Get Over It
Image by Peter Hope
Get Over It was the third exhibition in a series of site-responsive commissions which began at Mid Pennine Gallery and moved off-site in Autumn 2010 to launch a new Pennine Lancashire wide programme.
In the lead up to our programme moving off-site, four artists were commissioned to make new work for Mid Pennine Gallery. Each artist was asked to make work in response to the Gallery space and/or the surrounding natural and urban landscape.
Carol Mancke’s interactive exhibition took a tongue in cheek look at everyday human activity and associated regulations – such as health and safety. Following a site visit, and research by the artist, Get Over It took inspiration from Burnley’s industrial heritage. Through her ‘Safe and Healthy Art’, artist Carol Mancke explored how rules and regulations can take away opportunities for people to exercise judgement, understand risk and take responsibility as individuals. She also questioned the growing culture of people and organisations being forced to tick boxes, rather than having the opportunity to address underlying causes or reasons for problems that are perceived to pose unacceptable risk.
Mancke’s exhibition sought to challenge the popular notion that art is something to be viewed from a comfortable distance. The work in the show invited participation thereby raising questions about the potential risks to both the visitor and the artwork. By getting the audience to
physically engage with the exhibition the artist raised issues about the fragility and durability of an artwork and what determines its commercial and cultural value.
Mancke’s exploration of ‘Safe and Healthy Art’ grew out of her experience as an architect where she found herself dealing with ever more onerous health and safety requirements. An architect for over 20 years, in 2003 Mancke took the decision to pursue a new direction as a visual artist and subsequently completed a degree in Fine Art at Central St. Martin’s College of Art and Design. She has also established an art and architecture collaborative practice called Machina Loci and is Senior Lecturer in Architecture and Urban Design at Kingston University. Further information on Carol can be found at here.