katy binks / our city

in residence 23rd february-7th march 2009 (exc. sunday)

please note the shop will be closed for a private workshop on february 26th. viewing of the city: march 5th 7-9pm, march 6th 12-5pm and march 7th 12-5pm.
on march 7th the public is invited to assist in deconstructing the city. ‘pieces of the city’ will be available as souvenirs.

our city

“i will use the space to create a site specific installation based around the idea of the city. in terms of the physical presence of the installation, my aim is to try and get the installation not just to sit in the space but to really be a part of the space. i would like to look into the idea of creating the installation from the recycled materials in the shop itself, and those materials found in the local area.

the starting point of this project will be a small section of city; i want to invite the general public, groups for workshops, and other artists to come and help build and respond to the installation. i intend to document various stages of the work using time-lapse photography, and have employed a friend to draw the people who take part. by running these workshops and inviting visitors to help create the work, i hope to explore ideas of what it is to be creative and the accessibility of art. i also aim to encourage people to see creativity as more than just drawing, whilst trying to make the installation reflect the diversity of the outside world as much as possible.”

katy binks

“i’m an observant city inhabitant, fascinated by the simple daily events in life, the rhythm of the city, the routines of our lives and their impact on the world we populate. i began a degree in architecture but quickly realised it wasn’t for me, but i couldn’t escape this fascination for the world developing around me.

in 2005 i moved down to london to begin a ba in graphic arts at the university of east london. having travelled and lived abroad extensively throughout my life, with significant periods spent in south korea, singapore and most recently china, i felt at home in a city populated by people similarly looking for a place to call home.

focusing on drawing, printmaking and installation i began to develop a body of work mapping the geographical landscape of cities. these maps do not aim to depict a certain place, nor do they literally represent how our world is structured. instead they are rooted in experience, memory and perception in an attempt for me to make sense of my place in this landscape.

i have participated in several group shows in london and more recently was involved in setting up and exhibiting in new york in an exchange exhibition between the university of east london and students from manhattanville college in white plains, new york state. currently i am working on an edition of prints for the university of east london.”