An Augmented Reality tour of London's principle contemporary art galleries, created by John Goto in collaboration with Matthew Leach.

Launched 01/02/2011

Augented Reality and Invisibility

Augmented Reality is achieved by combining three functions of a smart phone  – GPS reading, internet connection and camera – to create an image layer in front of the every day scene observed through the camera. The specific image that appears is triggered by the location. Additional information can be supplied through text panels, sound samples and maps.

“Digital software used to faithfully imitate existing media, but designers are now developing distinctive hybrid forms,” says Goto.  “Moving through space and time with strata of added information floating before our eyes is a new occurrence."

Goto's satirical series purports to be a city guide to London's contemporary art galleries. The Invisible Artist, a character whose own history and motives remain an enigma, guides the art lover from one venue to the next.

The image of a headless figure owes less to H.G. Wells' clunking novella, than childhood memories of Ralph Smart's similarly themed TV series broadcast in the late 'fifties.

In order to participate the viewer will need to download onto their Android device or iPhone a free app named Layars.

The Invisible Artist

Institute of Contemporary Arts
The Mall
London SW1Y 5AH

Housed in John Nash’s magnificent Carlton House Terrace, the ICA was established in 1947 by a collective of artists, poets and writers. The programme aims to show art that is experimental and radical.

Exhibited artists include Anthony Gormley, Damien Hirst, Sarah Lucas, Jake and Dinos Chapman, Tracey Emin, Gilbert and George, Stephen Willets, Susan Hiller and Anish Kapoor.

Royal Academy of Arts
Burlington House
Piccadilly
London W1J 0BD

Situated in the palatial surroundings of Burlington House, the Royal Academy was founded in 1768 by a group of prominent artists and architects including Sir Joshua Reynolds. Today the RA is still presided over by the 80 or so elected Academicians. In addition to showcasing their work, the programme features historical exhibitions and occasional contemporary shows.

Exhibited artists include Anthony Gormley, Damien Hirst, Richard Wentworth, Sarah Lucas, Jake and Dinos Chapman, Tracey Emin and Anish Kapoor.

Hayward Gallery
Southbank Centre
Belvedere Road 
London SE1 8XX

The Hayward Gallery, which opened in 1968, was designed in Brutalist style by a group of young architects including Dennis Crompton, Warren Chalk and Ron Herron, who worked together at London County Council. The exhibition programme centres on surveys of contemporary art and artists.

Exhibited artists include Anthony Gormley, Stephen Willets, Douglas Gordon, Damien Hirst, Susan Hiller, Gilbert and George, Richard Wentworth, Jake and Dinos Chapman, Tracey Emin, Sarah Lucas and Anish Kapoor.

Saatchi Gallery
Duke of York’s HQ
Kings Road
London SW3 4SQ

Charles Saatchi's private collection of contemporary art is displayed here within themed exhibitions. Originally a school for the children of soldiers' widows, the Duke of York’s HQ building was completed in 1801 after designs by John Sanders. Saatchi Gallery has occupied the site since 2008.

Exhibited artists include Anthony Gormley, Damien Hirst, Jake and Dinos Chapman, Tracy Emin and Sarah Lucas.

Tate Modern
Bankside
London SE1 9TG

Tate Modern was opened in 2000 to display the national collection of international modern art.  It is situated in a former power station that was converted by architects Herzog and De Meuron.  Temporary exhibitions are mounted alongside the frequently re-hung permanent collection.

Exhibited artists include Anthony Gormley, Damien Hirst, Susan Hiller, Gilbert and George, Richard Wentworth, Tracey Emin, Sarah Lucas and Anish Kapoor.

Serpentine Gallery
Kensington Gardens 
London W2 3XA

Picturesquely situated in Royal parkland, the Serpentine Gallery’s temporary exhibition programme presents work by contemporary artists working across a variety of media.

Exhibited artists include Anthony Gormley, Stephen Willets, Susan Hiller, Douglas Gordon, Gilbert and George, Richard Wentworth, Tracey Emin, Sarah Lucas and Anish Kapoor.

South London Gallery
65 Peckham Road 
London SE5 8UH

6a Architects has recently extended the purpose-built South London Gallery, which originally opened in 1891. The gallery shows a changing programme of contemporary fine and applied arts exhibitions.

Exhibited artists include Anthony Gormley, Stephen Willets, Damien Hirst, Susan Hiller, Gilbert and George, Richard Wentworth, Jake and Dinos Chapman, Tracey Emin and Sarah Lucas.

Camden Arts Centre
Arkwright Road 
London NW3 6DG

Built in 1897 as a library, the grade II listed building became an arts centre in the 1960s. In 2004, Tony Fretton Architects completed a major refurbishment scheme combining the original Victorian gothic features with their contemporary design. Exhibitions feature international artists and group shows relevant to current debate.

Exhibited artists include Anthony Gormley, Stephen Willets, Douglas Gordon, Susan Hiller and Richard Wentworth.

 

Barbican Art Gallery
Barbican Centre
Silk Street 
London EC2Y 8DS

The Gallery is situated within the Barbican Centre.  Designed by Chamberlin, Powell and Bon, the Centre is arguably the best example of Brutalist architecture in London.  The gallery presents themed exhibitions, often featuring architecture, design and photography.

Exhibited artists include Stephen Willets, Douglas Gordon, Damien Hirst, Susan Hiller, Gilbert and George, Richard Wentworth, Jake and Dinos Chapman, Tracey Emin, Sarah Lucas and Anish Kapoor.

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18/03/2011

Sendai study1

Sendai study 2

15/03/2011

12/03/2011

Her "Who are you anyway, you don't look like a photographer?"

Him "That's not what the army thought.  Now all I want to do is get pictures like these into the Museum of Modern Art.

By the way, my name's Steve."

From Imitation of Love (dir. Douglas Sirk)

Rock Hudson in Magnificent Obsession (dir. Douglas Sirk)

05/03/2011

Conversation overheard at a Private View

Middle Aged Man: One day I realised that my initials ‘A’ and ‘R’ are contained within the word camera.  And that’s what got me started on my latest project – I only make photographs in which the letters ‘A’ and ‘R’ appear.

Young Woman: Oh really, how fascinating.

Middle Aged Man: And the interesting thing is that you find them in a lot of brand names.

Young Woman: Right.

Middle Aged Man: The great thing is that it makes me work in a completely undirected way when trying to capture our culture.  Because I’m just making an arbitrary decision - if it has those letters then I’ll photograph it, if it doesn’t I wont.

Young Woman: Right… How long have you been working on it?

Middle Aged Man: A few weeks, I’d like to show you some.  I showed them to Martin Parr and he spectacularly missed the point.  He said ‘it’s a conceit to think that anyone other than your family and friends will be interested’. But it’s not the point; it’s just a way of distancing myself from making an image.

Young Woman: Right

07/02/2011

If not an artist then what? – an artist.

WHY BOTHER?

Why bother to make artwork when you can pack it in, get a proper job, enjoy a better standard of living and use your free time sitting on your arse watching well-crafted American movies on video?

From The Bank no14.23 March 1997, quoted in Julian Stallabrass' High Art Lite

31/01/2011

Auto-portrait with Anna Karina in Godard's Made in USA (1966)

15/12/2010

Invisible (study) 2006

This picture was made in a moment of irritation.  Although not the most pleasant of personal attributes, anger can be a surprisingly productive source of images.  The idea behind this sketch has now matured, and is deployed in a new series I’m working on. Click here

02/12/2010

Alte Pinakothek, Munich

There is a story, which may be apocryphal, that as old men the master artists Claude Lorrain and Nicolas Poussin used to meet to share a bottle of wine, and reminisce.

Van Dyke's single portraits in the museum are hung as companion pieces, even when the sitters have no apparent relationship to each other. Framed in infidelity.

Van Dyke’s noble image of an elderly couple.

07/10/2010

The Secret Gig

 Outside the 1930s white pebbledash pub was a sign announcing ‘Quiz Night’.  At the far end of the bar, beyond the double doors, I spotted a small flight of stairs, which led up to a dingy events room. There was no stage and on an assortment of odd chairs were seated maybe forty people.

 We had come to hear the great saxophonist John Tchicai, accompanied by bass player John Edwards and percussionist Tony Marsh. There was no band room and the musicians sat in the hall drinking black tea, quietly staring into space. Then the band kicked off.

 John Tchicai is one of Europe’s leading jazz musicians. Born in Copenhagen in 1936 of a Danish mother and a Congolese father, in 1962 he moved to New York City, where he played on some of the seminal free-jazz recordings of the era. He contributed to John Coltrane’s "Ascension", and made "New York Eye and Ear Control" with Albert Ayler. Back in Denmark he taught young musicians and toured widely in a variety of bands, including a 30-piece ensemble. He now lives between France and the United States.

 On tenor Tchicai has a big full sound, reminiscent of Ben Webster. He takes the chord structures apart as Coltrane did, but with greater economy. The shear musicianship of the trio was a wonder to behold. Tchicai went on to recite poems by John Stewart, reinvigorating the neglected genre of jazz-poetry with his reflective and sonorous narration:

In remembrance we declare
Truth lies
In-between:
The mother of all
Recipes through
Which we seek and
Perceive each other
Then at last
Ourselves…

 From ‘And Then’ on the cd Truth Lies In-Between by John Tchicai Trio, 2010

 So why was a musician of his stature playing in a dingy hall, far from home, above a pub full of customers engrossed in a Pop Pub Quiz? A number of scenarios suggest themselves; that culture has become too dumb to any longer attend to thoughtful art; that the cult of youth reigns; or maybe he was there simply for the love of playing with the other musicians, and for the few people in our university town who turned out on that wet night?

 It was an object lesson in humility. As artists we get picky about where we will show, and with whom, and academia has an even more developed sense of hierarchy. I was left wondering how this wonderful ‘secret gig’ would fare in a research audit?

05/10/2010

Delacroix

'Delacroix had the sun in his head, and a thunderstorm in his heart'
Silvestre quoted by Van Gogh.

01/10/2010

Diane Arbus

    Mother holding her child, N.J., 1967

I saw the Diane Arbus exhibition at Nottingham Contemporary today, and must say it is powerful work. When I was young I really disliked her photos. For me they were brutal and exploitative, without compassion or empathy. I‘d often contrast them with those of André Kertész, whose work was gentle, poetic, romantic and full of human warmth.

Well times have changed and it is Arbus’ view that has prevailed as kindness and mutuality have been disregarded in our individualistic society. Arbus is now the celebrated American photographer of the second half of the twentieth century, in whose pictures society sees itself mirrored, and applauds in grim delight.

30/09/2010

Space Debris

by John Goto 2007

'In the consumer electronic charts, Apple's iPod reached the 100 million mark last month.' Reuters, May 3, 2007

The phenomena of space junk has grown since 1958 when the US launched a satellite named Vanguard, the hulk of which is still out there along side such familiar objects as a glove, camera, toothbrush, wrench and garbage bags.

I was thinking of extending this idea to other all-time-world-top-selling-products.  I asked my neighbour, Barry, who is an astrophysicist, what would happen to Coke in space?  Here are some of his thoughts;

A couple of web sites relating to your liquids in space enquiries -

This one contains a nice video comparing liquid boiling in Earths gravity (1g) and in an orbiting space station (micro g)
http://ksnn.larc.nasa.gov/webtext.cfm?unit=boil

... and this is a New scientist article about beer in space - I think you originally asked about coca cola. The annoying subscribe pop up goes away if you wait a few moments.
http://space.newscientist.com/article/dn12388-beer-in-space-a-short-but-frothy-history.html

Alas not a NASA site but from You Tube  a video of a water filled balloon popping in zero g - I think in the Space station
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Lwf3G5eiwo&feature=related <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Lwf3G5eiwo&feature=related>

None of these show any details on your real question which was about carbonated liquids in zero g but outside the space station, in the vacuum of space. I don't think the experiment has been done. Non-carbonated liquids used to be dumped all the time - but that is no longer done as the frozen droplets contribute to space debris. That being so maybe my guess at a few seconds for liquid to evaporate was a bit off and maybe its nearer to 10s of minutes.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,919253,00.html

An interesting site  which has a chilling graphic of space debris accumulate: 1957-2000 
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMHDJXJD1E_FeatureWeek_0.html

27/09/2010

America

When I began the Jelly Roll Morton series, I needed to orientate myself in America, a country I have never visited.  I bought a large map which I pinned to the studio wall, and attached some postcards from a small collection I had of early C20 hand-coloured postcards. I have always admired this style of photographic image for its strangeness and artifice.  In the digital era the pictures look akin to the settings found in the virtual world of Second Life.