CCA Derry~Londonderry reopens with ‘Tricks of the Trade’ by Jan McCullough

CCA Derry~Londonderry is delighted to announce it is reopening with Tricks of the Trade, a solo exhibition by Jan McCullough.

CCA Derry~Londonderry is delighted to announce it is reopening with Tricks of the Trade by Jan McCullough, a solo exhibition exploring spaces of construction through sculptural installation.

The works installed across CCA’s galleries reference elements found in spaces such as workshops, garages, factory floors and sheds – that the artist has encountered and photographed over the last decade. She is drawn to industrial places where others construct, assemble and make things, and the rituals and rhythms of the processes that define the work that happens in them.

The sculptures in Tricks of the Trade are made of everyday building materials and wood and metal offcuts and are painted in the colour palettes found on the machinery, dust covers, walls and floors of the spaces in Jan McCullough’s photographs. Their finishes and forms echo the accentuated edges and glossy surfaces captured in the artist’s camera flash; the way they are arranged is reminiscent of her sketchbook collages.

Though the sculptures and structures in Tricks of the Trade are informed by Jan McCullough’s photographic practice, photography is largely absent from the exhibition, with the exception of three small black and white images of her grandfather’s garage workshop.

The sculptural works included in the exhibition vary in scale and arrangement, and invite the viewer to physically navigate them to understand and experience them. At the centre of Tricks of the Trade is a large-scale site-specific installation that features a playful, nest-like space and fragments of functional industrial workspaces such as worktables and scaffolding, structures disassociated from their original contexts to evoke new narratives.

Tricks of the Trade is accompanied by a booklet with a text called Instructions for the Assembly of Workspace by Northern Irish writer Wendy Erskine, designed by Sean Greer. Commissioned by Jan McCullough and developed through a collaboration and exchanges between the artist and writer, Wendy Erskine’s text provides a unique response to the themes of the artist’s work and the exhibition.

Jan McCullough (B.1991) is an artist based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Her work has been nominated for the Deutsche Borse Photography Prize, International Centre for Photography New York Infinity Award and won the British Journal of Photography Breakthrough Award. Her book ‘Home Instruction Manual’, published by Verlag Kettler, was awarded the Kassel Fotobookfestival Award and shortlisted for the Recontres D’Arles Author Book Award. She is part of the Freelands Foundation Artist Programme, and is Artist in Residence at the Irish Museum of Modern Art in Dublin and Lightwork in New York in 2020 / 2021.

Holiday Closing:

CCA will be closed for the holidays from 20 December–4 January Instructions for the Assembly of Workspace

Thursday 11 February 2021, 6–8pm

CCA’s intermittent reading group is joined by writer Wendy Erskine. Wendy will read from Instructions for the Assembly of Workspace followed by a discussion of the event.

Places are free and will take place via Zoom. Visit CCA’s online shop to book a free ticket. CCA Derry~Londonderry:

CCA is a publicly funded space in within the historic city walls of Derry~Londonderry. CCA creates opportunities for audiences to experience ambitious, experimental and engaging art and for emerging artists to develop successful careers. CCA fosters a wide range of artistic, curatorial and critical practices through five programme streams: research and production, exhibition-making, public programmes, publishing and residencies.

CCA is a member of Plus Tate:

Plus Tate is a network, which comprises 35 cultural institutions – including the Tate galleries – that have strong artistic vision, a focus on contemporary art, outstanding public programming and a commitment to local community engagement through art. Plus Tate aims to support the development of the visual arts across the UK.

Safety:

CCA has a range of safety measures to ensure staff and visitors can enjoy exhibitions with the knowledge that every precaution is taken. This includes hand sanitisers at entrances and exits, track and trace, screens and heightened cleaning schedules. All who are able to wear a mask are invited to do so and a dedicated isolation room is available in the event of the onset of symptoms.

For further information and additional press images please contact:

Fiona Allan

Marketing Assistant, CCA Derry~Londonderry

10-12 Artillery Street, Derry~Londonderry, BT48 6RG, Northern | +44(0)2871 373538 | @ccadld

Tricks of the Trade is supported by:

Arts Council of Northern Ireland

Derry City & Strabane District Council

Freelands Foundation