Shipsides and Beggs Projects

This section is UNDER CONSTRUCTION and review.....


Via Ferrata Research Project 2009/10/11

BIVACCO 2011 (HD video 21min)
Ulster Iron Way / Marmolada Beez 2010
Marmolada Beez 2010 (text and image)
Still not out of the woods 2009
The Hanging 2008 (also with Tibaut Espiau)
Alphabet Climb 2004
Real time One 2004

Texts:

Shipsides and Beggs Projects at the Death Of Delawab 2010 - Slavka Sverakova

Shipsides and Beggs Projects - Artists commentry:

Dan Shipsides and Neal Beggs.

Since 1996 and becoming aware of each others work which centres around their shared passion for mountaineering and rock climbing, Shipsides and Beggs have been occasional collaborators - though they prefer to call it a partnership.

This had led to several co-authored works and many mutually supported projects.

 

"In the mid 90's we were working in similar areas and themes, and since then our two practices have run on parallel trajectories - which come together at various times over the years through sharing or co-developing research and production processes, assisting and promoting each others practice and also by co-authoring artworks together.

We met accidently in Glasgow in 1997. I was just finishing an Master of Fine Art programme in Belfast and Neal an MA in Glasgow. We both conceptually developed out of a painting approach. We were both climbing up, around and both jumping off things in the name of art and climbing. Admittedly then our relationship began with paranoia over the other artist making similar work and using the same or similar subject matter. Who did it first? Who copied who? Who did it best? Who was ahead? The art world dynamic isn't ever far away.

Confronting this in 2001 we decided to develop an open, supporting and co-developing attitude to our work – seeing it as contribution to expanding and exploring our shared ideas and concerns and ultimately making our experiences in art and climbing richer. Meeting again in Paris in 2002 whilst I was developing the Rochers à Fontainebleau project and Neal working on Adidas Kids - we shared ideas of work in progress.

This in many ways develops out of a climbers' necessity for partnership – the micro society of two people tied to the same rope. I invited Neal to join me on a residency in Montserrat in 2003 because I wanted a climbing partner who shared my enthusiasm for art and climbing. Climbers usually or predominantly climb in pairs – as a partnership – sharing the same or similar aims and motivations – but they are still individuals who may act and see things differently. But they are tied to the same rope. This is a metaphor we find useful. We do not act as a single voice – we do not claim to fully share decisions. We discuss and give space to each others enthusiasm and skills. Through this we realize differences and nuances in each of our approaches, outlooks and skills.

Philsophically I believe that most of our work since 1996 has at least some development rapport if not a direct relationship. Our art practices travel on similar or adjecent tragectories and explore shared themes and ideas through different and not so different methodologies.

Several projects have been and continue to be enabled by this partnership – some as individuals and some as a co-authoring partnership." Dan Shipsides 2010

Ulster Iron Way / Marmolada Beez 2010
Marmolada Beez 2010 (text and image)
Still not out of the woods 2009
The Hanging 2008 (also with Tibaut Espiau)
Alphabet Climb 2004
Real time One 2004

 

Biogs.

Dan Shipsides (born 1972 Lancashire, England), MFA University of Ulster, Belfast and is now based in Belfast at Orchid Studios and teaches at the School of Art & Design at the University of Ulster.

Neal Beggs (born 1959 Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland), MA Glasgow School of Art, now based in Northern France and teaches at the art school in Bourges.

Neal's website: http://www.nealbeggs.com