Ross Birrell

• Senior Researcher GSA / Professor in Contemporary Art Practice & Critical Theory
• Research

Link to Public Profile

Book or Monograph

The Theatre of Home: Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra and New Directions in Creativity

Birrell, Ross, MacDonald, Raymond, DeNora, Tia, Burke, Robert and Sappho, Maria (2025) The Theatre of Home: Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra and New Directions in Creativity. Oxford University Press, New York.

The Parasite

Birrell, Ross (2018) The Parasite. documenta 14, Kassel.

An Envoy Reader

Birrell, Ross (2014) An Envoy Reader. LemonMelon, London. ISBN 978 1 908260 12 3

You like this garden? Ross Birrell / David Harding and Douglas Gordon

Birrell, Ross, Harding, David and Gordon, Douglas (2014) You like this garden? Ross Birrell / David Harding and Douglas Gordon. Portikus, Frankfurt am Main. ISBN 978-3-928071-92-5

Edited Book

Justified Sinners: An Archaeology of Scottish Counterculture, 1960-2000

Birrell, Ross and Finlay, Alec, eds. (2002) Justified Sinners: An Archaeology of Scottish Counterculture, 1960-2000. Pocketbooks, Edinburgh. ISBN 0748663231

Book Section

Weird and Eerie Visions

Birrell, Ross (2023) Weird and Eerie Visions. In: One Beautiful Day. The Modern Institute, Glasgow, pp. 19-21.

Snaebjörnsdóttir / Wilson: Dwelling in a Democracy of Species

Birrell, Ross (2022) Snaebjörnsdóttir / Wilson: Dwelling in a Democracy of Species. In: Debatable Lands. Ger∂arsafn, Kopavogur, Iceland, pp. 249-261. ISBN 978-9935-9213-1-4

What is it to read?

Birrell, Ross (2017) What is it to read? In: The documenta 14 Reader. Prestel, Kassel, pp. 299-320. ISBN 978-3-7913-5657-0

Book Torture: An Interview with Ross Birrell

Smyth, Adam, Partington, Gill and Birrell, Ross (2014) Book Torture: An Interview with Ross Birrell. In: Book Destruction from the Medieval to the Contemporary. New Directions in Book History . Palgrave Macmillan, London, pp. 74-86. ISBN 978-1-137-44325-9

Somewhere between Utopia and Reality

Birrell, Ross and Sadler, Simon (2006) Somewhere between Utopia and Reality. In: Arcade: Artists and Place-making. Black Dog Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1904772544

Meaningless Work: Art as Abstract labour, notes on Santiago Sierra and the Political Economy of Man Under Capitalism’ and ‘Labour Exchange: A Dialogue with Santiago Sierra

Birrell, Ross (2005) Meaningless Work: Art as Abstract labour, notes on Santiago Sierra and the Political Economy of Man Under Capitalism’ and ‘Labour Exchange: A Dialogue with Santiago Sierra. In: Transcript 2 Cross-Wired: Communication – Interface – Locality. Manchester University Press in association with School of Fine Art, DJCAD, pp. 93-109. ISBN 0719070376

The Gift of Terror: Suicide Bombing as Potlatch

Birrell, Ross (2005) The Gift of Terror: Suicide Bombing as Potlatch. In: Art in the Age of Terrorism. Paul Holberton Press, London, pp. 96-113. ISBN 1903470412

Article

Flattening the Curve: Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra’s Use of Virtual Improvising to Maintain Community During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Birrell, Ross and MacDonald, Raymond (2021) Flattening the Curve: Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra’s Use of Virtual Improvising to Maintain Community During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Critical Studies in Improvisation / Études critiques en improvisation, 14 (2-3). ISSN 1712-0624

Our Virtual Tribe: Sustaining and Enhancing Community via Online Music Improvisation

MacDonald, Raymond, Burke, Robert, De Nora, Tia, Donohue, Maria Sappho and Birrell, Ross (2021) Our Virtual Tribe: Sustaining and Enhancing Community via Online Music Improvisation. Frontiers in Psychology, 11. pp. 1-19. ISSN 1664-1078

Notes on works for documenta 14, Athens & Kassel, 2017

Birrell, Ross (2018) Notes on works for documenta 14, Athens & Kassel, 2017. Journal of Visual Art Practice, 18 (1). pp. 1-18. ISSN 1470-2029

A Beautiful Living Thing

Birrell, Ross (2017) A Beautiful Living Thing. Performance Research, 22 (1). pp. 115-119. ISSN 1352-8165

Envoy: Angel of Post-History

Birrell, Ross (2016) Envoy: Angel of Post-History. South as a State of Mind, 8 / 3. pp. 185-197. ISSN 2241-3901

Envoy - The Destiny of the World

Birrell, Ross (2010) Envoy - The Destiny of the World. Visual culture in Britain, 11 (3). pp. 407-411. ISSN 1471-4787

Conference or Workshop Item

A Living Land: Landscape, Place and Care - Presentation on "below, the rocks plunged into darkness"

Wall, Gina, Birrell, Ross, Thomson, Amanda, Loder, Dave, Kolesova, Elena, Kapalova, Altyn, Sundar Harris, Usha, Ashrafi, Soheil, Garbutt, Michael and Janani, Setar (2023) A Living Land: Landscape, Place and Care - Presentation on "below, the rocks plunged into darkness". In: A Living Land: Landscape, Place and Care GSA – UCA Research Symposium, 9 November 2023 9.00am-12.00noon GMT // 3.00pm-6.00pm KGT, Online between The Glasgow School of Art and University of Central Asia, Naryn, Kyrgyzstan.

Ensemble Improvisation and Moving-image in the Zoom-welt

Birrell, Ross, MacDonald, Raymond, Argo, Jessica and Donohue, Maria Sappho (2022) Ensemble Improvisation and Moving-image in the Zoom-welt. In: Music and the Moving Image Conference XVIII, 26-29 May 2022, NYU (Steinhardt).

In Memoriam Gustav Metzger

Birrell, Ross (2021) In Memoriam Gustav Metzger. In: The Art of Gustav Metzger and Climate Activism, 3 Nov 2021, The Common Guild.

Some serious play: Collaborative online music making by the Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra

Donohue, Maria, MacDonald, Raymond, De Nora, Tia, Burke, Robert and Birrell, Ross (2021) Some serious play: Collaborative online music making by the Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra. In: Accessing Jazz and Improvised Music, 5-6 June 2021, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, The University of Sydney and the Australasian Jazz and Improvisation Research.

Wanna Be a Rider (Notes on Parasite Joy)

Birrell, Ross (2018) Wanna Be a Rider (Notes on Parasite Joy). In: The Parliament of Bodies: The Strategy of Joy, 8-10 Sept 2018, Fridericianum, Friedrichsplatz 18, Kassel.

What is it to read?

Birrell, Ross (2018) What is it to read? In: The Society of Friends of Ulises Carrión: What is it to read? with Ross Birrell, 12 July 2018, Parko Eleftherias, Athens Municipality Arts Center and Museum of Anti-dictatorial and Democratic Resistance.

Bilocations: Ross Birrell & Adam Szymczyk in conversation

Birrell, Ross and Szymczyk, Adam (2018) Bilocations: Ross Birrell & Adam Szymczyk in conversation. In: Glasgow International, 21 April 2018, Reid Auditorium, The Glasgow School of Art.

Posse, Parasites and Polyphony: Morphologies of the Multitude

Birrell, Ross (2018) Posse, Parasites and Polyphony: Morphologies of the Multitude. In: Seminar 2018: No Commons Without Commoning, 30 Jan - 1 Feb 2018, ERG, école de recherche graphique, École Supérieure des Arts (ESA),Brussels.

A Beautiful Living Thing

Crotch, Joanna and Birrell, Ross (2015) A Beautiful Living Thing. In: Reading Architecture Across the Arts and Humanities, 5-6 Dec 2015, University of Stirling, UK.

'The Unforeseeable: The Event and Gift of Uncertainty', Keynote Talk and Charrette leader for 'Forthcoming Materials of Practice: A Symposium in Two Halves', Edinburgh College of Art, 3 October 2014

Birrell, Ross (2014) 'The Unforeseeable: The Event and Gift of Uncertainty', Keynote Talk and Charrette leader for 'Forthcoming Materials of Practice: A Symposium in Two Halves', Edinburgh College of Art, 3 October 2014. In: Forthcoming Materials of Practice, A Symposium in Two Halves, ECA, 3 Oct 2014, Edinburgh College of Art.

Artefact

Being and Time; A Dice Throw; Conrad's Hand [Works exhibited in Counterpoint, Talbot Rice Gallery, Edinburgh]

Birrell, Ross (2014) Being and Time; A Dice Throw; Conrad's Hand [Works exhibited in Counterpoint, Talbot Rice Gallery, Edinburgh]. [Artefact]

Sonata

Birrell, Ross (2014) Sonata. [Artefact]

Stand Up Now / 3 Before 8

Birrell, Ross, West, Cornel, Critchley, Simon, Dronsfield, Jonathan, Cussans, John, Mirza, Haroon, Boy, Johnny and Wiinstanley, Russ (2012) Stand Up Now / 3 Before 8. [Artefact]

Eternal Now

Birrell, Ross (2005) Eternal Now. [Artefact]

Show/Exhibition

GIOfest XIV: Reconnections and New Directions

Birrell, Ross and MacDonald, Raymond (2021) GIOfest XIV: Reconnections and New Directions. CCA, 25-27 Nov 2020 [Show/Exhibition]

Kokoro and other film re-mixes (Horike's Heartbeat)

Birrell, Ross and Kaneko, Yasuko (2021) Kokoro and other film re-mixes (Horike's Heartbeat). Horike, Soja City Art Museum, Okayama, Japan, 9, 11 Nov 2021 [Show/Exhibition]

Audi Alteram Partem

Birrell, Ross, Harding, David, Türkoz, Saadet, Rohrer, Thomas and Mbembe, Achille (2021) Audi Alteram Partem. Krimminallabteilung Stadtpolizei Mühleweg, Zurich, 3-7 Nov 2021 [Show/Exhibition]

Unquiet Earth

Birrell, Ross and Gómez, Ángela Hoyos (2021) Unquiet Earth. Online broadcast, 18 July 2021 [Show/Exhibition]

GIOfest XIII: flattening the curve

Birrell, Ross and MacDonald, Raymond (2020) GIOfest XIII: flattening the curve. CCA, 26-28 Nov 2020 [Show/Exhibition]

Gloves Improvisation for Rachel Weiss, Edge Zones, 9th Miami Performance Festival International 2020

Birrell, Ross and Weiss, Rachel (2020) Gloves Improvisation for Rachel Weiss, Edge Zones, 9th Miami Performance Festival International 2020. Online festival, Miami, 9-11 Sep 2020 [Show/Exhibition]

Triptych, installation for Charged

Birrell, Ross and Harding, David (2019) Triptych, installation for Charged. Museum of Contemporary Art, Virginia Beach, USA, 21 Sep 2019 - 16 Feb 2020 [Show/Exhibition]

Triptych, Edinburgh Art Festival

Birrell, Ross and Harding, David (2018) Triptych, Edinburgh Art Festival. Trinity Apse, Edinburgh, 26 Jul - 26 Aug 2018 [Show/Exhibition]

The Transit of Hermes (Inverness)

Birrell, Ross (2018) The Transit of Hermes (Inverness). Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, 21 July - 15 Sept 2018 [Show/Exhibition]

The Transit of Hermes (CCA)

Birrell, Ross (2018) The Transit of Hermes (CCA). CCA, Glasgow, 19 Apr - 3 Jun 2018 [Show/Exhibition]

Criollo

Birrell, Ross (2017) Criollo. Neu Neu Galerie, Kassel, 10 Jun - 17 Sep 2017 [Show/Exhibition]

The Athens-Kassel Ride: The Transit of Hermes (d14)

Birrell, Ross (2017) The Athens-Kassel Ride: The Transit of Hermes (d14). Greece, Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Germany, 9 Apr - 10 Jul 2017 [Show/Exhibition]

The Transit of Hermes (d14)

Birrell, Ross (2017) The Transit of Hermes (d14). Greece, Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Germany, 9 Apr - 10 Jul 2017 [Show/Exhibition]

Where language ends

Birrell, Ross and Harding, David (2015) Where language ends. Talbot Rice Gallery, Edinburgh, 14 March - 2 May 2015 [Show/Exhibition]

The beginnings of that freedom, Parliament in the Making (2015)

Birrell, Ross (2015) The beginnings of that freedom, Parliament in the Making (2015). Westminster Hall, UK Parliament, Palace of Westminster, London, 20 January -12 December 2015 [Show/Exhibition]

Winter Line

Birrell, Ross and Harding, David (2014) Winter Line. Kunsthalle Basel, 17 January - 23 March 2014 [Show/Exhibition]

Duet: Lift Me Up For I Am Dying

Birrell, Ross (2013) Duet: Lift Me Up For I Am Dying. [Show/Exhibition]

Rodeo: Artists Films on R. B. Cunninghame Graham

Birrell, Ross, Bilbao, Carolina and Fagen, Graham (2013) Rodeo: Artists Films on R. B. Cunninghame Graham. [Show/Exhibition]

Quartet / Olinka Variations

Birrell, Ross and Harding, David (2012) Quartet / Olinka Variations. [Show/Exhibition]

Ross Birrell/David Harding and Douglas Gordon, You Like This Garden?

Birrell, Ross, Harding, David and Gordon, Douglas (2011) Ross Birrell/David Harding and Douglas Gordon, You Like This Garden? Portikus, Frankfurt am Main, 18 Nov 2011 - 22 Jan 2012 [Show/Exhibition]

Guantanamera

Birrell, Ross and Harding, David (2010) Guantanamera. Americas Society / Council of the Americas, 680 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10065, 17 May - 30 July 2011 [Show/Exhibition]

Homo Ludens: Works from the Envoy Series, 1998-2005

Birrell, Ross (2005) Homo Ludens: Works from the Envoy Series, 1998-2005. [Show/Exhibition]

Envoy - a series of site-specific interventions across Europe, Asia and America linked by the theme of Utopian literature and thought. Documented on video, photographic stills and text.

Birrell, Ross (2002) Envoy - a series of site-specific interventions across Europe, Asia and America linked by the theme of Utopian literature and thought. Documented on video, photographic stills and text. P_A_U_S_E, 4th Gwangju Biennale, Gwangju, South Korea and BüroFriedrich, Berlin; Utopia Station, [Show/Exhibition]

Legend: Keep true to the dreams of thy youth

Birrell, Ross (2001) Legend: Keep true to the dreams of thy youth. [Show/Exhibition]

Envoy

Birrell, Ross (2001) Envoy. 25 January 2003 to 01 March 2003 [Show/Exhibition]

Performance

Fugue

Birrell, Ross and Moraly, Ali (2017) Fugue. [Performance]

Symphony of Sorrowful Songs

Birrell, Ross and Harding, David (2017) Symphony of Sorrowful Songs. [Performance]

Video

Mariupolonaise

Birrell, Ross (2022) Mariupolonaise. [Video]

A Beautiful Living Thing [Part 2]: Improvisation #1

Birrell, Ross, Crotch, Joanna, Watt, Hugh and MacDonald, Raymond (2017) A Beautiful Living Thing [Part 2]: Improvisation #1. [Video]

A Beautiful Living Thing (2015)

Birrell, Ross, Crotch, Joanne and Watt, Hugh (2015) A Beautiful Living Thing (2015). [Video]

Port Bou: 18 Fragments for Walter Benjamin

Birrell, Ross and Harding, David (2006) Port Bou: 18 Fragments for Walter Benjamin. [Video]

Brave New World

Birrell, Ross (2001) Brave New World. [Video]

Audio

Zumwelt

Birrell, Ross (2022) Zumwelt. [Audio]

GIO audio remixes for Tide Wave Radio

Birrell, Ross (2021) GIO audio remixes for Tide Wave Radio. [Audio]

Animal Presences | Ross Birrell in conversation with Filipa Ramos

Birrell, Ross and Ramos, Filipa (2018) Animal Presences | Ross Birrell in conversation with Filipa Ramos. [Audio]

Other

Migration & the Anthropocene

Birrell, Ross (2017) Migration & the Anthropocene. The Glasgow School of Art.

Music as Model: orchestration, counterpoint and transposition​

Birrell, Ross (2017) Music as Model: orchestration, counterpoint and transposition​. The Glasgow School of Art.

Musical Composition and Improvisation in response to the 2014 Mackintosh Fire

Birrell, Ross (2015) Musical Composition and Improvisation in response to the 2014 Mackintosh Fire. The Glasgow School of Art.

ArtandResearch.org.uk

Currall, Alan and Birrell, Ross (2011) ArtandResearch.org.uk. Dr. Ross Birrell and Alan Currall, Glasgow, UK.