Don’t panic – it’s the return of Emergency to Aspex
EMERGENCY 2021
Aspex Gallery, Gunwharf Until October 10 aspex.org.uk
Along-running international art show celebrating the work of emerging artists is back for its ninth edition at Aspex Gallery in Portsmouth. Emergency takes place every two years and artists of any age and fromanywhere in the world were eligible to apply for inclusion in Emergency 2021.
The artists in this year’s exhibition are: Helen Anna Flanagan (Netherlands), Portsmouth-based Vera Hadzhiyska (UK), Eugene Macki (UK), Adriane Morard (Germany), Rhys Morgan (UK), Rossella Nisio (UK), Jim Roseveare (Netherlands) and Jessica Wetherly (UK).
The open call generated more than 300 submissions and the final eight were selected by the guest panel of judges, Alessio Antoniolli, director at Gasworks; Helen Cammock, artist; and Will Lunn, director of Copperfield Gallery with Joanne Bushnell, director of Aspex.
Opening to the public in Aspex’s 40th-anniversary year, Emergency 2021 features work in a range of media including sculpture, photography and moving image. For the first time since launching in 2004, half of the exhibiting artists are presenting digital video work. The work spans a broad range of themes, from labour and the body, to familial and national heritage and identity, to encounters with nature and anxiety over the future of the environment.
Alessio says: ‘We were impressed by the wonderful variety of practices, styles and topics shown in the submissions of the candidates.
‘We are hoping that the shortlist provides a snapshot of the eclecticism and fantastic creativity of some of the many artists who have applied.’
As in previous years and, as a key part of Aspex’s work to support emerging artists, one of the eight artists is selected for a solo exhibition, which will be at Aspex in 2022.
This time the honour goes to London-based Jessica Wetherly. She says: ‘I was honoured to be selected as part of Emergency and to be awarded the solo show in 2022 was the icing on the cake.
‘As artists we work a lot of tireless hours for no financial gain and it is both humbling and joyous when you are rewarded for your hard work. I hope everyone who comes enjoys all the work on show, it is amazing to be in such good company.’
Joanne adds: ‘We are thrilled – after waiting over a year – to now be opening this very special edition of Emergency, as part of our 40th-anniversary programme.
‘Supporting artists at the start of their careers, and giving them a platform to engage with audiences, is at the heart of what Aspex is about.
‘We are so excited to be able to see this work in real life, to finally meet this incredible group of artists, and
I hope everyone who comes enjoys all the work on show