The Fifth Floor: Ideas Taking Space at the Tate Liverpool, 16 December 2008 - 1 February 2009

Exhibition Description:

The Tate Liverpool will be presenting a groundbreaking exhibition inspired by ideas and proposals from people across the city. This show marks the end of Liverpool's year as European Capital of Culture. It presents major new works and commissions by more than fifteen internationally-renowned artists who have responded to ideas and themes that have evolved out of discussions with individuals and groups based in Liverpool. The exhibition title refers to an imaginery floor within the Tate Liverpool's four-storey building. It invites the visitor to reconsider the Gallery as a place of imagination and invention. Here the exhibition celebrates ideas; the philosophical concept of the 'Fifth Element'.

The exhibition was created from a comprehensive series of artist-led consultation workshops with groups of people from diverse backgrounds (more than 1,000 individuals have been consulted to date). The museum posed the question "what kind of exhibition would you like to experience?" to the people of the city. A key finding was the idea of an exhibition created through the presence of people, summed up by one participant's wish to "take away all the art and replace it with people, all kinds of people, eccentric people, to emulate what was there..."

For the exhibition the galleries have been transformed into spaces for encounter and collaboration, for exchanges of views, shared decisions and responsibilities, inviting us to rethink the roles of artist, curator and audience. It presents humorous, thoughtful and participatory installations with a range of media including video, photography, sculpture and drawing, whilst also providing tools enabling the audience to shape and direct the exhibition.

Further animation will be achieved through an evolving programme of events and performances featuring visual artists, musicians, performers and groups from across the city, as well as various forms of community activity. The exhibition invites visitors to immerse themselves in a world of boundless possibility. It is open to all, and free for all.

Description:

Image: Paul Rooney
La Décision Doypack 2008
© Paul Rooney

Full Contact Details:

Albert Dock
Liverpool
L3 4BB
0151 702 7400