MATT ROBERTS-ARTS

Matt Roberts-Arts is a not for profit organisation founded in December 2006, to create opportunities for early career artists in new locations and new contexts, and to link up networks in London with potential partners across Britain. Matt Roberts has used his experience gained as Chairman of the Conjunction Group to assemble a team with experience in publishing event management, and administration who will continue to develop links with young artists and curators and aid in the development of their careers.

In order to reach early career artists team members and associates visit openings and graduate shows across Britain and approach promising artists working in all genres. This not only leads to more artists gaining exhibition experience but also ensures the consistent strength of the curation.

The Bi-Monthly Matt Roberts-Arts Newsletter allows associate artists the opportunity to keep up to date on this year’s curatorial programme, and lists a number of events and opportunities relevant to their careers taken from our network of contacts.

Situation Leeds:
Saint Sebastian
Matt Roberts’ interest in Public Art lies in positing a sculpture that relies upon a level of participation determined by the viewer. Modernist Architecture through ordering public space meant a contemporary populace feeling a lack of control over their passage though urban space which has led to the reclamation of space by Free-runners and Skate culture.

Saint Sebastian is a piece referring to the Christian Saint who was martyred twice. After being clubbed by Roman soldiers he was restored to health by a Christian woman but was re-captured tied to a post and shot to death by arrows. The narrative has been handled by a number of Great Masters, although the violent tragedy of the scene is impossible to impart merely through images.

Saint Sebastian will be realised by dragging a punch bag to Hyde Park, where an audience is invited to club the prostrate bag, after which it is tied up to a tree using a length of rope and pierced by arrows. By beating the sculpture the work allows an audience an insight into the psychic drama of the original story more so than a two-dimensional image would allow.

When: Mon 21 - Sat 26 May 2006
Where: Hyde Park Leeds
Further information:
View the Situation Leeds website