Last weeks: Stephen Willats, THISWAY–
Exhibition program: Beatrice Gibson and Antony Hudek
Workshop: Roaming Writing Sessions
Arvsfonden supports Index' Learning Program

 Final month of THISWAY– the first major exhibition in Sweden by British conceptual artist Stephen Willats. Over the past year, Willats has worked closely with Index on this newly commissioned project, developed in collaboration with a group of residents in Stockholm. Based on personal stories and images of objects and views with individual significance, the work is interested in the larger dynamic of transformation, in which the personal intersects with socioeconomic conditions. The project is based on workshops and interviews and is presented at Index and further locations throughout the city.
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 The exhibition Stephen Willats: THISWAY– is accompanied by an events program including three film screenings in May. In Crippled Symmetries (2015), British artist Beatrice Gibson examines the irrational and abstract characteristics of financial discourse through a score developed with children in workshops (10 May, Biografen Reflexen, Kärrtorp and 15 May, Biografen Zita, Östermalm). Shirley Clarke’s legendary film The Connection (1961) has been chosen by Willats and is an epic study of a musical jazz quartet and sundry deadbeat friends hanging out in a grungy New York City loft, waiting for their drug connection (Index, 11 May).

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 Begun in early 2016, Index Roaming Writing Sessions are practical writing workshops and group critique. The workshops roam through Stockholm, using locations beyond the gallery as a starting point for reflection on the use of text in artists’ practice. Taking residence at Salongen in central Södermalm during May, a small group of writers gather, write and reflect together. This month the group will do close reading of texts on the body at work. Limited places, RSVP required.
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 Index welcomes curator and researcher Antony Hudek for a talk and discussion about the legendary magazine Control, published by artist Stephen Willats since 1965 in London. The magazine is an ongoing format in the work of Willats, presenting his own projects, but also contributions from other artists and writers. This talk will describe each issue of Control, highlighting some of the theoretical and artistic tropes running through this unique artistic endeavor.
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 In 2016, Index initiates two major learning initiatives, Index Residents and Index’ Teen Advisory Board. Both these initiatives are funded by Arvsfonden, whom we are happy to welcome as partners. Index Residents functions as an open-ended platform for collaboration, where school classes and social groups from across Stockholm take up residency within Index for one year. The Index Teen Advisory Board gives young people the possibility to work with Index on evaluation and programming. The programs aim to provide a platform for young people to meet art face to face, democratise the city centre and facilitate learning in multifaceted and surprising ways.
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 Coming up in June, Index has organized a series of events with Chris Kraus. Kraus is the author of four novels, including I Love Dick and Aliens & Anorexia. She is presently working on a critical biography of the American writer Kathy Acker, which will be part of her reading at Index (1 June). Our next exhibition ars viva 2016 is opening on 10 June, featuring new commissions from artists Flaka Haliti, Hanne Lippard, Calla Henkel & Max Pitegoff. Everybody welcome, exhibition continues until 21 August.


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Press reviews
Lars-Erik Hjertström Lappalainen: Art for Real Estate Agents, Kunstkritikk
Stefanie Hessler interviews Stephen Willats, Kunstkritikk