Biography
Born in Vancouver, Canada. Based in London, United Kingdom. Studied Painting at the Emily Carr College of Art, Vancouver, Canada. Transferred to the Akademie der Bildenden Kunste, Munich, Germany. Studied Painting with Prof. Robin Page (one of the early members of the Fluxus Movement). Awarded a Personal Masters Diploma for Painting by Prof. Robin Page. Completed a BA (Hons) Philosophy, University of London. Senior Lecturer at the University of the Arts, London.
I work with a range of media and methods, with 2D and 3D materials through to investigative and collaborative art practice. The latter includes publishing and interventions. My entire body of work explores social and political issues and conflicts that are first realised from within my own experience of living as a 'rootless cosmopolitan' in Europe, and primarily in London, a highly urbanized, metropolitan, no man's land of its own. In this sense, the complications and tensions one is presented with form the basis for further research.
A number of themes have held my interest over the years such as relations of power (institutions, hierarchies, bureaucracies and state sanctioned violence), shifts in the social imaginary formed and reproduced in the 'Media'ted image, the paradoxes of normative assumptions within belief systems and ideologies and more recently, the nature of citizenship. My interest in these overlapping themes underpin my creative practice. However, the mode of creative production and the forms of presentation (which are, in some cases, intentionally populist) are determined by each art project.
Contact
info@plessner.co.uk
New work:
See www.citizenartist.org.uk for projects, information and events.
Exhibitions (Abridged list)
New Work: Citizen Artist Project, see www.citizenartist.org.uk
2012 'Never, Never', Aberystwyth City Gallery, Aberystwyth > more
2011 The Mobile Armband Exhibition, TUC Rally, London > more at citizenartist.org.uk
2011 Putting On: Kessinger, for the 'Piracy Project', Curated by Eva Weinmayr, Artists Book Fair, MoMA, New York; Whitechapel Gallery, London. > more
2010 Putting On: Debate, 'Joking Aside: Has Photography Lost its sense of Humour?', Photographers Gallery, London
> more
2010 Putting On: Gag, Performance, Freek Show, Circus Charivari, Berlin
2008 Girlie, Solo exhibition, Whitecross Gallery, London > more
2008 Twisted Pretty, Hackney Wicked Art Festival, London
2008 It's a Wallpaper World, Solo exhibition, University of the Arts London
2006 John Moores 24, Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool > more
2006 Square Root of Drawing, Temple Bar Gallery, Dublin
2006 4th International Artists Book Exhibition: King St. Stephen Museum, Hungary
2004–05 Pop-up Politics, Solo exhibition, Chester Beatty Library Museum, Dublin > more
1996 Leerer Beutel, Staatliches Museum, Regensburg
1994 Between Europe and America, Solo Exhibition, The October Gallery,London
1992 Solo exhibition, The Gallery, Mayfair, sponsored by Infrateste Burke
1985 All Stars Exhibition, Munich
1986–1998: 24 group exhibitions have been held in various countries (London, England; Munich & Regensburg, Germany; Dublin, Ireland; Basel, Switzerland; Washington D.C., New York, San Diego, U.S.A.)
Publications
Jul 2012 e-Flux Journal, Art & Education, NY, USA. Title of paper: Political Activism in Art: A Consideration of the Implications of New Developments in Practice. > view
2012 Assembling an Assembly: What Occupy Can Learn From Medieval Iceland's Althing, PDF publication, An edited version published in print and online in the Occupied Times, 06/2012 and the Boston Occupier, 07/2012 > view
2012 'Putting On Collective: The 3 Proprietors', published in Basic Creative Photography: Research Methods, AVA Publishing, Worthing
2011 The Citizen Artist: An Expanded Discussion, PDF publication
2010 Who is the Artists Audience?, PDF publication
2010 ManifestOh!, PDF publication
2011 Putting On: Kessinger, for the 'Piracy Project', Curated by Eva Weinmayr, Artists Book Fair, MoMA, New York; Whitechapel Gallery, London > view
2010 Putting On: Manifesto, Material Journal, Autumn Issue, Los Angeles
2010 Putting On: The Fool, London
2010 Putting On: Emergency, Sticker Album, London
2007 A Rootless Cosmopolitan’s Guide to Home Hunting, illustrated book published by University of the Arts, London
2004 Pop-up Politics, with introductory essay by Angelina Giannarou, exhibition catalogue
Awards
2012 SIM Residency, Reykjavik, Iceland
2012 Research Grant LCC, University of the Arts London
2008 Research Grant, LCC, University of the Arts London
2006 Research Grant, LCC, University of the Arts, London
2005 Temple Bar Gallery & Studios Residency, Dublin
2005 Research Grant, LCC, University of the Arts, London
2004 AHRB Grant: Arts and Humanities Research Board
Reviews and notices
June 2012 Never, Never, Exhibition Catalogue with a forward by Eve Ropek, Aberystwyth City Gallery. ISBN: 978-1-908992-03-1 > view
05 Jan 2009 Art Review, Review, January-February issue
Dec 2008 Garageland, Art, Culture and Ideas, issue no.7, ISSN 1749-9267
15 Nov 2008 Girlie, London Grip, Review, Kit Lydd > view
17 Oct 2008 Flavorpill, Helen Dewar > view
10 Apr 2008 Flavorpill, Natalie Liechti > view
Autumn 2007 White Collar, Published artwork, issue no.5
May 2005 Pop-up Politics, Review, Umbrella, vol. 28. no.1, ISSN 0160-069909
Apr 2005 Political and Eye Opening Interactive Art, Review,David Roy, Irish News
17 Mar 2005 Why Not Pop In on the World of Politics, J. Caldwell, Belfast News Letter
17 Mar 2005 New Exhibition has an Innovative Way to View Politics, Daily Ireland
02 Jan 2005 Pop up Politics, The Sunday Times > view
25 Nov 2004 When a Book is no Longer a Book, Review, Susan Conley, Irish Examiner
14 Nov 2004 Pop up Politics, Review, Sara Keating, In Dublin Magazine
06 Nov 2004 Through a Telescope Darkly, Review, Billy Leahy, The Village
23 Oct 2004 Pop up Political Pictures, Irish Times
29 Oct 2004 Comic Art: Pop up Politics, Review, Susan Conley, Irish Independent.
2004 Eyes Wide Open, Angelina Giannarou, Critical essay, Exhibition Catalogue
Radio Interviews
08 Mar 2011 Resonance104.4fm, Putting On: The Skirt, Interview
Collections
Public Collections: David Roberts Collection, Infrateste Burke (Paris, London and Munich offices); The Irish Embassy Residence, Brussels; The James Joyce Cultural Centre, Dublin; The Ireland Fund of Great Britain, London.
Private Collections: England, Germany, Canada and Switzerland.
