20th January - 17th June 2012

'Thank You For The Music'
Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art
Mannerheiminaukio 2, FIN-00100
Helsinki
Finland

www.kiasma.fi

David Blandy will be showing a new incarnation of the 'Crossroads' shack installation, originally commissioned by Spike Island, Bristol

Music speaks directly to our emotions. Hearing a song can take us back in time. We copy the dress of our idols, our mood changes with music. Thank You for the Music – How Music Moves Us is an exhibition on how the experiences of listening to music, watching music videos or going to a concert can appear in the life and work of an artist, a music lover, a fan.

Music is present in the featured artworks as a source of inspiration. It can take the form of a soundtrack which supports or challenges the visual aspects of the piece. The central theme in the exhibition is the intense emotional response produced in us by music. Many artists have used the aesthetics of music videos as the starting point for their work, approaching the topic using a variety of media, including video, painting, drawing, photography, sculpture and installation.

The title of the exhibition is taken from a song by the Swedish band ABBA. Indeed, we have music to thank for the pieces in this exhibition.

The exhibition artists Adel Abidin (Finland), Petri Ala-Maunus (Finland), Eduardo Balanza (Spain), David Blandy (UK), Candice Breitz (South Africa), Susanne Bürner (Germany), Graham Dolphin (UK), Rose Eken (Denmark), Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard (UK), Fabien Giraud (France), Jenni Hiltunen (Finland), Jani Hänninen (Finland), Katarzyna Kozyra (Poland), Petra Lindholm (Finland), Liisa Lounila (Finland), Sophie MacCorquodale (UK), Maria Stereo (Finland), Rauha Mäkilä (Finland), Kalle Nieminen (Finland), Anneli Nygren (Finland), Pink Twins (Finland), Pipilotti Rist (Switzerland), Bojan Sarcevic (Serbia) and Terhi Ylimäinen (Finland).

The exhibition publication will be released in January 2012.

The exhibition is supported bythe Danish Arts Council Committee for International Visual Arts
IFA - Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen e.V.

Feb 3rd-March 17th 

'David Blandy - Passage of the Soul'
Exeter Phoenix 
Bradninch Place Gandy Street
Exeter EX4 3LS

As part of Animated Exeter Feb 11th-19th
www.exeterphoenix.org.uk
www. animatedexeter.co.uk


Recent animation, video and installations that investigate themes of cultural identity, inspired by Blandy’s passions for hip hop, soul music, Kung Fu and Manga. The exhibition includes his powerful, Hiroshima based film Child of the Atom, new animated work Anjin and his hacked and customised arcade game Duels & Dualities: Battle of the Soul.

The exhibition includes his powerful, Hiroshima based film Child of the Atom, his hacked and customised arcade game Duels & Dualities: Battle of the Soul and the first part of a new, episodic animation, Anjin which draws reference from 1980’s Franco-Japanese TV cartoon Ulysses 31 (itself inspired by Homer’s Odyssey) and the life of William Adams - the first Englishman to reach Japan and the only westerner to be granted the title of Samurai.

Film Screening: Barefoot Gen and Akira.
Thu 9 Feb, 6 & 8pm 
Anime classics that have influenced Blandy's work.

Eye Opener Discussion
Wed 22 Feb, 1.30pm. FREE
. Join in with an informal discussion about the exhibition in the gallery.

Artist Talk
Sat 25 Feb, 2.30pm. FREE
. The artist will discuss his exhibition and wider practice.

Mon – Sat, 10am – 5pm daily