COPY
Francesca Anfossi / Sam Belinfante / Sarah Bowker-Jones / Sarah Cooney / Rose Davey / Claire Dorsett / Natalie Gale / Alexandra Hughes / Rachael Macarthur / Paulina Michnowska / Donal Moloney / James Ryan / Mike Ryder / Tessa Whitehead / Sarah Kate Wilson

COPY is an exhibition that takes the format of a photocopy (in the widest sense) as a starting point for the artists to work with. In its purest sense a photocopy is a photographic copy of something produced by a process involving the action of light on a specially prepared surface, these 15 artists have explored this medium to create new works. Artists were invited to create site-specific works that utilised a photocopier in some way. Artists have worked in a range of scales both 2D and 3D with a variety of materials that have embraced and expanded the limits of the photocopy.

To mirror the ephemeral and throwaway nature of the photocopy, the works exhibited will only last for the duration of the show. Through the curation of the works photocopies are pinned, glued, taped, hung, projected, positioned and stacked. By raiding the stationary cupboard drawing pins, duct tape, photo corners, double sided tape, pins, laminators, plastic wallets are all employed as ways to exhibit the work.


Six artists have created works for sale for the exhibition, Sarah Cooney, Rose Davey, Natalie Gale, Donal Moloney, Tessa Whitehead and Sarah Kate Wilson. The original work (in the show) was initially photocopied (prior to it being exhibited), to create another work the second copy, this second copy was then photocopied to create a third copy and so on. These works will be sold as a signed edition of 5, each being a copy of the preceding photocopy. Although there may be no obvious visual signs that these works are not identical, through the process of copying the hierarchy of the original is effected.

James Ryan was selected for the John Moores Painting Prize in 2012 and Jerwood Contemporary Painters in 2010. Last November, Sam Belinfante co-curated The Voice and the Lens at Ikon Gallery, Birmingham. Francesca Anfossi was selected for Dazed/Converse Emerging Artist Award, 2010 and in 2012 exhibited in Golf Sale at The Bowery Hotel, New York. Rose Davey exhibited in Back and Forth at B55 Gallery, Budapest in 2012. Sarah Cooney has recently shown in 'Dialogues' 10th International Biennial of Contemporary Art in St Petersburg. Claire Dorsett will be showing at The Solo Project at St Jakobsalle, Basel, with George and Jorgen Gallery. Natalie Gale lives and works in County Durham, her recent solo exhibitions include Lupanar at Reg Vardy Gallery, Sunderland, in 2010. Both Alexandra Hughes and Rachael Macarthur will each undertake an Artist Residencies at Sunderland University this year. Paulina Michnowska was shortlisted for the Threadneedle Prize 2011 and was artist in residence at La Fragua, Belalcazar, Spain in 2012. Tessa whitehead was selected for The Royal Academy Summer Show, London, 2011.
The exhibition is curated by Sarah Kate Wilson, she graduated from her MFA from The Slade School of Art, London 2008 – 2010 and is currently studying for her practice based PhD at CCW, University of the Arts, London.