The Belton Wunderkammer
Belton House, English School, c. 1720 ŠNTPL/John Hammond
The Belton Wunderkammer
Proposed Project Outline
The Belton Wunderkammer is a 6-months site-specific large-scale sculptural project conceived by the internationally renowned London-based Korean artist Meekyoung Shin. Commissioned by the Belton House (National Trust) in Grantham, Lincolnshire, for the property’s garden, the commission is inspired by the house’s collection and history. First in a program of contemporary art commissions at Belton House and part of the 2014 interpretation programme ‘Belton by Design’, the project will be managed in partnership with National Centre for Craft & Design in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, where the artist’s solo show is held in summer 2014. Proposed artwork The artwork is inspired by the notion of a wunderkammer or ‘cabinet of curiosities’, encyclopedic collections of various types of objects during the Renaissance Europe. As the title suggests, the proposed commission spotlights the rare objects, collectibles and artworks found in the Belton House collection. The outer appearance of the work is by the ebony, giltwood and lapis lazuli table cabinet produced in 1670, which is currently displayed inside the house. Within, the artist will reproduce the exotic porcelains, wooden wall-panelling, tapestries, coat of arms, busts of famous historical figures in the Belton House collection, which were amassed throughout the property’s history to manifest the family’s status, taste, and wealth. These will be created entirely out of the artist’s signature medium: soap. The work will be installed on the East Avenue located in the landscaped gardens of the property. Created from white soap, the structure will fit within the ethos of the garden design and landscaping of the period and function as ‘a destination’ for those strolling the grounds. It is the intention of the artist to accelerate the ageing process of the structure’s outer appearance by exposing it to the weather conditions. It will not be possible to enter but its interiors can be peeked through the window-like openings.
- Illustration of European natural history cabinet 1599 - Qing Dynasty curio box 1736-1795
Ebony, giltwood and lapis lazuli table cabinet 1670
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The Belton Wunderkammer
Proposed artwork in situ. The exterior colour and texture resembles the stone of Belton House, while the inside of the structure references the brilliant blue of the lapis lazuli table cabinet.
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The Belton Wunderkammer
Belton House is an accredited museum and boasts a collection of rare objects and works of art ranging from an important collection of English display and table silver including Thomas Herning’s service for Sir John Crust, Speaker of the House of Commons (1761-70) to precious Oriental porcelains including 17th century Japanese Imari and Chinese famille verte, the family portraits from 16th
to 20th centuries, and the National Trust’s second largest library. These objects will inspire and also be featured inside the Wunderkammer.
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The Belton Wunderkammer
Cabinet of Curiosities: Example Images
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The Belton Wunderkammer
Example of objects featured inside the Wunderkammer, referencing the historic and varied collection at Belton House.
All objects will be cast in soap in lapis lazuli blue
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The Belton Wunderkammer
Cross section of the Belton Wunderkammer. The viewer will experience a wash of blue as they enter the structure from the outside. This is inspired by the dramatic effect achieved by the intensity of colour in the red drawing room at Belton House.
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The Belton Wunderkammer
NOTES: DO NOT SCALE FROM THIS DRAWING. ALL DIMENSIONS TO BE CHECKED ON SITE. ALL OMISSIONS AND DISCREPANCIES TO BE REPORTED TO THE ARCHITECT IMMEDIATELY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS WORK IS COPYRIGHT AND CANNOT BE REPRODUCED OR COPIED OR MODIFIED IN ANY FORM OR BY ANY MEANS, GRAPHIC ELECTRONIC OR MECHANICAL, INCLUDING PHOTOCOPYING WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF ARCHINOMICS ARCHITECTS.
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1 Timber frame
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2 Plywood skin structure
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3 300*300*25 soap block skin
2 Precast soap decoration finish
Revision description
Date
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Archinomics Project
Belton house project Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG32 2LS Drawing
Belton Draft Proporsal-1 1
Plan
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Architectural drawings for the Belton Wunderkammer
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Drawn
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Scale
31/01/14
1: 25@A3
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1401_P_01
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The Belton Wunderkammer
About Belton House
Belton House Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG32 2LS One of the top 5 most visited National Trust properties, it attracts over 300,000 visitors each year and draws in a high proportion of family groups.
About the National Trust
Founded in 1895, the National Trust is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The trust owns many heritage properties, including historic houses and gardens, industrial monuments and social history sites. It is one of the largest landowners in the UK, most of which are open to the public free of charge. It is the largest membership organisation in the United Kingdom, and one of the largest UK charities by both income and assets.
Belton House Interior
Picnic in Belton House grounds
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The Belton Wunderkammer
Belton House & National Trust Belton House is part of the National Trusts Future Group in the Midlands, a peer group of 8 properties which has been developing skills, knowledge and understanding of developing and programming contemporary art projects funded by Arts Council England 2013-14. Nationally, the National Trust has been working for five years in partnership with Arts Council England and the Midlands has been key in leading within the Trust, delivering an ambitious programme 2010-12 at 3 properties whilst supporting others. This is the first major commission that Belton has developed, having taken time to work up a property wide vision for contemporary art. Belton recognises the importance of contemporary culture and the benefits that this can bring to both new and existing audiences, and is keen to develop its commitment to long term curating and presenting. For 2014, Belton is currently developing a relationship with the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths and hosting contemporary silversmithing residency with Angela Cork, also as part of ‘Belton by Design’ this year. The National Trust is about to enter a new partnership with Arts Council England and in May 2014 will have developed a national cohort of properties who have made a commitment in their future plans and budgets to develop art projects. Belton is a likely contender, and so is already making plans beyond this project for future programming. In addition, the learning and support from the Future Group will play a vital role in supporting Belton through this project. This is the first art partnership with NCCD, and if successful will continue into the future, as there are several mutual benefits to audiences and progamming in the region.
Belton House and grounds Photo Š Peter Searle
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The Belton Wunderkammer
Marketing Strategy and Opportunities
The Belton Wunderkammer will bring a unique marketing opportunity for a sponsor, both regionally and nationally. The affiliation with the strong brand of the National Trust enables the project and the sponsor to benefit from the partners’ marketing activities, utilizing the resources of the National Trust regional membership database, national and international media outlets, and online and print platforms to reach out to as many audiences as possible. Visitor access Open 364 days a year 10.30-16.30pm (November-March) 9.30-17.30pm (April-October) -3000,000 visitors per year -Majority of visits in summer months. -Approximately 35% visit the house, whilst the majority explore the grounds. -Approximately 72% members, an additional 10% payers/entry vouchers. -The property attracts a large number of repeat visitors due to the changing annual themes and a high number of local families (33%) who visit for the grounds and adventure playground. -Volunteer & staff training sessions held with artist Print material -National Trust magazine. Belton House already has a commitment from the National Trust regional magazine and newsletter for a feature in the summer newsletter (reach: 1 million members in the region), press releases to local, national and international media through the use of ArtsMediaContacts and utilising existing press contacts locally. -Belton House leaflet (400000 copies distributed pa) -NCCD Guide with a print run of 10000 and distribution of 8000. -Art press Shin’s exhibitions have been covered extensively by print and online magazines in both the UK and internationally. Magazines and newspapers who have featured the artist such as Craft Magazine, the Guardian, Frieze magazine, Artlyst, Art in Culture (Korea) will be contacted to bring their attention to the project.
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The Belton Wunderkammer
Online platforms Online and project information will be sign posted from the artwork and at visitor entry points. -Websites National Trust, NCCD (blog), Belton House, Meekyoung Shin Studio. The website for the artist’s large-scale project, ‘Written in Soap’ will also provide information of the project, directing an international audience to the activity at Belton House. www.meekyoungshinstudio.com www.nationaltrust.org.uk www.writteninsoap.com www.nationalcraftanddesign.org.uk -Social networks Facebook, twitter, pinterest accounts will be utilized to maximize outreach and maintain updates which will be crucial in sustaining and generating further interest in the project throughout its duration. As the appearance of the outer structure of the work is expected to change throughout the duration of its exhibition, it is hoped to update the audience through photographs and tweets. National Trust twitter: approximately 4600 followers. National Trust facebook: appx. 146,000 followers NCCD facebook: appx. 1,600 followers NCCD twitter: appx. 3,000 followers Written in Soap facebook: appx. 200 followers Workshops with artist Two workshops using soap with artist over August and September to encourage participation from visitors, catering to families and children.
Artists’ workshop
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The Belton Wunderkammer
About Partners Involved
The National Centre for Craft & Design is located at the heart of the market town of Sleaford in Lincolnshire. It is the largest venue in England entirely dedicated to the exhibition, celebrating and promotion of contemporary and international craft and design. The NCCD provides a seasonal programme of dynamic exhibitions ranging from international to to innovative new work created by local and regional artists shown across four diverse gallery spaces. Open every day from 10am to 5pm except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. FREE ENTRY The National Centre for Craft & Design, Navigation Wharf Carre Street Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 7TW
National Centre for Craft and Design, Lincolnshire, UK
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The Belton Wunderkammer
About the Artist Meekyoung Shin (b.1967; South Korea) is an internationally renowned Londonbased Korean artist. She completed her BFA and MFA at the prestigious Seoul National University and in 1995, moved to London to obtain her MFA at the Slade School of Art, University College London. Since then, she has held solo exhibitions globally including Haunch of Venison, London (2010) and the Korean Cultural Centre UK, London (2013). She has participated in group shows including the Museum of Art and Design, New York, and the 2013 Asian Art Biennial in Taiwan. Her works are found in collections all over the world, including the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston and the National Museum Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea. Shin was shortlisted for the significant Korean Artists Prize 2013 which celebrates Korean artists that have made significant contributions to the advancement of contemporary art.
CV Born in 1967, South Korea Lives and works in Seoul and London Education 1998 M.F.A. in Sculpture, Slade School of Fine Art, University College London, London 1993 M.A. in Sculpture, Seoul National University, Seoul 1990 B.A. in Sculpture, Seoul National University, Seoul Solo Exhibitions and Project 2014 Written in Soap: A Plinth Project, Taipei MOCA 2013 Unfixed: A solo exhibition by Meekyoung Shin, Korean Cultural Centre UK, London 2013 Translation: The Epic Archive, 2013 Korea Artist Prize, National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, Gwacheon 2012 In between Translation, MOT/Arts, Taipei 2012 Written in Soap: A Plinth Project, Cavendish Square, London 2011 Translation, Art Club 1563, Seoul 2011 Translation, Haunch of Venison Gallery, London 2009 Translation, Kukje Gallery, Seoul 2009 Translation, Lefebvre & Fils Gallery, Paris 2008 Translation, Museum of Art, Seoul National University, Seoul 2007 Translation, Mongin Art Centre, Seoul 2007 Translation – Moon Jar, Korean Gallery, British Museum, London 2004 Performance & Show, British Museum, London 2002 Translation, Tokyo HumanitÊ Gallery, Tokyo 2002 Translation, Sungkok Art Museum, Seoul 1995 Shell, Namu Gallery, Seoul 1994 Meekyoung Shin, Seokyoung Gallery, Seoul Selected Exhibitions 2013 Asian Art Biennial, Taichung, Taiwan 2013 Art for not making, Summaria Lunn Gallery, London 2013 Glasstress 2013 White Light/ White heat, Palazzo Cavalli Franchetti, Berengo Centre for Contemporary Art and Glass, Venice 2013 Couriers of Taste, Dason House, Bexley Heritage Trust
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The Belton Wunderkammer
2013 DNA, Daegue City Museum, Daegue 2012 Fabricated Object, Sumarria Lunn Gallery, London 2012 Recasting the Gods, Sumarria Lunn Gallery, London 2012 Korean Eye, Saatchi Gallery, London 2012 The Diverse Spectrum: 600 years of Korean Ceramics, MASP, San Paulo 2012 Synopticon-Contemporary Chinoiserie, Plymouth Museum/Saltram House, Plymouth 2012 Material and Energy, Korean Eye, Abu Dhabi 2012 Ceramic Commune, Art Sonje, Seoul 2012 Material Matter, East Wing X, Courtauld Institute, London 2012 As Small As a World and Large as Alone, Gallery Hyundai, Seoul 2011 Material and Energy; Korean Eye, Museum of Art and Design, New York 2011 NyLon, Korea Culture Centre London/Korea Culture Service New York 2011 Poetry of in Clay: Korean Buncheong Ceramics from Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, San Francisco 2011 Art to Wear, Plateau Museum, Seoul 2011 Mr. Rabbit in Art World, Gyounggi Art Museum 2011 TRA: Edge of Becoming, Palazzo Fortuny, Venice 2011 TEFAF, Maastricht 2011 Convergence, OCI Museum, Seoul 2011 38°N SNOW SOUTH: KOREAN CONTEMPORARY ART, Charlotte Lund Gallery, Stockholm 2010 Memories from the Past, LEEUM, Samsung Museum of Art, Seoul 2010 Fantastic Ordinary, Saatchi Gallery, London 2010 Present from the Past, Korean Cultural Centre UK, London 2010 Moon is the Oldest Clock, National Museum of Art, Deoksugung, Seoul 2010 The Alchemists, Edel Assanti Project Space, London 2009 Art & Synesthesia, Seoul City Museum, Seoul 2008 Art n Play, Hangaram Museum, Seoul 2008 Nanging Triennale, Nanjing Museum, Nanjing 2008 Art in Action, Waterparry House, Oxfordshire 2008 Meme Trackers, Song Zhuang Art Center, Beijing 2008 Good Morning, Mr. Namjun Paik, Korea Cultural Centre in London 2008 Awardees, Sungkok Art Museum, Seoul 2007 Beauty, Desire and Evanescence, Space DA, Beijing 2007 Soft Power, Korea Foundation, W Hotel 2007 Particules Libres, nouvelle génération d’artistes Coréens en Europe, Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris 2006 Looking through Glass, Asia House, London 2006 Softness, Seoul Olympic Museum of Art, Seoul 2006 On, Cover Up, London 2006 Wunderkammer-Artificial Kingdom, Art and Archaeology in Lincolnshire 2005 Twenty One: New Work by Student, Slade School of Fine Art (curated by Ann Elliott) 2005 Telltale, Museum of E-wha University, Seoul 2004 Gwang-ju Biennale-Korea Express, Gwang-ju 2004 Do Again!, Insa Art Center, Seoul 2003 Chemical Art, Gallery Sagan, Seoul 2002 Eleven & Eleven-Korea Japan Contemporary Art 2002, Sungkok Art Museum 2001 Alchemy, Sungkok Art Museum, Seoul 2001 Detached House, British Embassy, Seoul 2001 The 5th Moran Sculpture Grand Prix, Moran Museum of Art, Masuk 2001 The 5th Galerie BHAK Contest of the Young & Remarkable Artist, Galerie BHAK, Seoul 2001 Soft Outside/Solid Inside-Softness Crossing Over Solidness, POSCO Art Museum, Seoul 1999 Fin de Siecle, Riverside Studios Gallery, London 1998 Addressing the Century-100 Years of Art & Fashion, Hayward Gallery, London 1998 Summer Show, Slade School of Fine Art, London 1997 Korean Young Artist in London, Sacvill Gallery, London
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The Belton Wunderkammer
1997 1994 1994 1994 1992 1990
All Changes, Harvey Nichols Department Store (Show Window), London The Korean Variation and Aim, Seokyoung Gallery, Seoul Namu Academy, Namu Gallery, Seoul The Woman & Reality, 21C Gallery, Seoul The Korean Variation and Aim, Duckwon Gallery, Seoul The 3rd Space, The 3rd Gallery, Seoul
Awards 2012 2012 2001 1998 1995 1994 1993
Grants for Arts, Art Council England Korean Art Council Fund, ARKO The 5th Galerie BHAK Contest of Young & Remarkable Artist, Galerie BAHK, Seoul ACAVA98, The First Base Award, ACAVA London Namu Academy Competition, Namu Gallery, Seoul Contemporary Sculpture Competition, Seoul Press Center, Seoul Korean Grand Annual Competition, Seoul
Commission 2014 The Belton Wunderkammer, Belton House, Grantham, National Trust (forthcoming) 2009 Yongsan Council, Seoul 1999 Memorial Sculpture for Margaret Powell, Commissioned by Margaret Powell Foundation Attended Residence Programs 2009 GMOMA, Gyounggi Do 2004 West Dean College, West Sussex, England 2002-3 Ssamzie Artist Residency Program, Seoul Collections National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art The Museum of Fine Art, Houston Museum of Art, Seoul National University, Seoul Painting Studio, Tokyo Yongsan Council, Seoul Mongin Art Centre, Seoul
www.meekyoungshin.com www.writteninsoap.com meekyoungshinstudio@gmail.com
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The Belton Wunderkammer
Selected Works
Written in Soap: A Plinth Project Cavendish Square, London (summer) 2012-ongoing Soap, stainless steel 2.8 x 1.7 x 2m
Written in Soap: A Plinth Project is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England and Arts Council Korea, with additional support from the Korean Culture Centre UK and Haunch of Venison. Soap for Written in Soap: A Plinth Project in London is donated by LUSH FRESH HANDMADE COSMETICS.
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The Belton Wunderkammer
Written in Soap: A Plinth Project Cavendish Square, London (autumn & winter) 2012-ongoing Soap, stainless steel 2.8 x 1.7 x 2m
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The Belton Wunderkammer
Written in Soap: A Plinth Project MMCA, Seoul 2012-ongoing Soap, stainless steel 2.8 x 1.7 x 2m
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The Belton Wunderkammer
Written in Soap: A Plinth Project MOCA, Taipei 2012-ongoing Soap, stainless steel 2.8 x 1.7 x 2m
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The Belton Wunderkammer
Crouching Aphrodite Soap 2002 112×38×60cm Photograph: courtesy of Haunch of Venison
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The Belton Wunderkammer
Translation Series 2011 Soap, pigment, varnish, mirrored steel plate, wooden crate Dimensions variable Photograph: courtesy of Haunch of Venison
Ghost Series (Jade) 2011 Soap, varnish Dimensions variable Photograph: courtesy of Haunch of Venison
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The Belton Wunderkammer
Translation – Toilet Series 2004-ongoing Soap, fragrance Dimensions variable
Translation – L’Innocenza Perduta by Emilio Santarelli (1862) 1998; restored in 2009 Soap, varnish 227×85×60cm Photograph: courtesy of the artist
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The Belton Wunderkammer
Toilet Project Installation view at ‘2013 Korea Artist Prize’ Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea
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The Belton Wunderkammer
Key selections from Meekyoung Shin’s oeuvre dating from 1996 until 2013. The selected works are all created from soap and are from her Translation series.
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The Belton Wunderkammer
Kuros Series 2009 Soap, pigment, varnish Dimensions variable Photograph: courtesy of Haunch of Venison
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The Belton Wunderkammer
Weathering Series 2009 Soap, stainless steel armature Dimensions variable Installation view at Gyeonggi Museum of Modern Art, South Korea, 2009 Photograph: courtesy of the artist
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The Belton Wunderkammer
Recent Publication
Meekyoung Shin Texts by Jonathan Watkins, Ben Tufnell, Kyung An, and Jade Keunhye Lim 108pp + 4pp covers, Softback, 280 x 220 mm, c. 50 colour and b/w images ISBN: 978-0-9576936-5-4 RRP: £18 / €22 / $30 Released: 5 December 2013 Designed by Matt Watkins Edited by Anne Blood, Co-ordinated by Kyung An Published by Anomie Publishing, UK, in collaboration with the Korean Cultural Centre, UK, London The book Meekyoung Shin, was published on the occasion of ‘Unfixed: A solo exhibition by Meekyoung Shin’, held at the Korean Cultural Centre UK, London, from 12 November 2013 to 18 January 2014, curated by Jonathan Watkins.
s
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The Belton Wunderkammer
Contact Information
For enquiries, please contact: Meekyoung Shin Studio Kyung An (Project Manager) email: meekyoungshinstudio@gmail.com tel: +44 (0)7793 464 040
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