Spirit Level
Jesse Darling
Takeshi Shiomitsu
21 February – 07 March 2015
Exhibition Opening: Friday 20 February 2015, 6 – 9pm
spirit
ˈspɪrɪt/
noun
1. the non-physical part of a person which is the seat of emotions and character; the soul.
2. the non-physical part of a person manifested as an apparition after their death; a ghost.
3. the prevailing or typical quality, mood, or attitude of a person, group, or period of time.
4. the real meaning or the intention behind something as opposed to its strict verbal interpretation
5. strong distilled alcoholic drink such as brandy, whisky, gin, or rum.
6. a highly refined substance or fluid thought to govern vital phenomena.
verb
1. convey rapidly and secretly
level
ˈlɛv(ə)l/
noun
1. a horizontal plane or line with respect to the distance above or below a given point.
2. a position on a scale of amount, quantity, extent, or quality.
3. an instrument marked with a line parallel to the plane of the horizon for testing whether things are horizontal.
adjective
1. having a flat, horizontal surface.
2. at the same height as someone or something else.
3. having the same relative position; not in front of or behind.
4. calm and steady.
verb
1. give a flat and even surface to.
Spirit Level is the 2nd collaborative exhibition by London-based artists Takeshi Shiomitsu and Jesse Darling. The artists’ first collaboration, Same Same (a series of site-specific architectures curated by Elene Abashidze) opened October 2014 at CAC 41N/41E Gallery in Bat’umi, Georgia, and ran until January 2015.
Jesse Darling (née James Walker, 1988, Melbourne) lives and works in London. In 2014 he received an MFA from the Slade School of Fine Art and was awarded the AHRC Studentship Grant by UCL in 2012. Recent solo exhibitions include Not Long Now, Lima Zulu, London (2014); Stockholm Syndrome and Other System Failures, Arcadia Missa, London (2012). Recent group shows include Material Girls and Their Muses at Marcelle Joseph Projects, It’s been four years since 2010, Preteen Gallery @ Arcadia Missa, London (2014) and Surplus Group Living Exhibition, Berlin (2014). Jesse Darling has contributed to talks at The Serpentine Extinction Marathon (2014) Wysing Arts Centre (2014), and David Roberts Art Foundation, commissioned by Banner Repeater, London (2014). Most recently in residence at Wysing Arts Centre, JD is represented by Arcadia_Missa.
Takeshi Shiomitsu (born 1983, Glasgow) lives and works in London. Shiomitsu graduated from Chelsea College of Arts & Design in 2011. Recent exhibitions include WASH, Happy Times, Milcote House, London (2014); Every line ever spoken (with Sandra Vaka Olsen), 68, Copenhagen (2014) and You Are Beautiful, LimaZulu, London (2013). Recent group exhibitions include June Snow, Evelyn Yard, London (2014); Unified Fabric, Arcadia Missa, London (2013); and Rencontres Internationales Paris/Berlin/Madrid, Palais de Tokyo, Paris (2012). Shiomitsu has contributed to publications Palace of Peace & Reconciliation (2014) and (networked) Every Whisper Is a Crash On My Ears (2013), both published by A_M.
Spirit Level is generously supported by The Elephant Trust.
