Star date: 7th February 2015

UTR EXHIBITION SELFLESS ACTS

Selfless Acts
Tuesday 10th-Friday 13th February
Islington Mill Gallery Space

Selfies and self-portraits are explored in a new exhibition by UTR visual artists, Willow Rowlands and Lizzie King, in the Gallery Space at Islington Mill this week.

Far from rows of pouting women and gurning men, the exhibition of images and artefacts, called Selfless Acts: a body of work made in response to the means and trappings of self portraiture, removes `the self' from selfies to see what's left behind. Interesting?

Full details here...

"Maybe the figure is the least informative aspect of a self portrait."

We've seen it all on social media – funeral selfies, on-pitch footballer selfies and even Barack Obama selfies, but no-one has really examined the fish-lipped, pouting, gurning images for their artistic value.

The UTR visual artists Willow Rowlands and Lizzie King aren't exactly doing that but they are kind of answering the new cultural phenomenon with their latest exhibition Selfless Acts: a body of work made in response to the means and trappings of self portraiture, which runs at the Gallery Space in Islington Mill between Tuesday and Friday this week.

"The exhibition isn't critical of the Selfie Culture but rather shows an interest in the wide spread phenomenon" says Willow "We would describe the tone of the work as fun, affectionate and very curious."

There are 26 images and artefacts on show, made using a range of hybrid digital and analogue processes. One of the images on show just depicts a selfie stick, others are blurred, while another shows a white shadow where the object of the self-portrait sits curled under a stool.

"We have a tendency to hone in on background information and incidental details" Willow explains "The figures have been removed from some of the images because they were in the way. The background is given prominence, yet the negative space is still really distracting. We find that tension funny."

So do selfies have anything to offer artistically?

"We think all images have artistic value...when the viewer is thinking artistically..." Willow responds...

Well that's certainly something to think about when you're trying to shove your mug in front of your smart phone. To get started check out this intriguing exhibition...

Selfless Acts: a body of work made in response to the means and trappings of self portraiture.
Tuesday 10th-Friday 13th February
Islington Mill Gallery Space
James Street
Salford M3 5HW
 
For further details check out the UTR site – click here
And the Islington Mill website – click here