Keith Tyson
Cloud Choreography and Other Emergent Systems
16 September–11 November 2009
14 Wharf Road
London
N1 7RW
T +44 207 490 7373
F + 44 207 490 7775
info [at] parasol-unit.org
Private view: 15 September, 6.30–9 pm
Cloud Choreography and Other Emergent Systems is a new exhibition by the winner of the 2002 Turner Prize, Keith Tyson, which brings together several groups of his works. Set up as an exploration of Tyson’s practice, rather than as a mid-career survey, the exhibition focuses on the systems and processes that inform the creation of his work.
Tyson’s work can be seen as an ongoing investigation into the question of how and why things come into being. Many of them investigate the physical forms and systems found within the natural world; others examine the effects of mankind on the environment, and the ensuing man-made forms and systems. In other works, Tyson questions the creation of the artwork itself, positing it as something which can be randomly generated by systems, but simultaneously making us aware that these systems are generated by the artist. Influenced as much by astrophysics and mathematics, as by observation of and reflection on nature, Tyson’s work presents a unique combination of scientific data with poetic artistry. This urges us to consider the roots of creativity alongside its aesthetic beauty. The works operate on a number of levels: as examples of physical, mathematical or scientific data, or of processes or systems. The breakdown of sophisticated and simple processes and mathematical data into an artistic aesthetic is something which greatly interests Tyson, and in all his works there is a consideration of ‘beauty’ (whether be it natural or artificial).
The structure of the exhibition at Parasol unit broadly splits into two parts. The first part, in the lower gallery, features works that focus on natural processes and systems, such as the Nature Sculptures, Nature Paintings, and a new series of works entitled Cloud Choreography paintings. In these series of works, we see a transition from observing the natural world in sculptural form, to attempts at recreating elements of it through chemical processes and rendered on large-scale aluminium sheets. In the upper gallery, the second part of the exhibition focuses more on mathematical, man-made and process-driven systems, and includes sculptures from the Fractal Dice series alongside paintings from a new series of work entitled Operator Paintings, which are to be shown as a series for the first time.
This exhibition at Parasol unit is be accompanied by a new publication on Keith Tyson’s work.
Keith Tyson (born 1969 in Ulverston, Cumbria, UK) held his first solo show From the Art Machine at the Anthony Reynolds Gallery in 1996 and since then has exhibited extensively both in the UK and internationally. In 2002, Tyson was awarded the Turner Prize for his show Supercollider at the South London Gallery.
Visitor information
Gallery opening hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. and Sunday, 12–5 p.m.
Admission: Free
Note to editors
Parasol unit foundation for contemporary art is an independent educational charity devoted to promoting contemporary art for the benefit of the public. The core activity of the foundation is to showcase contemporary work of leading and young international artists in various media. In conjunction with each exhibition Parasol unit organizes a series of talks and educational events. Each year, Parasol unit mounts four exhibitions in a variety of media, each of which is usually accompanied by a publication. In order to encourage the widest possible access to its exhibition programme, Parasol unit does not charge admission fees for its exhibitions.
