Reflections on the Red Tower
Anna Heinrich and Leon Palmer, with Kate Giles

• Saturday 14 June 2014, 12.00PM to 1.00pm
• Free admission
  No booking required
• National Centre for Early Music, Walmgate, YO1 9TL (map)

Event details

Anna Heinrich and Leon Palmer have worked in collaboration since the early 1990s. Their artworks range from photographic and light installations to large-scale projections and public art interventions. Much of their work is site-specific, with locations including schools, National Trust properties, hospitals and sea-front promenades. They are developing a new site-specific work for York Curiouser: ‘When we visited York we were particularly intrigued by the site of the Red Tower. It is hard to imagine that there was once marsh land on that site and later a pond, except for the fact that the lower part of the building is now below ground. As a site it seems to have a very enigmatic presence, which will be brilliant to work with.

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We came away with the idea of recreating the lake or marsh land within the tower interior using mirrors, lights and water, plus planting (artificial or real). This landscape would be viewed through slots – either those of the windows that are there in place or through a purpose made slot across the doorway. '

Hear how the artists created their artwork in a talk supported by building archaeologist Dr Kate Giles.

About the speakers:

Anna Heinrich and Leon Palmer are two UK-based artists who have worked in collaboration since 1991. Their artworks range from photographic and light installations to large scale projection events and public art interventions.

Their approach is often site-specific, allowing the development of artworks to evolve in response to the context of a place and its unique qualities. Observing the movement and flow of people within the space can also inform the nature and configuration of the artwork, so it connects strongly with the unfolding perception of the viewer. Light, photography, optics and projection are frequently used in their artworks as means to open up, transform and blur the boundaries of built space.

Heinrich and Palmer have been frequently commissioned to create site-specific artworks for galleries, museums, hospitals, schools and public spaces. They have worked as Lead Artists on a number of major art projects and have experience of working collaboratively with architects and contractors to integrate artworks from an early stage and advise on design issues. Individual and collaborative studio-based work and research underpins the partnership's practice.

Follow @HeinrichPalmer and @yorkcuriouser on Twitter.

Accessibility

Wheelchair accessible