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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

2003-09 PhD Fine Art; College of Fine Art (COFA), University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney New South Wales. Australia Thesis Title:  Migratory Projects: New Co-efficients and Pragmatism in Contemporary Art2003-09
2001-02
2000-01

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)

2000
1992
1989
1988
1986
Honours - First Class (Arts); Curtin University of Technology, Perth WA
Bachelor of Fine Arts – Distinction, Sculpture; Curtin University of Technology, Perth WA
Foundation Certificate of Art & Design; Cleveland College of Art and Design, Middlesborough UK
Certificates of Higher Education, Cleveland Technical College UK
Certificate of Design, Southbank, Middlesborough UK

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

2010
2009
2008
2007/08
2006
2006
G.I - Glasgow International. Lowsalt Vestiges Public Space Project
THE DRIVE OUT CINEMA, Mainz Kunsthalle, Germany
MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART, New Acquisitions, Sydney, Australia
THE DRIVE OUT CINEMA, (Solo) Perth Institute for Contemporary Art, AUS

MIGRATORY PROJECTS, (Solo), Glasgow Centre for Contemporary Art, CCA, UK
REALITY 10.55, ODENSE, Brandts Kunsthallen, DENMARK Participating artists: Martin Creed, Alicia Framis, AVPD, Ondrej Brody & Kristofer Paetau, FOS/Calovski, Jeanne van Heeswijk & Marten Winters, Tine Louise Kortermand, PARFYME, Ward Shelley & Douglas Paulson, Andrew Sunley Smith, Martin Walde, Yvonne Droge Wendel. Curated by Maia Damianovic
2005
2005
2005
2004
2003

2003-06

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

2003
2002-04
2002
2002

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

2001
2001

2001

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

2000
2000
1998
1998

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

1998
1993
1992

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

1992
1989
1988

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

2008

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

2008
2007
2006
2006
Visiting Professor, Glasgow School of Art, Scotland, UK
Tutor, MFA program, Glasgow School of Art, Scotland, UK
Guest Lecturer & Studio tutor: Glasgow School of Art, Scotland UK
Visiting Lecturer: Sculpture, Performance & Installation course for Masters, Hons & Undergrads, College of Fine Arts, University of New South Wales, Sydney,Australia
2005-06 Studio Tutor and Workshop assistant (FT): Sculpture / Design / Architecture / Performance / Painting and Installation for Masters & Undergraduate, College of Fine art, University of New South Wales NSW
2003-05 Casual Academic: Sculpture programme for 1st yr, Honours & Masters, College of Fine Art, University of New South Wales, Australia
2002
2001-02
1999

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.

 

1997
1996-99
1993-94

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

1991-92
1989

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

Academic Awards

2006
2001-05

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)

2000 Art & Australia Award; Best Overall National Results by graduating student, Curtin University, Western Australia
1991

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

Professional Positions

2008-09 Freelance Production & Fabrication Manager of 3D Sculptural works for David Shrigley, (Basel / Bergen / Newcastle / Bern)
2009
2009-10
Freelance fabrication & Production steel works for solo projects Claire Barcley: (Luxembourg)
Noise for Something: Alex Spaulding,Project Manager, consultant & Gallery Concept development
2007-08 Project Manager, Designer and construction co-ordinator Communal Productions Facilities / of New Glasgow Sculpture Studios 145 Kelvinhaugh St, Glasgow.
Studio Complex, Production areas, Gallery and workshops
2007 Lou Reed, ‘Berlin’: Specially selected member of team to Install Lou Reed’s first showing and performance of concept album ‘Berlin’. Responsible for structural design and install of stage set commissioned from Julian Schnabel for the project. Sydney Festival, Theatre Royal, Sydney, Australia
2006 2006 Biennale of Sydney: Co-ordinator and leading hand ‘Zones of Contact’, Organising installation of largest non-institutional key venue, Pier 2/3, Walsh Bay. Leading crew of 23 people. Artists: Adrian Paci, Diango Hernandez, Antony Gormley, Henri Sala, Raeda Saadeh, Almagul Menlibayeva, Mladen Stilinovic, Cao Fei, Tom Nicholson, Julie Gough, Dgambawa Marawili, Rebecca Belmore.
2005-06 College of Fine Arts : Intermedia Workshop and Studio technician and Acting head of Teacher Learning Group, Sydney Australia (Full Time). Fine Art, Sculpture & Design Schools. Involved the daily running and teaching of full woodwork and metal workshops, display of techniques and equipment loans and maintenance
2002-05

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.

2004

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

2002 2002 Biennale of Sydney: Installation technician for Artspace: 
Atelier Van Lieshout, Miguel Angel Rios, Eija-liise Ahtila.
2001-02 Perth International Arts Festival: Installation technician, John Curtin Gallery WA; Around Now/Grace Weir, Kitsune/Joao Penalva, The Spectacle is not over/Matthieu Laurett
2001
2001

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)

1998-01
1999-00

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

1999-00 Ellenbrook Development Project: Designer & fabricator of large scale steel Sculptures for public artist Philippa O'Brien, WA
1998-99

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

1997 Curtin University of Technology: Tutor & Technical assistant, WA
Construction and technical assistance, 'Sound states' for artist Nola Farman, Perth institute of Contemporary Arts, WA
1996
1993-96
1995

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

1994 Festival of Perth: Technical assistant for British artists Heather Ackroyd and Daniel Harvey, Grass House, Perth, WA
1992-03
1993
1990

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

2008
2006

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.

2006
2006
2005

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

2001-04 Australian Postgraduate Award (APA), Curtin University of Technology, WA (1st Western Australian Fine Arts Graduate to receive award)
2000
1999

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

1998
Jaycar, component sponsorship for 17,000 electrical LED components for ‘Gossamer’ sculptural work in Light
1999-98 Research and Development Funding, Multimedia and Hybrid Arts for  'Gossamer ', a work in light and telecommunications, Perth Institute for Contemporary Arts, WA
1995 Cafe Contadino, Yalingup Western Australia - Designed and Constructed Italian Cafe/Restaurant interior (collaboration with R. Kuhaupt) Client: Chef Nino Zoccalli
1992
1991

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

RESIDENCIES

2006
2006
2005
2001

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

2010 Migratory Projects: Representations of Direct Experience, CXultural Feedback & Continual Combustion. Feb 10th, 2010, Hepburn Room, Glasgow University Art History Faculty, Lecture hosted by Dr Dominic Patterson.
2009 Oxford Brookes University, The art of encounter, cultural feedback, accountability & non-representational art. Lecture with Tracey Warr
2008 Artlink magazine vol 28 no 1: Fuel for thought, Oil energy, conflict and art: The Drive Out Cinema / Andrew Sunley Smith. Article, review by Anna Bagshaw
2008
2007

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

2006

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

2005

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

2004 The Sydney Morning Herald, Metro, pg 27, critic’s picks, by Tracey Clement, Feb18 -24
Migratory projects: UNSW PhD research lecture, research week, COFA Sydney
SPIKES website: spikesproject.net.au / www.utsgallery.uts.edu.au  
Out of Site, catalogue, IASKA Kellerberrin, pg 73
2003

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

2002

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

2001

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

2000

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.

1999
1998

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

1994
1992

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