ANDREW SUNLEY SMITH

Born: North Yorkshire, UK.

Nationality: British/Australian
Lives and works: Glasgow, Scotland, UK

Email:  sunleysmith@hotmail.com

Web: www.sunleysmith.com

Andrew Sunley-Smith’s early work and research focused predominantly on the turbulence and displacement of migration and techniques of survival in unfamiliar landscapes and situations. His large-scale Carrier projects are modified vehicles capable of working ‘off the grid’ with their own filming unit, portable cinema, sleeping quarters and occasional rooftop gardens. His work moves freely and skilfully between many disciplines and the form of his work usually manifests as intensive filmic installations – with emphasis on non-representational forms in art, environmnetal anxiety and the pursuit of direct experience in his work. He has used the road as a ‘scultpural tool’ in his dramatic and darkly humoured drag works.

‘Engines( in all their broadest forms) and the processes they use, are an important cultural metaphor for me, as they perpetually consume, constantly burn and eventually exhaust.’

Sunley Smith has often used pre-existing objects or practices found in popular everyday life converting and recycling them into functional sculptural machines for living that are manufactured on a human scale. The objects he makes or modifies question the value systems inherent in them and often reaffirm the importance of the prototype as a form of thought or research.

His work is a pragmatic investigation into art and an examination of the forces, concepts, fears and social situations that produce it, and that it in turn can generate. He is fascinated in seeking to best represent our contemporary anxieties. More recently he has focused on notions of continual combustion and perpetual exhaustion within culture.

He is a truly agile ‘interdisciplinarian’ in his work and is fascinated by the notion of the direct encounter and ideas of co-efficiency as being paramount in a work of art. 

His exhibitions have included Reality 10.55, Odense, at Kunsthalle Brandts Denmark, (with Martin Creed and Alicia Framis).The Drive out Cinema, Perth Institute for Contemporary art, Western Australia. Room with a View, Kunsthalle Mainz. Migratory Projects, New Tin Sheds Gallery, Sydney. The Nocturnal Tourist, Leica documentary photography award. Do-It, Perth International Festival:Jimmie Durham Instruction, W.Australia. Chiasm at Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts and Migratory Projects at CCA, Glasgow.

His work is held in the national collection of the Museum of Contemporary art, Sydney Australia where he lived and worked for many years until returning to the UK to live and work in Glasgow in late 2007. He has also lectured at the Bauhaus Universitat Weimar, Glasgow School of Art and Oxford Brookes University recently

EDUCATION

Master of Fine Arts; COFA, UNSW, (Upgraded to PhD) Sydney NSW
Master of Creative Arts; Curtin University, (Australian Post-Graduate Award) Perth, Western Australia (WA)

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

MIGRATORY PROJECTS, (Solo), 4th- 26th Feb, New Tin Sheds Gallery, Sydney AUS
MICRO GESTURES, MCQ bank, International art prize exhibition. Chiefly Plaza, Sydney AUS
THE NOCTURNAL TOURIST, (Solo), Slot Gallery, Redfern, Sydney AUS
SPIKES - population explosions, UTS Gallery, University of Technology, Sydney
AUSTRALIAN ROAD TRIP DINNERS, Victoria and Albert Museum, London UK
LEICA/CCP Documentary Photography Awards.‘The Nocturnal Tourist’, Centre for Contemporary Photography, Melbourne Australia (Touring nationally 3yrs): Photo Technica NSW, Riverina Museum NSW, Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery NSW, Hervey Bay Gallery QLD, Bundaberg Regional Gallery QLD, Logan City Gallery QLD, Mildura Arts Centre VIC, Horsham Regional Gallery VIC, Shepperton Art Gallery VIC, Gippsland Art Gallery VIC, La Trobe Regional Gallery VIC

WISH YOU WERE HERE, First Draft Gallery, Sydney AUS
OUT OF SITE, International Art Space Kellerberrin AUS (Nationally Touring 2yrs).
THE NOCTURNAL TOURIST, Imperial Slacks Gallery, Sydney AUS
PARALLEL WORLDS, (Two simultaneous venues-City/Country)
International Art Space Kellerberrin and Perth CBD Office Tower AUS

WIDE OPEN, Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery, UWA, Perth AUS
THE NOCTURNAL TOURIST, Open Space residency program, International Art space Kellerberrin (IASKA), AUS
DO-IT, (curated by Hans-Ulrich Obrist, Sophie O'Brien & Robert Cook), Project with Jimmie Durham & Berndt Museum of Anthropology. Perth International Arts Festival (Feb 9- Mar 25) Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery, University of Western Australia, AUS

CHIASM, Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts AUS
LICENSE, John Curtin Gallery, Curtin University, Perth AUS
GOTHAM TIMES TEN, Survey of artist-run studios, Perth I C A, Australia
GOSSAMER, Sculptural investigations into biological and technological aesthetics, exhibition with Richie Kuhaupt, Fremantle Arts Centre AUS

DESIRE, Aherns department store, Perth AUS
NEW EDITIONS, New Editions book store, Fremantle AUS
HOW THE MOVING STAIRCASE WORKS, independent annex show Sculpture graduates, Centreway Arcade, Perth AUS

GRADUATE DEGREE SHOW, Curtin University of Technology, AUS
FOUNDATIONS, Cleveland College of Art & Design, UK
HALIDE, Graduate show, Cleveland Technical College, UK

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Academic

Bauhaus Universitat, Weimar Germany, International Summer Lecture Series, Invited Lecturer June 08

Sessional Academic: Sculpture program, Curtin University Western Australia
Coordinator and lecturer: First Year Sculpture program, Curtin University WA
Open-Learning-Sculpture-program: Established and co-wrote Australia's first on-line sculpture course, Curtin University, Perth WA.

Tutor: Sculpture / Fine Art, Curtin University of Technology, School of Art, Perth Western Australia
Tutor: Special Art - Gifted students program, Sculpture/Drawing, Applecross High School WA
Visual Culture Research Assistant (Established contemporary slide reference library and reading source material) School of Art, Curtin University WA

President of Student Painters Guild committee, Curtin University WA
Assistant co-ordinator and judge: 9th International Drawing Biennale, Linthorpe Galleries, Cleveland UK

Academic Awards

APA extension award, PhD fine Arts – 1 yrs College of Fine Arts, COFA, UNSW, Sydney Australia
Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) 3.5yrs, Curtin University of Technology, WA & College of Fine Arts NSW. (1st Western Australian Fine-Arts Graduate to receive award for Visual arts)

Best Fine Art Student Award, Curtin University School of Art, Perth WA

Professional Positions

Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA), Sydney, Installation technician:
Bridget Riley, Destiny Deacon. Jimmie Durham. Minerva Cuevas. Javier Tellez. Francis Alÿs, 04 Biennale of Sydney. Darren Almond. Tracey Moffat. Callum Morton. Rodney Glick. Leigh Bowery. Ugo Rondinone. Doug Aitkin. Ron Mueck. Dorothy Napangardi. M.Merz, L.Fabro, G.Anselmo, A.Boetti, P.P. Calzolari, G.Penone, M.Pistoletto, Arte Povera, Castello di Rivoli collection. Patricia Piccinini.  M. Ritchie, J.Penalva, G.Barbier, J.Cardiff, L.Roberts, 02 Biennale of Sydney.

Biennale of Sydney 2004: Co-ordinator for Out-door projects, de-installation at Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney

Perth International Arts Festival: Installation Technician, Stan Douglas, Bill Viola,
Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA): Installation technician, Very Fun Park, Contemporary Art from Taiwan, Fubon Art Foundation & Hong Kong Arts Centre.
Assistant for artist Simryn Gill, Perth International Arts Festival 2001. (WA)

Sculpture program: Technical Assistant, Curtin University, WA
De Appel Institute for Contemporary Art: Volunteer installation technician: NL 3 - survey of contemporary Nordic art, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Tutor for Asia Exchange Sculpture program, Curtin University

Art Gallery of Western Australia: Installation technician for entire collection relocation (7000 objects)

Tri Art Regional High Schools Gifted Students exhibition: Curator, Western Australian Museum
John Curtin Gallery: Assistant Curator and Technician, Curtin University, WA
Greenway Public Arts project East Perth redevelopment Authority: Production technician/Designer and fabricator for artist Nola Farman, Claisebrook, Perth, WA

The New John Curtin Gallery: Installation technician, Curtin University, Perth WA
Australian Perspecta: Technical assistant for artist Michelle Elliot on Cut, 1993
Boral-Cyclone contractors: Grain silo constructor, rural Western Australia

GRANTS, AWARDS AND COMMISSIONS

Scottish Arts Council Artist Award: Selected for Interview.
Scottish Arts Council Funding for Migratory Projects Solo exhibition & Symposium, Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA), Glasgow. Funds applied for by Curator Amy Sales.

Glasgow Sculpture Studios, 3 month Studio residency for CCA exhibition.
Support funding for international exhibition, College of Fine Arts, UNSW
NAVA /NSW Government Ministry for the Arts marketing grant, for Migratory Projects Solo exhibition

Art & Australia Award, Best Overall National Results by graduating student, Curtin University, WA
Marine Skills Training and Research Centre, Sculptural Commission 'Seamless’ in Henderson WA (youngest ever regional recipient) Client: State Government of Western Australia

Jacksons Art Supplies Sponsorship for painting project  ‘Readymade’ Perth WA
Best Fine Art Student Award, Curtin University School of Art, Perth WA

RESIDENCIES

CCA Glasgow & Glasgow Sculpture Studios residency (for solo exhibition and new works) UK
Brandts villa Kunsthallen, Odense, (Production - new work in Situ for Reality 10.55 exhibition)
Visiting fellow, Artist in residence, Humanities & School of Art, Curtin University, Perth WA
IASKA, (International Art Space Kellerberrin Australia) AUS

LECTURES /PUBLICATIONS / ARTICLES

www.artandresearch.org (Ranciere Issue) Sept 08 Interviewed and edited by Ross Birrell.
The Bauhaus Universitat, Weimar & ACC Gallery Weimar / International Summer Lecture Series: Pragmatics, sustainability and New Co-efficiencies in art practice. June 30th 2008

The Migratory Projects Archive, Guest Lecture, Barnes Building, Glasgow School of Art
The New Co-efficiency, Symposium Oct 17th, CCA Glasgow. Speakers: Andrew Sunley Smith interviews with Hans Ulrich Obrist, Presentations by Nikos Papastergiadis, Tracy Warr, Ruth Baker, Tanya Eccleston, John Calcutt, Ross Birrell
Art Review UK, (Carsten Höller) Issue 4, Dispatches pg 34, Keep moving on by Chris McCormack
The list, Issue 561 (Douglas Gordon Issue) Oct 19th- Nov 2nd, Hit List: Best exhibitions pg 89, Review by Rosie Lesso
The Times, Oct 7-13th Top five galleries, pg 36
Glasgow Herald, Oct 13th, Enough to drive you to a state of destruction by Jack Mottram
The Metro, Oct 13th Vehicle for change by Leon Mc Dermott
The Scotsman, Oct 17th, Jeremy Deller, Andrew Sunley Smith, Dalziel & Scullion, Review by Duncan MacMillan
http://maiadamianovic.com/ Reality 10.55, Odense DK
Reality 10.55 Odense, Exhibition catalogue pg 40-41, + Catalogue cover
fyens.dk, Feb 06, En drive-out bil  i Sanderum, (review of Migratory Projects, Reality 10.55 Odense), by Marianne Koch

Migratory Projects, 2 hr lecture for 4th yr architecture & design students. 
Sydney College of the Arts, March 11th
COFA issue 13, Profiles, art design, Winter 2005: Waste not, want not: The art of Andrew Sunley Smith pg 11, by Amanda King
The Sydney Morning Herald, Domain review, pg 16, Take it away, by Natasha Mills, Feb 17

Leica / CCP Documentary photo award - catalogue, pg 36
Fishing, road trip dinners and other research processes.  UNSW, COFA research week presentation.

The Great Exchange:  Social Significance in Contemporary Art practice. School of Art and School of Media research week, UNSW College of Fine Arts, Sydney.            
Parallel Worlds, Exhibition catalogue, essay by Stuart Koop

Do It, exhibition catalogue, foreword by Hans Ulrich Obrist, curated by HUO, Sophie O’Brien & Robert Cook. Perth International Arts Festival, Feb 9-April 29
Artlink, Oct-Nov, Wide Open by Philippa O’Brien
Artlink, Vol 20 #4 p 77, Chiasm by Philippa O’Brien
Purpose & pragmatics - Tuesdays live, seminar series, LWAG, University of Western Australia
Chiasm Catalogue - Perth Institute of Contemporary Art, WA
100º Degree catalogue, Curtin University of Technology WA

The West Australian Big Weekend, Sat Oct 7, 'Intricacies of context’ on show by David Bromfield.
Artlink, Nov 00,  'Crossing Borders' review by Philippa O'Brien
www.artseen.vbw.com.au/chiasm.html, Mon Oct 16, review by Leigh Wilson.
West Australian, Arts Today, Wed Nov 29, 'Radical Expression’ by Robert Cook.

Artwords No 8 May 99 pg 10 'Looking while we're leaping' by Robert Cook.
The West Australian May 6  'Tall Tales of Males’ by Robert Cook. Arts Today pg 6
The West Australian May 4 pg 7 'Switched on by life of light' by Charlene Wilson-Clarke
Gotham Times Ten Oct 22-Nov22 pg 44 exh. Catalogue Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts

The Easterly Issue 4 pg 4, 'Creating the Urban Villiage', East Perth Redevelopment Authority
The West Australian Dec 12, pg 10 ‘On Show’ by David Bromfield.

COLLECTIONS
Represented in Institutional and private collections within Australia, Europe and the UK

• The Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA), Sydney AUS
• Maia Damianovic, Vienna
• Richard Hopkins, Glasgow UK
• Amy Sales & Danny Holcroft, Glasgow UK
• Tony York & Donna Dransfield, Kellerberrin AUS
• Tracy Tucker, Sydney AUS
• Mark Augustus, UK
• Daniel Egger & Debra Jason, Sydney AUS
• Matthew Prest, Sydney AUS
• Dr Kelly Miller, LA California

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Licences:

Automotive

• UK Standard B class
• Australian Standard C class

Specialised

• Elevated Work Platform Association of Australia / Scissor Lift: Licenced Trained Operator since 2002
• WAVE vehicle trained operator

Health and Safety

• First Aid Certificates: Senior First Aid / St John Ambulance 2002 / 2004 / 2007
• Occupational Health and Safety Certificate – Construction Work NSW, 2004 to present

Current Passports:

Duel citizenship

• UK / European Union
• Australian