', Polarcap, West Barnes Studios,
Dunbar (all 2011); 'In Memory of Painting 8', Layr Wuestenhagen Contemporary, Vienna; 'At
Home/Not At Home (From the collection of Martin and Rebecca Eisenberg)', Hessel Museum,
Bard College, New York (curated by Mathew Higgs); 'Ashes to Ashes', AMP, Athens
'Fragments of Machines', IMO, Copenhagen; 'Group Show', Autocenter, Berlin (all 2010);
'Frequency: Mark Garry, Padraig Timoney, Hayley Tompkins', Hugh Lane Museum, Dublin;
'modern modern', Chelsea Art Museum, New York (both 2009) and 'Open Field', CCA,
Glasgow (2008).
Forthcoming exhibitions include solo shows at Cairn, Pittenweem (2012) and Aspen Art
Museum, Colorado (2013) and participation in the 30th Sao Paulo Biennial (2012).
Hayley Tompkins is represented by The Modern Institute, Glasgow.
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Media Contact:
Sophie Bambrough
Media Relations & PR Officer, Creative Scotland
E: sophie.bambrough@creativescotland.com<br>
T: 0131 523 0015
Kitty Anderson,
Curator, The Common Guild,
E: kitty@thecommonguild.org.uk
T: 0141 428 3022
