University of Newcastle   2006/2007

Richard Hollinshead

Previous PhD research, which was by practice, examined the role of the ‘sculpture park’ as a cultural, historical and recreational site, focusing in particular on the collaborating establishment, Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Through a reflexive approach the sculpture park landscape was analysed through reference to key modernist concerns of unity, autonomy, and composition; the aesthetics of domestic space; and the critique of the Heritage and Tourist industries.

Key points in the historic development of the British recreational landscape - the 18th century Landscape Garden, the 19th century urban public park, and contemporary attitudes to countryside and nature – have been important reference points in my work, which until recently has been focussed on landscape. My current work, which focuses on animals, is a departure from that but nonetheless still rooted to key historical points such as the Enlightenment, neo-classicism and the Zoological movement.

The current work, which comprises three artworks that I hope to complete through the AA2A programme, marries these historical references with their contemporary legacy of bio-engineering, animal ethics and polarised perspectives of animals (and, by extension, people).

In short, my hypothesis is that Pokemon is the bastard offspring of badger baiting and Top Trumps.