STORIES HIGH

Exhibition: Tuesday 22 November – Sunday 22 January

Stories High is a collaborative response to Embassy Court between artist/writer Rowena Easton and photographer Pete Jones. This icon of the Modern Movement was once home to Brighton’s glamorous and wealthy. However, in recent years this 11 storey residential block has fallen into a terrible state of disrepair.

Embassy Court’s fascinating history has inspired many urban myths; from its early years and the gossip that surrounds celebrity, to the ugly rumours perpetuated by its recent state. These have evolved into an oral tradition, which has become an integral part of its architecture. Rowena has constructed a series of texts about the building using fragments of gossip, conversation and interviews. The texts, located somewhere between memory and the imagined, reveal a structure full of drama and humour which, despite the building’s derelict appearance, is very much alive.

A dialogue is established between image and text by the artist’s investigation of the architecture on an intimate scale. Aside from Pete’s documentation of the building as a statement of architectural grandeur, the main focus of his work is in the texture of decay and the chance evidence of occupancy. This dual perspective highlights the dialogue between Modernist aspiration and the resident’s own experience.

www.embassycourt.co.uk

There will be a story-telling event associated with this exhibition, on Saturday 21 January.

Have a look at our Events page for more information.

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