Master Class: Richard Wentworth

Richard Wentworth discusses his hugely influential practice, which has placed him at the forefront of New British Sculpture since the end of the 1970s, altering the traditional definition of sculpture and photography. By transforming and manipulating industrial and found objects into works of art, Wentworth subverts their original function and extends our understanding of them by breaking the conventional system of classification. The sculptural arrangements play with the notion of ready-made and juxtaposition of objects that bear no relation to each other. In his photographic work, as in the ongoing series Making Do and Getting By, Wentworth documents the everyday, paying attention to objects, occasional and involuntary geometries as well as uncanny situations that often go unnoticed.

Richard Wentworth(b. 1947, Samoa) lives and works in London. Major solo presentations include Bold Tendencies, Peckham, London, UK (2015), Black Maria with Gruppe, Kings Cross, London, UK (2013), Whitechapel Gallery, London, UK (2010), 52nd Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy (2009), TATE, Liverpool, UK (2005), Artangel, London, UK (2002), Bonner Kunstverein, Bonn, Germany (1998), Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (1994), Serpentine Gallery, London, UK (1993). Recent group shows include Foundling Museum, London, UK (2016), MAC, Belfast, Ireland (2016), Hayward Gallery, London, UK (2015) and Nottingham Contemporary, Nottingham, UK (2014).

This talk is part of the Testing Ground: Master Class programme, a week long intensive with leading international artists sharing their expertise with a small group of emerging artists from around the country. Led by artist Doug Fishbone, this year's artists are: Ericka Beckman, Jake Chapman, Michael Dean and Richard Wentworth. Each of the artists, in addition to working with the emerging artists, will present a free evening lecture to the public about their work.

Master Class: Guest Artist’s Talks
Wed 24 January: Richard Wentworth
Thur 25 January: Jake Chapman
Sat 27 January: Ericka Beckman
Sun 28 January: Michael Dean