2024

MISTAKES WERE MADE

MISTAKES WERE MADE Publication launch

Friday 26 January 6–8pm; Reading and in-conversation with the artist, 7pm; Screening of John Latham Erth, 6.30pm & 7.30pm

Mistakes Were Made (Edition Taube, 2024) is a new publication by artist Agata Madejska that coincides with her solo presentation at Flat Time House, Grand Habitat Horror Vacui (12 January–18 February 2024). Mistakes Were Made develops Agata Madejska’s ongoing interest into the fissures of institutional power by looking closer at the linguistic structures of contemporary politics. The collection of poems at the core of Mistakes Were Made are deconstructed speeches made by Western leaders between 2016 and 2022 — pronouncements which mark the beginning or the end of a political reign. Transformed into jittering, self-affirming monologues, here, the political content of these public announcements has been removed. Debased of rhetorical action, Madejska’s editing exposes the patterns of persuasion that colour the play of contemporary political practice.

This publication not only brings together transcriptions of these ominous proclamations but positions them next to a range of abstract light-sensitive drawings. Operating in a manner similar to courtroom sketches, these drawings are instinctive gestures made by the artist as she pays witness to the narrative flows of political rhetoric. Loose and ephemeral, they record how the lulling voice of politics infiltrates the body, directing one’s movements through as well as one’s adaptations to life. In an age of ever-increasing radicalisation and shifting narratives within mainstream discourse, Mistakes Were Made asks us to look beyond the facade of our political architecture and to become more cognisant of the grains that dictate our social being.

For the launch event Madejska will give a short reading from the publication, followed by an in-conversation with FTHo Curator/Director Gareth Bell-Jones. The programme for the evening will also include a screening of John Latham's film Erth (1971, 24'20'') specially selected by Madejska.

2023

Aerial Landscapes Book Launch

Aerial Landscapes Book Launch

Thursday 30 November 2023, 7–9pm

Display available to view by appointment, Wednesday–Friday 12pm-6pm until 15 December

Join us at FTHo for the book launch event of Aerial Landscapes with readings and talks by the authors alongside a presentation of carefully selected artwork and archival materials informing the publication. The book will also be available for special reduced launch price.

Aerial Landscapes is the culmination of four years of development instigated by a one-day event exploring contemporary artists’ engagement with the Five Sisters’ Bings. In discussion with APG founder Barbara Steveni two artists, Onya McCausland and Nicky Bird, and two art historians, Katherine Jackson and Joy Sleeman, presented their investigations into John Latham's approach to site from above as manifested in his 1975–76 APG placement with the Scottish Development Office. This publication pulls together these presentations and discussions shaped by work in the archive of Flat Time House. Together the texts convey four distinct perspectives on aerial landscapes and combine the historical and first-hand with the archive.

The book launch is accompanied by a display of art works and archive materials informing and reflecting on the publication, selected by the contributing artists and art historians from their own work and from the John Latham Archive and John Latham Collection at Flat Time House.

The display will remain available to view by appointment, Wednesday–Friday 12pm-6pm until 15 December.

Please email [email protected] to arrange a viewing.

2022

Page 1 of 10