Media information: Tuesday 12 February 2013
 
BALTIC 39
MATT CALDERWOOD
Paper Over the Cracks
15 March – 23 June 2013
 
Matt Calderwood (born Northern Ireland in 1975) is known for his often perilous performances, sculptures and film works. Calderwood‘s carefully controlled sculptural systems transform materials into extraordinary structures where every part is essential to maintain a delicate status quo. Friction, counterbalance and leverage between these disparate objects are carefully orchestrated to avoid the system’s complete collapse.
 
For his first solo exhibition in a UK public gallery, Calderwood presents a selection of new and recent works including modular sculptures made out of painted plywood, cast rubber and steel. These works continue his investigation into co-dependent relationships between groups of objects, all towards a common sculptural goal. A selection of large-scale prints mirror the geometry and materiality of the sculptures. Made by inking the sculptures and pressing them onto the paper surface like large printing blocks, these works have a curious depth and texture.
 
A series of new sculptures explore decaying and collapsing systems and the impact of environment and process on different materials. These Exposure Sculptures comprise multiple, identical elements that stack and interlock and can be built into a variety of compositions. Made of industrial welded steel, their robust forms have been given a fragile skin of paper. The works are installed on the gallery’s roof terrace where they will weather and decompose to varying degrees and in unpredictable ways, their delicate surfaces recording their exposure and deterioration. The sculptures will be dismantled and reassembled inside the gallery space over the course of the exhibition.
 
A new site-specific video installation featuring a new film work Mirror 2013 has been produced specially for the exhibition. The film has been developed from a previous work Strips (Vertical) 2005, in which a large bank of strip lights is systematically smashed until a single tube remains and the process of the shoot is revealed. The ambient light of the film projection illuminates a gallery space behind the screen in which the Exposure Sculptures will be placed, setting up a co-dependency between projected video and these static forms.
 
The exhibition includes a new series of work, Exposure Sculptures, co-commissioned by BALTIC and De La Warr Pavilion. Matt Calderwood is supported by the Elephant Trust.
 
EXHIBITION EVENTS
 
BALTIC 39 THURSDAY SOCIAL: PREVIEW PARTY
Thursday 14 March 2013 / 18.30-20.30 / BALTIC 39 / FREE
Join us at BALTIC 39 for a preview of Matt Calderwood’s exhibition, Paper Over the Cracks.
Pre-booking essential. Book online at www.baltic39.eventbrite.co.uk or call 0191 478 1810
 
BALTIC 39 THURSDAY SOCIAL Matt Calderwood in Conversation with
Chris Fite-Wassilak
Thursday 25 April 2013 / 18.30 / BALTIC 39 / FREE
Matt Calderwood will discuss his exhibition at BALTIC 39 with writer and curator
Chris Fite-Wassilak. Pre-booking is essential. Please call 0191 478 1810 or e-mail events@balticmill.com to reserve a place.
 
LATE SHOWS AT BALTIC 39
Saturday 18 May 2013 / 19.00-23.00 / BALTIC 39 / FREE
Join us for a special night of performance, music and film, curated by Matt Calderwood.
Pre-booking is essential. Please call 0191 478 1810 or e-mail events@balticmill.com to reserve a place.
END
 
For further information, interview requests and images please contact: Chloë Barker,
Media Relations Executive T: 0191 440 4915 E: chloeb@balticmill.com
 
NOTES TO EDITORS
 
MATT CALDERWOOD was born in 1975 in Northern Ireland, and studied Fine Art at University of Sunderland (1994-7) and Foundation Art and Design at Newcastle College (1993-4). He lives and works in London.
 
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS: David Risley Gallery, Copenhagen (2012); Full-Scale, Wilkinson Gallery, London (2011); Galerija Simulaker, Novo Mesto, Slovenia (2011); Shatterproof, Maria Stenfors, London (2010); Works, Galleria Klerkx, Milan (2008); DAM, Galerie Martin Van Zomeren, Amsterdam (2008); Projections, David Risley Gallery, London (2007); Opening, Canon Marsh/Bristol Harbourside, Bristol (2007); Hot Air, Taxter and Spengemann, New York (2007); DIM, David Risley Gallery, London (2005); Lumber Room, Taxter and Spengemann, New York (2003).
 
BALTIC 39 is a collaboration between funders Newcastle City Council, Arts Council England and BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art and Northumbria University. BALTIC 39 is home to BALTIC's Project Space, BxNU Institute of Contemporary Art, BALTIC Professor Christine Borland, Northumbria University Faculty of Arts, Design & Social Sciences and artist’s studios.
 
BALTIC 39
31–39 High Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1EW
Admission to BALTIC 39 is free.
Opening hours: Wednesday – Sunday 12.00 – 18.00 except Thursday until 20.00
www.balticmill.com/39
 
BALTIC 39 is supported by: