RAW Labs X Art Residency – Liquid bodies: Stains, Evidence, Intermingling and Trace

For our 11th residency as part of the RAW Labs X Art Residency, join artist Ellen Sampson to explore the metaphor and material culture of the stain in a special edition at the Lakeside Centre.

Ellen’s residency project explores the metaphor and material culture of the stain. Despite their material prevalence, there is little research into the meanings of stains and staining, and what exists is scattered across diverse fields. At a time when understanding our relationships to consumption and newness is critical, it asks how we might use the stain as a lens through which to understand our complex relationships to pollution, imperfection, damage and shame. How engaging with the multiple forms of staining manifest in our relationships to the world (from damaged garments and polluted landscapes to the traces of labour and violence) can counteract the wilful blindness which often underscores these relationships.

During the residency, she will work through four thematic groupings: evidence and indexicality, permanence and indelibility, accident and intention and shame and guilt, using photography, film and printmaking, and textual research to map the overlaps and lacunae between these categories.

Residency dates | Apr 7 – Apr 18
Open Studio | 15 -16 Apr
Workshops | 17 Apr 11:00am – 2:00pm | Exhibition | 17 Apr 5:00pm-9:00

Open Studios

Ellen invites anyone interested in visiting the space, collaborating, or learning more about his work to stop by the gallery from Monday, April 15 –Thursday, April 17. To arrange your visit, please contact Ellen directly via email info@ellensampson.com

Workshop

Framed around ideas of Cleaning and Labour, this workshop will use phone photography and mono-printing to explore perceptions of imperfection in everyday items, asking how we engage with the marks we leave on the world.

Drawing upon cultural theorist Roland Barthes’s writing, the workshop will begin with a look at artworks that address ideas of dirt and domestic labour. Ellen will then introduce mono-printing techniques, and together, we will use phone photography and mark marking to explore the similarities and differences between direct mark-making and photographic reproduction. Participants are asked to bring damaged garments they wish to photograph; all other materials will be provided. Please note that, for health and safety reasons, this workshop is intended for adults only.

To take part, please contact Ellen directly via email info@ellensampson.com Spaces are limited.

Exhibition

Join us for an evening of creativity, conversation, and celebration! The event will showcase the work created during my residency, as well as the participants’ workshop projects. Expect good music, great company, and a relaxed atmosphere. Workshop participants will also be invited to join for the evening event to showcase their creations. More activities may be announced throughout the residency!

More about the RAW Labs X Art Residency

The RAW Labs X Art Residency places a strong emphasis on creative growth and interdisciplinary dialogue, creating a unique space where art and community intersect. Supported by Notting Hill Genesis and Bow Arts, this initiative aims to foster interaction and encourage active participation in the cultural fabric of Royal Albert Wharf, enhancing both the artistic and communal experience. 

Over six months, selected artists will undertake two to three-week residencies in an immersive environment to expand their practice, explore new concepts, exchange diverse perspectives, and experiment with innovative approaches.