ARTIST # 16: MARK BLEAKLEY
In April this year, as a result of the Covid- 19 pandemic, the 2020 edition of the Edinburgh Art Festival had to be cancelled. However, as Edinburgh and its vibrant visual art scene begin to emerge from lockdown we are delighted to present this weekly showcase, produced alongside Edinburgh Art Festival, featuring work by artists with digital and/ or physical exhibitions at the city’s galleries.
As an artist and choreographer, Mark Bleakley presents works in both dance and visual arts contexts. Formally trained in visual art at Newcastle University, his practice is informed through practicing Black social dance forms ( Bboying/ Breakdancing) and House dance. Bleakley’s practice incorporates contemporary choreographic and improvisational approaches. The artist develops compositions combining video, the body and text to explore choreographic relations between gesture, context and their effects.
Bleakley is one of four artists invited to create work for this years edition of Platform, the Edinburgh Art Festival’s annual exhibition featuring artists in the early stages of their careers. The work Bleakley is developing for the show is a playful exploration of the poetics of weight and gravity, consisting of two films and an installation of block prints.
Giving Weight is a document using Super8 and 16mm film of a workshop exploring sensations of grounding, groundless( ness) and inertia. The second film, Jeopardies, continues to explore these sensations though the form of a corrupted TV game- show format.
Platform is at the City Art Centre in Edinburgh until 29 November, www. edinburghartfestival. com/ whats- on/ detail/ platform- 2020