Catalogue > At random

An inquisitive voice from the far future, or "visitor from another place", interrogates the traditions and artefacts of the Blackpool Illuminations, the annual light festival first established in 1879. The disembodied voice seeks to understand, but often confuses, Northern English vernacular and traditions against the current shifting political dialogue surrounding Britain's future; misunderstanding Blackpool's unique fantastical imagery as totemic remnants of a former era. Daniels presents his own contemporary 16mm and super-8 film observations as a found archive, and a script littered with word-play related to the local landscape and other seaside end-of-the-pier resorts. Co-comissioned by Grundy Art Gallery and ICA Art and Screen Network.

Chris Paul Daniels is an Artist and Filmmaker, based in Manchester. His work is characterised by experimental documentation of communal perspectives and memories regarding geographical location .He graduated from the Royal College of Art in 2010 and co-won the Deutsche Bank Award for Art with Maria Anastassiou for Unravel, the longest hand painted ?lm in Britain. This project resulted in one hundred public events across the UK including Tate Britain, BFI Southbank, Turner Contemporary and IKON Gallery. In December 2016, Unravel undertook a residency at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. His recent commissions include `SAFE` at HOME in Manchester, "A Tigers Skin" at CFCCA, and "One Square Mile" for Quays Culture (with Sam Meech). Screenings include the ICA, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Maxxi, Winnipeg Underground Film Festival and Flatpack Film Festival. His most recent film "Northern Lights" is a co-commission between ICA Art and Screen Network and Grundy Art Gallery. Chris is a Lecturer at Manchester School of Art.