We live in a consumer society. We consume, in vast amounts, everything from junk food to clothes, household niceties to too many pairs of shoes.
But when it comes to contemporary visual arts, we are not so keen to “consume” or even take a second look at exciting work presented in Aberdeen, but that is about to change with a new department store in the city, Lily and Mim.
Opening on Saturday, November 1, and running through to November 23, Lily and Mim is a conceptual art exhibition in the form of a department store and will host two floors and eight “departments” of stimulating visual art installations.
It’s a real coup for the organisers of the project, Aberdeen-based award-winning contemporary curatorial practice SMART. Based at 60 Schoolhill, opposite James Dun’s House, this is the Scottish debut for the Lily and Mim concept and will be brought to life by local emerging talent as well as nationally and internationally renowned artists.
With many members of the public reluctant to experience contemporary visual arts, the project looks to break down the barriers between people and new visual art by offering an exhibition that is brought to them under the familiar guise of a department store.
Sally Reaper, founder and director of SMART, said: “This is a really exciting arts project and we are so pleased to be in a position to present this visual arts concept store to the people of Aberdeen.
“We are excited to once again be working with London-based artist John Walter to curate this project. Lily and Mim is a completely immersive experience and one of the main aims of the store will be to break down some of the perceived barriers in the public’s engagement with contemporary visual arts.
“As curators, we are passionate about bringing contemporary art into the public domain through challenging and revealing installations. This vibrant project will look at encouraging the public to interact with new artwork and ideas in the ‘comfortable’ setting of a ‘department store’.”
Eight installations will form the exhibition, ranging from a Clothing Department by local award-winning artist Amber Robertson, where members of the public have been asked to donate jumpers which will then become part of the exhibition, through to a Car Showroom created by two internationally acclaimed artists.
Gray’s graduate Natalie Kerr will present the Souvenir Department and she is currently visiting Aberdeen-based community centres, gathering stories and objects collected by people in these communities over the years which will all form part of the exhibition.
Lily and Mim lead artist and co-curator John Walter will present his department, called Ritual Objects, described by the artist as “an AstroTurf maze that plays host to a series of symbolic objects that appear in a video”.
Other artists involved in presenting “departments” as part of the Lily and Mim exhibition include James and Eleanor Avery, British artists based in Brisbane, Australia. This internationally renowned pair has been collaborating on large-scale sculptures and installation projects since 2005. James and Eleanor will present the Car Showroom described as a Temple to Faith. Their work has been supported by The Australia Council for the Arts.
The Lily and Mim immersive art experience and department store will run at 60 Schoolhill from Saturday, November 1, to Sunday, November 23. The exhibition will be free to attend and has been supported by Aberdeen Inspired. For more information on opening times visit www.wearesmartconsultants.co.uk