Ingrid Pollard in Devon Project

talking on corners, in partnership with University of Exeter’s Arts & Culture, is excited to present a new, free, online speaker series focused on the creative practice of photographic artist Ingrid Pollard, Turner Prize nominee (2022).

Beginning on 20 September with Prof. Divya P. Tolia-Kelly, the series will run every Tuesday 6.30 - 7.30pm for five weeks. These online talks and Q&A sessions with writers, scholars, artists and curators are presented to draw out and honour the complexity and breadth of Pollard's extensive and varied work.

The free online speaker series is a key element of a wider project focused on Pollard, devised by Dr Ella S. Mills, Creative Director of talking on corners. Project partners including Natural England, Devon & Exeter Institution, Libraries Unlimited, Thelma Hulbert Gallery and University of Plymouth have developed an extensive programme of events across Devon, working towards bridging the gap between curating and audience engagement. have developed an extensive programme of events across Devon, working towards bridging the gap between curating and audience engagement. You can see the calendar of events here.

Installation view of Three Drops of Blood, Thelma Hulbert Gallery.

Photo: © Naomi Williams

A central part of the wider programme is Pollard’s new solo exhibition, ‘Three Drops of Blood’, currently exhibited at partner Thelma Hulbert Gallery in Honiton (6 Aug - 29 Oct 2022). This new body of work, commissioned by talking on corners supported by public funds from Arts Council England, illustrates the intimacy, care, nuance and technical skill of Pollard’s practice as one of Britain’s leading contemporary artists and has been described as perhaps her best work yet. The exhibition is a rare opportunity to see her work in the Southwest and features photography, print, mixed media, installation, text and found objects. ‘Three Drops of Blood’ invites us to consider the complex affects and relationships of the historical importation and travel of plants and people, folklore and tradition, asking us to unpack the resulting resonances on place and power. It is a deeply layered exhibition interweaving themes of space-time, resonance, touch and the materiality of memory. The new work has been created in response to Ingrid's research in the UK, including Devon. Pollard honed in on botanical gardens and local lace-making, as well as the unique historical collections of books at the Devon and Exeter Institution. Drawing out her interests in classification, knowledge, leisure, trade and money, these themes can be unfolded far beyond Devon, into conversations spanning generations and geographies.

To coincide with the speaker series, a virtual reality tour of ‘Three Drops of Blood’ will be released in mid-September!

About talking on corners

talking on corners (toc) is a DIY, experimental visual art curating and producing practice underpinned by rigorous critical thinking and research. We curate exhibitions, work with visual artists and organisations commissioning artists, host residencies, talks and study days, as well as offering research, grant writing and consulting services. toc is Creative Director Ella S. Mills, and Creative Producer Lorna Rose.

The Ingrid Pollard Speaker Series is generously supported by the Paul Mellon Centre, Arts and Culture University of Exeter, Association for Art History, University of Exeter Geography department and Thelma Hulbert Gallery.

INGRID POLLARD, THREE DROPS OF BLOOD SPEAKER SERIES PROGRAMME

20 September ‘Three drops of blood’: examining Ingrid Pollard’s world of nature, lore and race’ Divya P. Tolia-Kelly, Professor of Geography and Heritage Studies, University of Sussex

27 September 'Ingrid Pollard: Land Art and Landscape' Joy Sleeman, Professor of Art History and Theory, Slade School of Fine Art, UCL

4 October In Conversation: Ingrid Pollard and Paul Gilroy. Join Ingrid and Paul as they walk and talk in the Devonshire countryside discussing birds, forest bathing, and folklore.

11 October 'Darkroom Frottage and the Sensual Matter of the Photograph' Ajamu X, Artist and Activist, Royal College of Art

18 October 'Showing Up', 1984-1991 Writers Laura Guy and Mason Leaver-Yap discuss Ingrid Pollard's photographic work from the 1980s and early 90s

Advance booking is essential – for more information and to register see here