SMITH/STEWART
PRESENT TENSE
21 September - 19 October 2024
Reid Gallery and Reid Ground Floor Corridor

"PRESENT TENSE is a new exhibition by artists and long-time collaborators SMITH/STEWART. Since the mid 1990’s Stephanie Smith and Eddie Stewart have been making work together as SMITH/STEWART. They work and live in Glasgow and both teach in The School of Fine Art.

Their work explores interdependence and the relationships we have with one another. They make sculptural installations, with a primary emphasis on the body and the implication of the viewer. Their practice develops out of collaborative dialogue and material investigation, to construct situations in which the viewer becomes central as an active constituent. Pared back to what’s essential, they are interested in the co-existence of connection and separation, power and powerlessness. Of things shifting in and out of sync with one another, coming together and moving apart.

They are showing a new body of work in the Reid Gallery and alongside, in the Reid corridor, they present material in relation to their process of making, never usually shown.

SMITH/STEWART’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and they have participated in key survey shows on both video and language. They have had solo exhibitions in NGBK Berlin, Kunstmuseum Luzern, Portikus Frankfurt am Main, Chisenhale Gallery London, Inverleith House Edinburgh. Their work is in public collections including Arts Council England, The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art and Tate."
(Gallery Handout)

Accompanying Events:
- Public gallery tour, led by the artists
- Video Screening, introduced by Laura Haynes (GSA) with audience Q+A

The research and development of the body of new sculptural installation work shown was, in part, supported by a summer residency period in the Reid Gallery. This was also informed by two critical conversations with researchers Ross Birrell (GSA Research) & Viviana Checchia (VOID, Derry).

We worked closely with Jenny Brownrigg & John Farrell (GSA Exhibitions). We collaborated with Anna Gordon (Head of S&J, GSA) to make a double silver ring '&'. This was bespoke to us, made for holding hands and worn by the artists for the duration of the exhibition opening, as an unannounced performance. Fabrication of the installation works was supported by GSA TSD, particularly Giulia Lazzaro & Nick Carlin and external sculptural fabricators, Sculpture & Design (Glasgow) Ltd.

Works shown:
Three new sculptural installations, for the three adjoining spaces of the Reid Gallery and unannounced public performance (Reid Gallery)

- 'Present tense' (2024) Two work tables, two sledgehammer handles and motors

- 'The weight of the world' (2024) Steel and fabric

- 'Approach aslant' (2024) Steel beam and motor

Sculptural work and printed material (6 x vitrines, Reid Ground Floor Corridor):

- '&' (2024)
Double silver ring for holding hands, made for SMITH/STEWART by Anna Gordon
+ Wire and copper prototypes

- Cast aluminium sledgehammer handles and painted bronze ‘skulls’

- Inked sledgehammer handle cross section with woodcut on paper

- Structure maquette, steel and magnets

- Aluminium template, plywood sections Woodcut on paper

- 'Cleave' (2024) Divided SMITH/STEWART solo publications

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