The International Projects Space is an exhibition space based in the quiet leafy suburbs of Birmingham’s Institute of Art and Design, it is an active hub which includes an ambitious programme of residencies, shows and discussions. Alli Beddoes discusses it’s current show and how the programme is shaped within the space with curator, Matt Williams.
Alli Beddoes: How does Anna Barham’s exhibition fit into the IPS programme this year?
Matt Williams: The IPS has since it inception focused on working predominantly with British artists who are either emerging or mid career. When I was appointed curator I was aware that this was one of the gallery’s strengths. It became apparent that there was a shortage of exhibitions by female artists, either emerging or mid career. So when researching the programme I consciously addressed this imbalance included shows with emerging female artists such as British filmmaker Megan Fraser, whose show preceded Anna Barham’s current exhibition, and Lucy Clout who will be presenting a solo exhibition later in the year.
Prior to Megan’s exhibition IPS has presented a series of three person exhibitions that focused on themes prevalent within society and contemporary art practice. Providing me with an opportunity to work with artists whose individual practice challenges traditional modes of production whilst simultaneously expanding the gallery’s international profile.
The first exhibition in the series of exhibitions was ‘Sea Oak’; it focused on the financial crisis and the abstraction of language, which has certainly been a core theme or undercurrent of the programme since my appointment. This specific focus or exploration of language is educated from my involvement in the annual publication Novel, which has informed my research and enabled me to build relationships with artist such as Anna whose work I may of overlooked or whose status in the art world meant that they would not necessarily consider exhibiting at the IPS.
