Summerhall announces Visual Arts Programme for Spring 2014

Edinburgh alternative arts space Summerhall has announced its plans for a spring programme of visual arts-related events today, with shows booked in from the likes of Stefan Rollof, Karin Gunnarsson, Stephanie Mann, Ian Hughes, Colin Jarvie, Kevin Williamson, Thomas Anderson, Harry Papadopoulos, Alan Smithee and Dieter Roth. There will also be a special life drawing workshop with artist Dennis J. Reinmüller. 

Launching on 7 Feb with a night of music and performance from celebrated cross-media spoken word favourites Neu! Reekie!, featuring an exclusive performance from Davy Henderson's band The Sexual Objects. This will serve as the launch night for the ten exhibitions that follow, all of which are being launched and opened at the same time, and will continue until 22 March.

The exhibitions include work from Berlin-based Stefan Roloff, who combines installation with video to create environments that reinforce the message of his politically committed films. Karin Gunnarsson’s work examines the otherworldly-ness and absence associated with ghosts. Stephanie Mann gives a contemporary twist to that tradition by the use of video and photography alongside large wall installations to expand the framing of her works beyond simply the canvas. Ian Hughes' work presents pieces in the style of religious icons, and looks at the enduring horror of the Holocaust.

Thomas Anderson creates adaptations from memorable works of fiction, while Colin Jarvie's exhibition explores two of the late photographer's contrasting ‘realities’ from the series My World, My Wife, My Camera and Juan y… and (The Bus Drivers of Acapulco). Kevin Williamson will be presenting eight short films inspired by the Queen of Disco, Donna Summer, while Alan Smithee's installation The Grudge Shed will allow visitors to "leave small sacrifices and tributes to the gods of grievance" in Summerhall's courtyard.

Master print maker, obsessive cataloguer and lover of all decay Dieter Roth will be represented with a small exhibition of bookworks, printed editions and ephemera, while Harry Papadopolous will exhibit a selection of photographs he captured during the post-punk waterfront, including Edwyn Collins and Orange Juice, and Peter Capaldi's band The Dreamboys. Reinmüller's drawing class, The Black Lab, will run every Wedenesday night at 6-8pm from 12 February to 26 March. Full details of the programme will be available soon at the Summerhall website.