Exhibition
Drink & Dial Hotline by Tom Estes - WW Gallery
The work of artist Tom Estes at WW Gallery Drink & Dial exhibition 27 Mar - 6 May 2010
Following on from their successful 'Travelling Light' exhibition which was part of the 53rd Venice Biennale, curators the WW Gallery recently announced Tom Estes as one of the artists for The WW Gallery big spring 2010 exhibition. 'Drink & Dial' runs for 6 weeks from 26th of March til the 6th of May. Here, curators Debra Wilson and Chiara Williams tell us about how the idea came about and what they were looking for from the artist.
"I personally don't know anyone who hasn't done it, and many of the failed preventative measures are hilarious in themselves" says Debra Wilson, who after listening to yet another cringe-making Drink & Dial episode from one of her friends, decided to look into the social phenomenon more closely.
A staggering 95% of us have drunk & dialled at least once in our lives according to a recent survey. WW invites artists to respond to the concept in any way they choose and all media will be considered. "Drink & Dial is open to interpretation, explains Chiara Williams, we were not necessarily looking for literal responses; we were happy to consider narrative or figurative works, but also works that may not have formally relate to the title of the show, that may have personal resonance for the artist and relate to the theme through abstract or conceptual language, through drawing, painting, sculpture, installation, video and performance."
"Spilling out of Drink & Dial are notions of obsession, desperation, repetition, loneliness, longing, self control, inhibition, regret, flashbacks, blackouts, hangovers, embarrassment...and no doubt many associations and experiences we won't have considered at all."
Drink & Dial Hotline by Tom Estes
'Drinking and Dialing' is the universal tendency of making regrettable phone calls while intoxicated. Fuelled by the need to express random thoughts and horny gibberish, calls are inevitably directed towards a romantic interest, although bosses, exes and parents are also known to bear the brunt. Phone companies and service providers have responded to the phenomenon by providing blocks on certain numbers and there are even applications that will lock you out until you're sober again...providing you remember to activate it before your first drink! For this exhibition, artist Tom Estes has decided to focus on process, exchange and collaboration, creating a ‘hotline’ to call when intoxicated. Visitors to The WW Gallery will be offered a free card with a telephone number to call.
The 6 week show, runs 26 March - 6 May. http://www.wilsonwilliamsgallery.com/dial.htm
Location: Hackney Downs
