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Exercise (Djibouti) 2012 is a new commission by John Gerrard,
which is presented by Modern Art Oxford as a large-scale installation in a
disused power station in Oxford, UK.
Further developing
Gerrard's realtime portraits of physical locations, the work harnesses
advanced simulation and motion capture technologies to create a temporal
collage in which disciplined athletic bodies perform a perpetual
militarised exercise of strategic capability and intent. Exercise
(Djibouti) 2012 extends themes that the artist has explored in other
recent commissions, including Infinite Freedom Exercise (near Abadan,
Iran) for Manchester International Festival and Live Fire Exercise
(Djibouti), a collaboration with choreographer Wayne McGregor for The
Royal Ballet.
The premiere of Exercise (Djibouti) 2012
will be accompanied by a round table titled SIMULATION, EXERCISE,
OPERATIONS. This event brings together an interdisciplinary panel of
experts for a discussion examining technologies of simulation and the way
in which they are transforming the nature of violence, politics, and the
image in the contemporary world. Participants include Antoine Bousquet,
Shane Brighton, James Der Derian, Mark Fisher, Mark Hansen, Stepan Kment,
Robin Mackay (Chair), Mick Morris, Eivind Røssaak,
Anne-Françoise Schmid, and McKenzie Wark. The round table has been
organised in association with Urbanomic. The round table event will be held
with an invited audience. The discussion will be documented and made
available for a wider audience.
Principal exhibition
supporter: Audiomotion Studios.
Exercise (Djibouti) 2012
is commissioned by the Ruskin School of Drawing & Fine Art, Oxford
University Sport and Modern Art Oxford and forms part of the London 2012
Festival. Supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England,
Culture Ireland, John Fell OUP Fund, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation,
Podium, and Magdalen College, Oxford, the project also forms part of RELAY,
a region-wide programme of new visual arts commissions and live events
across the South East to mark the Olympic year.
The Old Power
Station is located a 10-minute walk from Modern Art Oxford and a 2-minute
walk from Oxford train station.
Public
talks
John Gerrard
Tuesday, 10
July, 6pm
John Gerrard discusses Exercise (Djibouti) 2012
alongside other work from the Exercise series.
Magdalen College
Auditorium, Longwall Street, Oxford OX1 4AU. Free, but booking essential at
www.modernartoxford.org.uk
Caoimhin Mac Giolla Leith
Tuesday, 24 July, 6pm
Caoimhin Mac Giolla Leith, Senior Lecturer at University College Dublin,
in conversation with John Gerrard. Old Power Station, Arthur Street,
Oxford OX2 0AS. Free, but booking essential at www.modernartoxford.org.uk
Public tour
Dan Pinchbeck
Friday,
20 July, 4pm
Dan Pinchbeck, Creative Director of thechineseroom game
studio and Reader in Computer Games, University of Portsmouth explores
Exercise (Djibouti) 2012 in relation to media technology, gaming and
art. Old Power Station, Arthur Street, Oxford OX2 0AS. Free.
*Image above:
Found research image for Exercise
(Djibouti) 2012. Courtesy of Defense Video & Imagery
Distribution System.
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