Catalogue relating to an exhibition, 2016
Published by: University of Hertfordshire Galleries
Year published: 2016
Unpaginated.
Small catalogue for Permindar Kaur: Interlopers, an exhibition that represented the culmination of a residency by the artist at the University of Hertfordshire School of Creative Arts. The exhibition’s dates were 18 March - 7 May 2016. From the Introduction by Annabel Lucas, Exhibitions Curator: “The individual sculptural works within Interlopers were developed during an intensive residency within the School of Creative Arts, University of Hertfordshire. We are grateful to the school for supporting Permindar’s access to research, new materials and techniques, and crucially her immersion in its student and staff population. Our gratitude is extended to Richard Cork for his insightful survey of Permindar’s recent work. We would like to thank Professor Barbara Brownie for her text proposing the sculpture’s independence and agency, and her dynamic blog series that charted the evolution of this remarkable new species and the survival of its fittest.”
Cork’s text, “Permindar Kaur: Danger, Compassion and Playfulness” opened with a description of the exhibition. “As the provocative title of her new exhibition suggests, Permindar Kaur has transformed the UH Galleries into a place invaded by small vagabonds. Wherever we glance in this surprisingly lofty location, teddies seem to have taken over. But they appear to be far removed from the cuddly playthings loved by little children. All black, they are devoid of facial features apart from inquisitive ears curving upwards. Instead of lying back and waiting to be fondled, they look surprisingly active. None more so than the teddies visible in a very large piece installed near the panoramic gallery window. All attached to gleaming copper chains, they seem to pause in space before resuming their epic climb. resolute, plucky and united by this group endeavour, they could hardly be more different from passive toys.”
The other essay in the catalogue is provided by Dr Barbara Brownie, a Senior Lecturer in Visual Communication at the University of Hertfordshire. Her text opened with, “When Permindar speaks about her teddies, she creates them with agency. Many of her developments respond to the notion that the teddies are somehow “active” and potentially able to interact with their surroundings. Two of her larger teddies guard the entrance to the gallery, positioned on the highest perches, looking down at those entering or exiting the space. “I want it to feel like they could escape through the doors and windows,” she says.”
Contents as follows:
Annabel Lucas, Introduction
Richard Cork, “Permindar Kaur: Danger, Compassion and Playfulness”
Barbara Brownie, “Permindar Kaur: Art with a Life of its Own”
Permindar Kaur Biography
Exhibition details, credits, acknowledgements, thanks
full page colour reproductions throughout.
Born, 1947
Born, 1965 in Nottingham, England
Solo show at University of Hertfordshire Galleries. 2016
Hatfield, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom