Art Research Communication

Ergin Çavuşoğlu at Threshold artspace

Voyage of No Return
A new Horsecross commission curated by Iliyana Nedkova
Threshold artspace
Perth Concert Hall, Horsecross, Mill Street, Perth
31 January – 3 March 2009

Artist Ergin Çavuşoğlu and a multinational ten-strong cast and crew spent five windswept days on the West Coast of Scotland in January filming his most recent artwork Voyage of No Return, a new Horsecross commission for its Threshold artspace.

Currently showing on the twenty two screen Threshold Wave at Perth Concert Hall, Voyage of No Return is Horsecross’ most ambitious contemporary art commission to date and the first solo exhibition to feature on the video installations that dominate the stunning Glassrooms area at the Fair City’s newest and most exciting arts venue.

Inspired by Italo Calvino’s Invisible Cities and Marcel Broodthaers’ film Un Voyage en Mer du Nord, Voyage of No Return takes the form of a short feature film. Shot on location in Oban, the film deals with the notion of a city and its harbour which only witness departures, and no returns – a particularly poignant subject in this year of Homecoming when it is hoped that many Scottish migrants will choose to revisit their country of origin.

Seen through the eyes of a father and son, the piece also considers universal issues of mobility and family ties, which the artist hopes will have resonance with visitors who will experience this multiple-screen video art installation at the artspace.

Çavuşoğlu says: “Migrations happen all the time for personal, economic or other reasons and all of us have experienced this in some way. Very often, leaving, and the decisions behind it have profound effects on family relationships and dynamics – the father and son dialogue in Voyage of No Return explores some of these issues in a broader philosophical sense. I was inspired by the striking landscape around Oban – the function of its port as gateway to the isles and the fact that it has a history of departures was particularly relevant to the work. McCaig’s Tower the local ‘folly’ which, as well as the harbour provides a focal point for the film is both architecturally and historically fascinating. Shooting the piece in winter, whilst practically challenging, gave it the subdued atmosphere I was looking for.”

Also on view at the Threshold artspace are three of the artist’s earlier films recreated as 22-channel video installations – Midnight Express, Empire (after Andy Warhol) and Fog Walking collectively induce a sense of nocturnal transience and gloomy foreboding.

In addition, the exhibition features Ergin Çavuşoğlu’s own pick and mix from the Horsecross collection including Jason Dee’s new commission, x24, sparkling with the glamorous flavour of 1950s Hollywood.

Iliyana Nedkova, Horsecross creative director (contemporary art) said: “It is a real coup for Horsecross to secure a commission by Ergin Çavuşoğlu. We are delighted to be able to add exhibition copies of Voyage of No Return, as well as Ergin’s recent trilogy, to our growing collection of contemporary art – Scotland’s one and only permanent public collection of its kind. It has been so inspiring to work with Ergin on developing these new works over the last year that we will soon launch another lasting legacy of the project – a limited edition Voyage of No Return photograph which will be Horsecross’ latest offer for collectable contemporary art from our new initiative Collect + Support.”

Voyage of No Return and other works by Ergin Çavuşoğlu are initially showing at the Threshold artspace located at Perth Concert Hall from 31 January – 3 March 2009. For further information on these free exhibitions contact the Horsecross Box Office on 0044 (0)1738 621031 or visit www.horsecross.co.uk

Launched in September 2005, Threshold artspace is about positioning Perth and Scotland within the contemporary art world at large through commissioning, producing, exhibiting, publishing and collecting.

Voyage of No Return is co-produced by the artist and Horsecross for Threshold artspace in partnership with 55degrees, Glasgow, Haunch of Venison, London, and Galerist, Istanbul. Supported by the University of Portsmouth and the Scottish Arts Council.

The exhibition is accompanied by a new issue of Read More – Horsecross journal of critical writing ISSN 1755-0866 (Online) – featuring a newly commissioned essay about selected works from the collection.

Voyage of No Return
Principal Cast and Crew
Script Writer and Artist/Director – Ergin Çavuşoğlu
Script Writer – Arnold Barkus
Principal Actor, Old Man – Graham Padden
Principal Actor, Young Man – Peter Barfield
Director of Photography (DOP) – Emre Erkmen
DOP Assistant – Jürgen Daum
Production Manager – Susan Doak
Sound Recordist – Chris Campion
Sound Assistant – Andy Walsh
Grip – Mark Dorris
Extras – Spotlight Musical Theatre Group, Oban