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History of the Artist.
From backstreets to bright rooms.
An award winning artist for her efforts to enrich her local community, Lindsay is a developer and manipulator of the mediums of vision and sound. With a local community radio station as a platform for her own compositions, Lindsay has experimented with music and electronica: compositions that have found their way into her work, notably in her work exhibited in 2004, which combined the visual theme of overdose, sickness and impending death, with a dark disturbing soundtrack, that combined experimental electronica with conventional film soundtrack.
Lindsay Lowcock’s work takes up the challenge of what it is like to be inside the mind of a physically and mentally ill person. Lowcock’s final show as part of BA (Hons) Visual Art at The University of Salford was an installation using the medium of film(s), three films all together, played in a room that is completely black, in order to catch the mood of the burdened mind, and to also lend the viewer a disorientation and alienation that will draw them into the work: this is not a mere voyeuristic exhibition that will encourage a platitudinous response.
In contrast are three white screens upon which one film plays on each. Behind each of these screens lies a hidden powerful strobe. The strobes are wired to respond to the sounds coming from the film so that they flash in sync with the sound track. This further subjects the viewer to disorientation, and this is the stated intent: they will share the burden of the sufferers on screen.
The sufferers themselves express their suffering in a variety of forms. One screen depicts the rage and alienation of a male figure who laments the path that has been chosen by a society that makes heroes out of selfish, heartless profiteers; eschewing any spiritual or co-operative virtues in the process. This rage and alienation manifests itself through a snarl of the mouth and ‘wild stare’ of the eyes, as the invective is spat out at machine gun pace. Another screen is a loop of the terrible screams of a female protagonist jar the viewer (and listener), with its agonising release of despair and frustration. This is truly a disconcerting sound far removed form the happy, clappy images that are presented by the media and advertising propaganda that promise us that we live in a true golden age of contentment and abundance. On the third screen a male laughs and taunts with a series of insults that undermine and destroy any confidence and self esteem. The insults which range from “bitch†to “slagâ€, are purposefully destructive, and the protagonist appears to be gaining great pleasure from speaking them, and the obvious distress that this will be causing the object of their insults: which in this case - is at least by proxy - the viewer. All three of these films play simultaneously creating a jarring wall of light and sound. Pounding the viewer with negativity, hatred, alienation, pain and photo-sensitive assault that is far removed from a relaxing, leisurely gaze upon a painting or other ‘passive’ art forms.
There are links to the works of Bruce Nauman, Bill Viola and Mike Leigh.
As well as gaining a First Class BA (Hons) in 2008 during the last four years Lowcock has been a part of many art projects and exhibitions in Manchester, Brighton, Liverpool and Sheffield. Working on music videos, club nights, installations, projection design and films.
Lowcock is currently making a 90 minute film for a music band as the back drop to their concerts in a UK and European tour.
Lindsay Holds a First Class Honours Degree in Visual Arts from Salford University.
In 2009 Lindsay will be relocating to Glasgow to study at The Glasgow School of Art.
“Lindsay Amanda Lowcock is a name to watch for, an artist unafraid to confront humanity’s darkside. A side we need to see, so that it can be recognised and brought under control.†Sean Moran, Writer
Contact
0161 643 3182
07980147490
[email protected]
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Manchester Artists
www.manchesterartists.com
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Conform, Exhibited June 2008
