NN proudly presents the first of its NPO season of exhibitions, A Manipulation of Terms by Dylan Fox. Dylan was born and educated in Northampton and lives and works in the town, currently holding a studio at NN. This new body of work comprises the first solo show for the artist in his home town and his largest to date.
Dylan’s practice explores the physical, medical, emotional and social aspects of gender transition, specifically, the frustration felt with inefficient transgender healthcare pathways. His work is hinged on how social constructs affect people, aiming to question and shift these constructs, generating work through social interaction, working with other artists and the public. The exhibition title, A Manipulation of Terms, stems from the inflated truths within many forms of advertising and signage at British seaside towns.
Advertising strategies such as bright neon lights claiming to be the ‘best’ in town, arcades that promise great prizes and sticks of rock that are reminiscent of the heyday of British seaside resorts, are all things that never seem to fully deliver. With this in mind, visitors to the exhibition can sample these delights of the seaside, in an exhibition complete with a games arcade, neon lights and its own rock shop. Dylan’s use of the seaside vernacular to this most central of Midlands town is intended to heighten feelings of displacement and a sense of being lied to.
These ideas of manipulation, miscommunication, and false advertising relate back to Dylan’s experiences of transition within the UK healthcare system. His works may be seen as both autobiographical in nature as well as representing of the wider transgender community. By displacing aspects of seaside iconography in this way, and re-situating these in the Midlands, the artworks can take on new meaning and become relatable to an even wider public.
As part of the public program, Dylan is hosting the symposium When Art is Not Enough: Activism for the Transgender Community, in order to expand upon the themes of the exhibition and address these in a more direct way. Speaking at this one-day event will be Dylan Fox, Chase Ross, Malik Nashad Sharpe and Liv Wynter. The symposium will be held on Tuesday 10 April 2018, at the Guildhall, 1 St Giles Street, Northampton, NN1 1DE, UK.
A selection of books on LGBTQ+ history and queer theory within the arts will be on display in the lead up to the exhibition at Northampton Central Library for two weeks from International Transgender Day of Visibility on 31 March 2018 and will remain part of the Library collections.
About the artist:
Dylan Fox was born in Northampton in 1991 and graduated from The University of Northampton with BA (hons) Fine Art, 1 st class in 2016. From 2016–17 Dylan was a Print Fellow at The University of Northampton and received the university Bursary from 2012–16. He was awarded Best in Show at Free Range in 2016. Exhibitions include Frontier, The Old Truman Brewery, London; The International Postcard Show, Surface Gallery, Nottingham, In Defence of the Poor Image, Avenue Gallery, Northampton; Prescriptions, The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge, Canterbury. Dylan has collaborated with various artists on projects including Citizen Ship by Freee art collective, Milton Keynes; Transference, Northampton; Desvalidas, Sydenham Arts Festival and Great Exhibitionists, Royal College of Music, London. His work is held in collections including Kent University and various private collections in the UK.
For more information about the artist visit www.dylanfox.co.uk
Events
Reading Table at Northampton Central Library
31 March–15 April 2018
To celebrate International Transgender Day of Visibility ahead of the opening of A Manipulation of Terms, Dylan Fox has selected a number of books that will be on display at Northampton Central Library until 15 April 2018. These include existing titles and new books that will then become part of the library collections.
Northampton Central Library, 82 Abington St, Northampton, NN1 2BA, UK
Opening hours Monday–Friday 9 am–6 pm, Saturday 9 am–5 pm, Sunday 11 am–2 pm
Symposium: When Art is Not Enough: Activism for the Transgender Community at The Guildhall
10 April 2018, 10:30am–4pm
This symposium expands upon the themes of the exhibition A Manipulation of Terms, and address these in a more direct way. Speaking at this one-day event will be Dylan Fox, Chase Ross, Malik Nashad Sharpe and Liv Wynter.
The Guildhall, 1 St Giles Street, Northampton, NN1 1DE, UK.
Tickets available: whenartisnotenough.eventbrite.co.uk
Easter Holiday Family Workshop
14 April 2018, 11am–1pm
Artist Louise Clarke will be creating a bespoke workshop exploring forms and ideas in the exhibition for a family audience. Come along to get busy with materials and ideas in this two-hour workshop.
Book a free place by emailing info@nncontemporaryart.org
All children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
CVAN East Midlands Annual Event: Another World Is Possible
NN Contemporary Art & The University of Northampton
19 April 2018, 10am–16:30pm
The Contemporary Visual Arts Network East Midlands’ 2018 annual event will explore what conditions are needed and what are the right risks to run to make something happen, what might future art practice look like and what are useful new ways of doing things.
The day will comprise a viewing of A Manipulation of Terms, a networking walk to the University of Northampton – taking in artwork by UoN’s BA and MA students produced for the occasion, a presentation by Ryan Hughes – founding director of the Coventry Biennial of Contemporary Art – about what made the Biennial possible, what opportunities it yielded for artists and practitioners, what risks were run to realise it and what legacy it leaves and discussion about a range of topics essential to art practice and its dissemination.
Tickets available: another-world-is-possible/eventbrite.co.uk
Work in Progress
21 April & 9 June 2018, 2–4pm
For artists by artists, bring your work in progress for friendly peer critique. The 21 April edition of WiP is led by artist Luke Harby and will begin with a featured artist presentation by Ryan Everitt before opening the conversation out to the regular peer critique. Sayed Sattar Hasan will be in the helm again for the 9 June edition.
If you would like to be a future featured artist at WiP, email us at info@NNCotemporaryArt.org with the subject heading: WiP FEATURED ARTIST
From Art to Commerce
28 April 2018, 11 am
These sessions are designed for people seeking to establish a business from their creative practice or to develop their existing creative business. The sessions explore topics such as planning, marketing and finance with participants sharing their experiences too. Led by Tracey Clarke they consist of a general workshop followed by one-to-one short sessions.
To book a one-to-one please email Tracey@NNContemporaryArt.org.
Write club: Pronoun special
17 May 2018, 6:30–7:30pm
Dylan Fox and Catherine Hemelryk will be leading a Write Club focusing on writing using appropriate pronouns. This will include information on what pronouns are including gender-neutral pronouns are and good practice for writing about transgender and gender-fluid people.
Artist tour of the exhibition
2 June 2018, 12–1 pm
Join artist Dylan Fox for an informal tour of the exhibition to find out more about Dylan’s practice. There will be an opportunity to ask questions about the work and chat with the artist.
