citizen – johnros.com

citizen
tash kahn & john ros
24 april – 15 july 2018
swiss cottage gallery, london, uk

THIS STATEMENT WAS RELEASED BY THE ARTISTS AFTER THE EXHIBIT WAS VANDALIZED. NEITHER THE GALLERY NOR THE COUNCIL EVER RELEASED AN OFFICIAL, PUBLIC STATEMENT:

citizen was a project conceived on the parameters of equality. this collaboration between two artists took time to develop, produce and execute. many wonderful people were involved. it was offered in this public space for all.

citizen is a public project that was vandalised. works were removed by a member of the public. motivations are still unknown.

citizen will continue. being a citizen (legal or not) of any space if difficult. we must be vigilant to hold those in power accountable and to support our neighbours — like-minded and not. it is not always how we react, but that we keep reacting to the injustices perpetrated in our name.

— tash kahn and john ros, july 2018

john ros detail of installation with tash kahn for citizen exhibition at swiss cottage gallery camden london uk

p r i n t s

john ros print for citizen exhibition at swiss cottage gallery camden london uk

camden wards cutout, 2018
laser print, edition of 10
14 x 11 in. / 35.5 x 28 cm
purchase

camden in london, 2018
laser print, edition of 10
12 x 9 in. / 30.5 x 23 cm
purchase

camden, london, uk, 2018
laser print, edition of 10
14 x 11 in. / 35.5 x 28 cm
purchase

the history of how a community treats citizen’s rights directly reflects our broader society, both now and in the past. a person’s ability and desire to protect basic human rights is a factor to how strong the fabric of community may be, allowing people to be free citizens capable of living life to their fullest. looking back in time reveals our triumphs as well as our shortcomings as a society.

tash kahn is interested in the differences and character of each of the london borough of camden’s voting wards and how things have changed over the years: has history left its mark or have areas changed beyond recognition? how do the inhabitants ‘inhabit’ the new, constantly changing space? using these questions as starting points she has travelled to each of the borough’s 18 wards, taking polaroids, collecting ‘finds’ and recording local sounds.

ros has looked back at voting districts throughout the borough, considering how they influence our identities as citizens. how does each new boundary shape identity? ros has researched several spaces and times within the current boundaries of the borough, looking at voting trends since women have been given the right to vote. in doing so, he has marked out visual representations of the area questioning: what is boundary? what is citizenry? how does one affect the other?

the two artists bring these ideas together to collaborate in an exhibition that celebrates 100 years of the women’s right to vote, focuses on aesthetics and ethics, and why people do what they do.

e x h i b i t i o n s u p p l e m e n t a l