RESOLVE Collective: them's the breaks

During the run of their exhibition, RESOLVE Collective and collaborators were subject to a number of unacceptable experiences, the subject of a statement released on 21 Jun which can be read here

We're deeply sorry for the pain caused to the members of RESOLVE Collective and those involved in their exhibition. Nobody should have to work in a place where they don’t feel welcome and respected. We're taking this situation extremely seriously and have been working with the broader team to understand the details of what happened. You can read a full statement from the Barbican here.

In a response which we've been fully committed to facilitating, them's the breaks was deinstalled, and all events associated with the exhibition were cancelled.

The gallery space remained open until the end of the scheduled exhibition run as a physical reminder of RESOLVE's experiences, and the materials used in its construction were redistributed as originally intended.

Tagged with: Art & design RESOLVE Collective: them's the breaks

The exhibition was commissioned by the Barbican, and is generously supported by Arts Council England.

Reviews

‘An energetic and experimental takeover‘

the Guardian
‘An open, accessible, equitable place, a space where anyone can come and learn, rest, dance, watch, create. This isn’t a closed, private world, it’s a wide open one. And that feels pretty vital.‘

TimeOut

the breaks

The programme gathers artists, thinkers, creatives, and organisers whose work explores radical imagination and a departure from standardised practices. It is split thematically into four (unclean) ‘breaks’, each of which includes mirror events and workshops specifically tailored for young audiences.

I: In Which You Will Thrive

The first break is the deepest. Drawing on George Kafka’s text in the exhibition handout, we are celebrating what grows from the cracks, using this time to platform the reading materials of our ecology through the space’s library. In addition to this, various public events will leak into other breaks including collaborations with Healing Justice, The Funambulist, and HomeGrown +.

II: ‘Goliath is Dead’ Acts I to V

Inspired by a conversation with Andre Anderson, headmaster of Freedom & Balance, this break looks at education, development, and decline. Alongside KIN Structures, a collaborative practice that build and sustain community and cultural infrastructure, RESOLVE will invite practitioners into the space for a series of public and private conversations that will result in an open-sourced curriculum.

III: DIY Strength & Queer Hedonism

For a month, Gut Level, a Queer-led DIY rave space in Sheffield, will takeover the gallery, hosting club nights, workshops, and exhibiting images of DIY strength and queer hedonism sourced from DIY/Grassroots/Queer noise makers from Sheffield, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow. The break will also feature a sound installation from sonic practitioner, Anna Kloos.

IV: Barbican Closing Down Sale

Throughout the course of the exhibition, visitors are encouraged to ‘bagsy’ the materials they would like to take using the available stamps and then emailing their requests to [email protected]. Up until 16 Jul, RESOLVE will work in the gallery with Yes Make!, a community-focused construction and carpentry studio to cut materials to your desired size and shape specifications while the sounds of South-London based Tanum Sound System fill the space. If you want it, its yours!