PROFESSIONAL SHOWCASE

1. Exhibitor at “The Art of Making Sense” Exhibition at Triangle Space, Chelsea School of Art

I was one of several UAL students chosen to participate in this student-led pop-up exhibition at The Triangle Space, Chelsea School of Art, which focused on the contrasting developmental processes adopted by a variety of artists working with a wide range of media and ideas. It was an informative opportunity to see how a curatorial team of peers would respond to, and make sense of, my eclectic and substantial collection of found materials which enabled and informed my developing practice at that time.

The resultant new perspectives shone on my working processes, collections and materials by others revealed alternative ways that my collections could be shown and used, both alongside contrasting pieces and on their own. I also took the valuable opportunity at the Private View to carry out a modest and understated sweeping performance (shown opposite - advertised but deliberately not announced on the evening of the PV) in order to gauge visitor reaction, perception and the practicalities of undertaking such an activity. Comments overheard as I moved round the room, between visitors, such "I wonder if this is the performance" were revealing!

An imaginative response to a "bonding task" set us on the Canary Wharf residency.

3. Member of CWND Artists’ Residency at Canary Wharf, London

I was accepted onto the Canary Wharf New Development artists’ summer residency at Wood Wharf (part of Canary Wharf), along with 18 or so others. Our broad brief for this three week residency was to produce work in response to this major, long-term construction site and its varied life, processes and specific environment.

This was a wonderful opportunity to gain access to the very enclosed, normally unseen and sensitive world of a major construction project. Whilst not necessarily changing my art practice fundamentally it provided added and unusual input and research material which will filter through my work.

The numerous and varied organised activities, visiting speakers and site tours were informative but possibly took up too much “making” time given the relatively short timescale. Though initially our very restricted working space seemed to be a serious limitation this proved fortuitous as it forced me to focus more intently on fewer resources and influences.

Working and learning as part of a very varied group of artists from a wide range of backgrounds with an eclectic mix of artistic interests was very stimulating. I was able to make useful contacts and friends with whom I hope to be able to share skills and ideas in the future.

4. Exhibitor at Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize Exhibition, London

My video work “Sweeping” was one of 69 pieces chosen out 1703 submitted for the Trinity Buoy Wharf (formerly the Jerwood) Drawing Prize held initially at The Chainstore, Trinity Buoy Wharf, London and then touring the UK until June 2019 at TheGallery, Arts University Bournemouth; the Royal Drawing School, Shoreditch, London; Drawing Projects UK, Trowbridge and the Chapel Gallery, Ormskirk.

Whilst it was both a great thrill and a vindication of the direction and content of my recent work, to be chosen for the foremost drawing prize in the UK, it was also a salutary lesson in the pitfalls of having work shown in a large group show over which you have no control. My video was shown on a loop with two other works, reducing the likelihood that visitors will see my video, and was not running smoothly, probably as a result of being copied and looped. Furthermore, the exhibition was moved after less than a week to a more cramped basement gallery without any notification of exhibitors!

6. Organising Committee Member on Postopia Exhibition

Charged with responsibility for organising and delivering the transportation of exhibitors' work to the Ugly Duck building in Bermondsey this gave me valuable experience in booking vans, planning journeys, loading and unloading work and and careful packing and delivery.

8. Exhibitor at Hollow Chambers Show at Crypt Gallery

This show gave me interesting experience working and exhibiting with students from different courses. It was organised by MA Drawing at WCA and involved students from Central St Martins and Chelsea and from courses other than Fine Art. It was instructive to see how other organising groups worked and what the genesis of a show could be - in this case a caving residency in the Mendips.

9. Events Organiser for our Degree Show

The programme of events is considerable for the Degree Show and required a range of skills to accomplish, including:-

liaison with my team of 5 to draw up a list of events, guest speakers and critique leaders to be contacted and a timetable
contacting and liaising with individuals in the art world such as artists, curators, writers and broadcasters, dealing with their queries and supplying necessary information.
contacting groups and organisations who might have members interested in attending certain events such as talks and tours
liaising with the publicity team to advertise the events
organising the logistics around the events - food or drink requirements, seating, projection, signage
writing introductions, notes for chairing the talks events
co-ordinating events that segue into each other
liaising with outside organisations such the local Primary school to set up a workshop visit over two days

Robert Verrill.

Trial of a "sweeping" performance undertaken at the Private View of Art of Making Sense show at Triangle Gallery, Chelsea College of Art

2. Speaker at International Day of Light Symposium at Chelsea College of Art

I was accepted to present and speak about a selection of my video and photographic work at this prestigious international event organised by a PhD student at UAL as part of the International Day of Light. The list of participants comprised high level people from a very broad spectrum of practicing artists, curators (including Cliff Lauson, Senior Curator at the Hayward Gallery) academics, scientists and theoreticians, all concerned with exploring and using light in some way in their work.

It was an excellent opportunity to both develop my organisational and presentation skills and to address a large audience of substantial and influential people and engage in a high level debate.

I found it particularly instructive to discuss careers and professional art matters with others in the art world, one of whom I have now been able to invite to speak during our Degree show.

Speakers and attendees at Drawing Symposia at Trinity Buoy Wharf

I attended two Drawing Symposia at Trinity Buoy Wharf associated with the TBW (formerly Jerwood) Drawing Prize - part of the Drawing Projects UK Drawing Discussions. Both Lines of Thought (pictured above) and On Collecting Drawings involved artists and academics, including Tania Kovats and Gavin Turk, and were useful and thought-provoking about the role drawing can play in an art practice.

5. Exhibitor and Invigilator at artsdepot Open Exhibition, Finchley, London

For the third consecutive year I had work chosen for this national open exhibition – this time a video piece. I volunteered to invigilate and manage the show on several days during its 6 week run during the Summer of 2018.

This was a useful opportunity to meet other artists, local and national, and other professionals involved in the local art establishment such as curators, arts centre staff, Councillors and Community leaders involved in the visual arts.

This show is, unfortunately, not well marketed and advertised, and poorly (though deliberately) timed to run during the summer holidays when not lettable for other paying events. It is an excellent gallery space but there is clearly little motivation for the organisers to seek footfall for a non-commercial event.

7. Joint Organiser and Exhibitor at WCA Year 2 Group Show, “Who Will Provide?” Crypt Gallery, St Pancras New Church, London.

This collaborative student-organised group exhibition required us 30 plus artists to respond to the unique characteristics of a challenging space and a brief related to the history and meaning of the building and its wider environment. My role involved initial research and later transportation of artworks to and from the exhibition site.

This major exhibition has provided me with both a challenge to adapt my current way of working to produce an interesting and engaging response to an unusual space, rather as with my Canary Wharf residency, which has certainly taken my work into new areas. The experience gained from collaborating with such a large group to realise this show has been very helpful. Experiencing and reflecting on how other students and staff approach curation and organisation has been very instructive.

Robert Verrill. 2018

One of a series of experimental works made by rubbing/wiping/scraping a sheet of paper with two hands over a rough concrete outside floor on the Canary Wharf construction site.

Curriculum Vitae

I am a practicing Artist and Art Teacher. My work involves performance, sculpture and video and I recently graduated from Wimbledon College of Arts (University of Arts London) with a MFA Fine Art (Distinction). I teach at Insight School of Art, north London.

Selected Exhibitions and Presentations include:

Open Mouth Film Festival, (video “Sweeping”), London 2019

Postopia, Group Show, Ugly Duck gallery, Bermondsey, London 2019

Hollow Chambers, Group Show, Crypt Gallery, St. Pancras, London 2019

Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize, (formerly Jerwood Prize) Touring Group Show. 2018-2019

Who Will Provide? Group Show, Crypt Gallery, St. Pancras, London 2018

International Day of Light Symposium, Speaker; Chelsea College of Arts, London 2018

CWND Residency, Canary Wharf, Docklands, London 2018

Art of Making Sense, Group Show, Triangle Space, Chelsea, London 2018

Conflict, Group Show, Chelsea College of Arts, London 2017

Interval, Group Show, Godalming, Surrey 2017

CityLit, Group Show, Espacio Gallery, Bethnal Green Road, London 2017

Solo Show, Frontroom Art, Avondale Gallery, North London 2016

Artsdepot Open group exhibitions, North Finchley, London 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018

Eastern Approaches Contemporary, Group Exhibitions at UH Galleries 2013, 2014

(winner of the Lambert Smith Hampton Prize at Eastern Approaches in 2014)

ING Discerning Eye, Mall Galleries, London 2011

Solo Exhibitions, Insight School of Art, London 2011, 2015

Royal Society of Painters in Watercolours Annual Exhibitions, Mall Galleries 2010, 2011

Contact: Mob. 07704 261111, info@robverrill.co.uk, www.robertverrill.wixsite.com

July 2019

Vito Acconci Following Piece 1969.

In this work Acconci uses photography as an exploration of his body's "occupancy" of public space through the execution of preconceived actions or activities.

Major Long Term Project

I am planning a major, ongoing project to walk every thoroughfare in Greater London. This would be based on a "formula"or set of criteria that would determine where I walk each day and what I carry, collect or record on each walk. I would base each day's walk on the grid used for a London A-Z and would record part or all of each day's walk. The grid used by the A-Z echoes the idea of "the Square Mile" of the City of London which intrigued Francis Alys in his work Guards.

This is inspired partly by others who have used walking as a way of investigating certain urban areas such as Sophie Calle (in her Suite Venitienne, 1979), Francis Alys, (7 Walks, London 2004/5 and his works in Mexico City), Vito Acconci (Following Piece, 1968 - see above) and Richard Long (A Line Made by Walking, 1967) and others.

It has evolved from a lifelong interest in walking as an aid to thinking, processing and creative discovery, and my earlier interest in recording found objects and with ideas of narrative, history, time and chance (Duchamp, Acconci and Alys). I am continuing to develop a raison d'etre, recording principles and clear structure for this work.

By devising and applying a "formula" to determine the nature of the work, as suggested by Deleuze, this would echo the urban systems which now order our thoughts and actions. A predetermined plan for being in the city might reference the religious pilgrimage.