Tag Archives: UK

Curator Spotlight: Patricia Brien

Curating is a relatively new path for Patricia Brien, but it has been in development for a long time. Our Curator has an extensive experience in the academic field. Having taught in several universities at principal and senior lecturer levels and being employed in academic management positions, she knows how to organise and structure matters. Even in her speech this quality is recognisable, Patricia’s sentences are thought through. She is not afraid to take a deliberate pause to find the right word that will pierce through. Also, her approach to curation presents quiet moments for artistic thought. When conducting curation process, she believes in giving freedom to create. Observing the participants, Patricia detects connecting points within the group and thereafter forms a wireframe for a coherent exhibition.

An underlaying theme for this curator is human position in relationship to the inhuman, such as animals, plants and the unseen such as air and particles. She is inspired by neo-paganist love for rituals and storytelling, appreciating existing customs as well as creating new narratives, assigning meaning to objects and acts of no significance. Patricia Brien prefers site-specific work. This involves going outside and working with others or bringing the outside world inside. This Curator’s creative practice employs a two directional approach. Using both top-down and bottom-up strategies, Patricia can introduce efficiency within the group dynamics, simultaneously encouraging exchange of opinions and 2-way learning.

Patricia Brien is a lifelong learner and traveller. She has lectured and curated student work in numerous institutions, on different continents. Our curator has been exposed to numerous fields of study, though a lurking theme has been the fashion industry- covering fashion shows in Paris, investigating and incorporating sustainable and ethical fashion design. Her passion is textile art. Textile art is still an underrated art form, historically discriminated and dogmatised by the art world because it has been defined by the patriarchal canon as incapable of conceptual content due its historical connection with women.

The stay in Leipzig has given Patricia a taste for residencies, although she has previously taken part in several others, currently she is looking forward to producing her own work as well as creating community engagement projects with other artists.

Patricia Brien is a person who is always becoming, constantly doing something new. She considers daily rituals as an important means to centre oneself. She believes that throughout life we can continue to change and develop. Otherwise it’s boring.

written by Agnes


Reset unsettling flesh layers / vernissage / PK at AHS

Friday, 15. November 2019
19:00 bis 22:00

Alte Handelsschule, Gießerstraße 75, Kleinzschocher, 04229 Leipzig, Deutschland

Overwhelmed incorporeal happiness / vernissage / PK RD41

Saturday, 14. December 2019
19:00 – 22:00