Roger Hiorns Announces Open Call For Young Male Nude Models

Roger Hiorns

Roger Hiorns the 2009 Turner Prize nominated British artist, known for his installation ‘Seizure’ which consisted of an entire flat in a council estate coated in blue copper-oxide crystals, will exhibit his entire body of ‘Youth’ works for the first time as the inaugural exhibition at The Calder, the Hepworth Wakefield’s new 600 square metre contemporary art space located in the ground floor of a historic mill next to the main gallery site.

Hiorns has put out an open call for young, male, nude models who will need to pose for a daily rate of £80. The job advertised online says candidates should be “slim to medium build and preferably with a lean yet muscular build” will be considered for the roles. Youth is made up of park benches, steel tables,  jet and car engines that are “activated” through the presence of a naked youth and a small fire. Participants with “experience of nude public performance” are an asset for the two-month roles, which are similar to life drawing models.

Born in Birmingham in 1975, Hiorns began developing his Untitled (Youth) series during his studies at Goldsmiths College in the mid-1990s. Ten years younger than fellow Goldsmiths graduate Damien Hirst, and a decade on from the YBAs, Hiorns has become renowned for his ambitious and uncompromising work that asks key questions about mortality, belief and meaning.

Untitled (Youth) series comprises found objects, which includes street benches, jet and car engines and stainless steel preparation tables – all ‘activated’ through the presence of a naked youth, a small fire and a simple sequence of actions. Visitors to The Calder will be able to observe these live activates at timed intervals throughout each day.

“Since the late 90s, the time of the first showing of this work in Deptford, my interest was in solely presenting the human as being up again apparatus in the world.  This is a series of works presenting the artificial surfaces within the world, a group of works that can act as proposals on how to behave.”  He added: “Aircraft machinery was selected for its explicit position within the distinction of worldly power, it’s from a serving military vehicle.  Some objects selected are simply benign and easily overlooked.  Some propositions are over complicated. A white bench with the addition of brain power is perhaps too much.” Roger Hiorns

Hiorns will further explore the influence and meaning of the Untitled (Youth) series with a aural intervention within the space that will create a connection between Wakefield Cathedral and The Calder. Visitors will experience a backdrop of everyday sounds such as coughs, footsteps, choir practice, organ music or religious service that will be transmitted live from the Cathedral into The Calder.

Entry to the exhibition is free and The Calder is open Tuesday – Wednesday, 12 – 6pm, Thursday – Friday, 12 – 9pm, Saturday – Sunday, 12 – 6pm. Closed Mondays (except for Bank Holidays and school holidays)

Roger Hiorns Announces Open Call For Young Male Nude Models

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