16 April - 25 May 2013

Opening event: 23 April, 5.30 - 8pm

What role does the ‘materiality of things' play in our relationship to the objects we create and consume?

The above question was the starting point of the Thingness exhibition and symposium held in Camberwell College of Arts in 2011. Second in series, Thingness: The Collection presents a group of objects selected from the Camberwell Collection. Along with an accompanying series of workshops and talks, the exhibition explores the ‘affective’ potential of objects, as well as a range of approaches by artists and designers working in response to archives and collections.

The Camberwell Collection originates from a circulating collection assembled by London County Council and later Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) for educational purposes. The items in the collection were collected and circulated in schools between 1951 and 1976. The collection was acquired by Camberwell College of Arts in 1990 following the disbandment of ILEA.

Thingness: The Collection will begin with a selected group of objects. Invited artists and designers will respond to the characteristics of the objects; what they infer as their ‘presence’ in a materialist sense or ‘physiognomic appeal’, rather than its intended function. In this way, we hope to bring to light the space between the intended meaning of objects and where the projected meanings and narratives may begin to emerge.

Thingness: The Collection is facilitated by Karen Richmond (Course Director, BA 3D Design, Camberwell College of Arts) and Maiko Tsutsumi (Subject Leader, MA Designer Maker, Camberwell College of Arts), in collaboration with David Garnett (Conservation Technical Staff, Camberwell College of Arts).

thingnessofthings.wordpress.com

A series of talks and workshops will be taking place throughout the duration of the exhibition.

Talk: Thingness
Maiko Tsutsumi
23 April 16.30-17.30
Ceramics Lecture Theatre, Peckham Road, Camberwell College of Arts
(places limited, please arrive early)

Talk: Artists working with archives
Chrystel Lebas
25 April 13.00-14.00
Ceramics Lecture Theatre, Peckham Road, Camberwell College of Arts
(places limited, please arrive early)

Morning Residency:
Committee (Harry Richardson & Clare Page)
3 May 10.30 12.30
Camberwell Space

Workshop: Take Me Make Me
Bridget Harvey & Meghan Hutchins
8 May 13.30-16.30
Camberwell Space
Drop-in (limited places 8 people at any one time age 16+)

Workshop: Stuff to Savour
Tony Hayward
16May 10.00-12.00
Camberwell Space
(Booking required, limited places: 15 people)

Workshop: Objects Stories
Karen Richmond & Michael Hurley
20 May 14.00-16.00
Camberwell Space
(Booking required, limited places: 15 people)

Talk: Humans See Round Corners But Cameras Don't
Richard Wentworth
22 May 17.30-18.30
Lecture Theatre, Wilson Road, , Camberwell College of Arts
(Places limited, please arrive early)

Talk: The History of ILEA Collection, Maria Georgaki
Workshop: Object handling session, David Garnett
David Garnett & Maria Georgaki
22 May 14.00-16.00
Camberwell Space
(Booking required, limited places: 15 people)

Booking and enquiries:
camberwellspace@camberwell.arts.ac.uk