News
October 2018
Changing the Landscape's Sarah Kogan will be presenting an overview of the project in commemoration of Armistice Day at The Photographers' Gallery in London on 9th November 2018 at 18.30 with Lucy Greeves and Eleanor Skan from Turned Red Earth. Book here
September 2018
The White War / La Guerra Bianca
Sarah Kogan
Curated by Stephen Nelson
The white war is a site-specific art installation by British artist Sarah Kogan, for the conclusion of the First World War centenary; it forms part of her four-year project Changing the Landscape. The installation is curated by Stephen Nelson for Museo d'Arte Contemporanea di Cogliandrino(MACC), a non-profit artist-run space in Basilicata, southern Italy that aims to enable international artists to explore and develop new ideas in their practice, in a stimulating and diverse setting.
Kogan’s installation consists of a large-format First World War photograph (1916) of the Italian Alpinitroops, who were conscripted from Basilicata between 1915 and 1918. The image will be installed within an isolated bus stop on the edge of the mountainous Pollino National Park, Basilicata. The Alpini fought the Central Powers, primarily the Austrian army, from trenches imbedded in the snow of the mountain border, leading to catastrophic loss of life and the title of the Italian campaign: the white war.
Whilst paying homage to the losses suffered by the Basilicata Regiment, the piece references religious iconographic images of martydom, with the Alpini and their weapons reminiscent of frescos and paintings of Christ carrying the cross on Golgotha; in addition to the work of Pier Paolo Pasolini, who filmed TheGospel According to St. Matthewin Basilicata.
The image chosen by Kogan was used by the Austrian troops on a postcard in 1916, emphasising the use of photography during the First World War as a propaganda tool. This reference is continued through the use of a bus shelter to display the work, since such structures are often used to display posters and announcements. The fabric of the bus shelter is integral to how we view the image, which is broken up into panels, dissected by metal crosses and struts; mirroring other works made in Kogan’s Changing the Landscapeseries, which was displayed across a sequence of museum display boxes.
Sarah Kogan is a British artist and curator who works in the East End of London. Her 2016/17 multimedia Battle of the Somme visual arts project, Changing the Landscape,was supported by public funding from The National Lottery through Arts Council of England and exhibited as the first contemporary art exhibition at The National Archives UK, touring to Atrium Gallery, LSE and Manchester Central Library, with a public engagement of over five million online and live visitors. She is currently curating the multimedia exhibition Space Shiftfor APT Gallery, London. She has exhibited extensively in solo and group shows with recent work selected by Alison Wilding for Creekside Open 2017at the APT Gallery, London and for Summer Salon 2017at Luborimov/Angus Hughes Gallery, London. In addition, Sarah is a visiting lecturer at Chelsea College of Arts, UAL, the Estorick Collection, and on the groundbreaking Art of Psychiatry module at Bethlem Royal Hospital. Contributions to academic conferences include the British Library, The National Archives UK and Roehampton University.
Archive photo: courtesy of the Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Firenze
Changing the Landscape presents The White War by Sarah Kogan at the Museo d'Arte Contemporanea di Cogliandrino (MACC), Italy curated by artist Stephen Nelson.
March 2017
Changing the Landscape will continue at Manchester Central Library until Monday 27 March 2017. Join the 5 million online and live visitors!
Changing the Landscape workshops at Manchester Central library invited 90 adults and children to contribute and curate new 'representations' of Barney's 1916 Somme journey. Particularly moving to see 10 year old refugee Gabriella's portrait of Barney as a child- both are children of the diaspora.
Changing the Landscape workshops, led by artist Sarah Kogan, commence on w/c 13 February 2017 at Manchester Central Library. Looking forward to welcoming schools and community groups.
January 2017
Changing the Landscape exhibition has been extended until the end of March 2017 at Manchester Central Library. Come and visit.
Happy new year to everyone who visited Changing the Landscape in 2016. The National Archives UK, LSE and Manchester Central Library have estimated public engagement at almost five million! Many thanks to all who have supported the project. We will continue to exhibit in Manchester until Spring 2017.
November 2016
Uncle Barney in sunbeam by Sarah Kogan, Somme 2014. Never again.
Changing the Landscape in guide to top 10 exhibitions in Manchester.
Changing the Landscape has exhibited in three venues of national importance during 2016 and is now installed in Reading Room in Manchester Central Library.
October 2016
Changing the Landscape opens in iconic Wolfson Reading Room, Manchester Central Library, 24 October 2016 to 3 March 2017. Private view Thursday, 3 November 2016.
Last chance to catch Jeremy Bubb's four screen film 'Palimpsest' at Atrium Gallery, London School of Economics, before we move to Manchester Central Library!
We are delighted to announce that Changing the Landscape will be installed in the Wolfson Reading Room at Manchester Central Library, 24 October 2016 - 3 March 2017. Private View, 3 November 2016.
September 2016
Changing the Landscape at Atrium Gallery, London School of Economics 19 September to 21 October.
Private view 22 September 2016 19.00-20.30
We are delighted to announce that Changing the Landscape will be installed at The Atrium Gallery, London School of Economics, WC2A 2AE 19 September to 21 October 2016. Please see times here
Sarah Kogan will be discussing her five year research journey with principal military specialist, William Spencer, at The National Archives on Tuesday 6 September 2016, 14.00-15.00. Please book this FREE event here.
Read Sarah Kogan's article Changing the Landscape: An Individual in Conflict published by History Workshop Online here
Changing the Landscape exhibition opens in central London in September 2016. New paintings by Sarah Kogan to be shown.
June 2016
This letter and postcard were sent home to Hackney by Barney Griew on the night before his death in the Battle of the Somme. The letter was for his brother and the postcard for his sister. The irony of 'As usual doing nothing' is that Barney was on a secret mission, with the other scouts, to cross No Man's Land and cut the German wire for the British assault the next day.
An image a day, in the name of peace in Europe, for the centenary of the Battle of the Somme by Rifleman Barney Griew. He died on the 1st July 1916, fighting from 'Yiddish Street' trench, Gommecourt - the British son of immigrants fleeing persecution. 30,000 allied and German troops died alongside him. See images here on Historypin
Changing the Landscape artist Sarah Kogan will present Drawing from The Archives at The National Archives on Thursday 9th June 2016, 14.00-15.30 hours. If you fancy drawing directly from archival material please join us. Book here
May 2016
Sarah Kogan 'in conversation' with Kate Wheeler from The National Archives on 5 May 2016. Interesting debate focusing on narrative, memory and art.
Thursday, 5 May 2016, 14.00-15.00 hours, Sarah Kogan will be 'In conversation' at The National Archives. Free tickets can be booked here.
April 2016
Good article on Changing the Landscape in Centenary News website:
http://www.centenarynews.com/article/changing-the-landscape---artists-personal-quest-for-great-uncle-killed-on-the-somme
April 2016
Fantastic Changing the Landscape talks evening at The National Archives hearing tales of Tiananmen Sq from photographer Stuart Franklin, Bedlam and Broadmoor from Bethlem Hospital's Dr. Tim McInerny & Falklands & The Somme from TNA military specialist William Spencer. Brilliantly chaired by Jeremy Bubb.
The Individual in Conflict talks evening, will be presented by Changing the Landscape at The National Archives on Wednesday 20 April 2016. Speakers include: Stuart Franklin, Magnum's award winning photographer; Dr Tim McInerny, Consultant forensic Psychiatrist at The Royal Bethlem Hospital and William Spencer, Principal Military Specialist at The National Archives.
Changing the Landscape opens to the public at The National Archives today, Tuesday 12 April 2016 9.00-19.00 hours, for the first time!
Changing the Landscape producer and curator, Sarah Kogan, talking to ITN News about her five year arts project on the eve of the exhibition opening at The National Archives 12 April - 17 September 2016.
Jeremy Bubb's specially commissioned brand new four part video installation
Palimpsest will open at The National Archives, London 12 April - 17 September 2016 in Changing the Landscape's Battle of the Somme centenary exhibition.
March 2016
Changing the Landscape is delighted to announce The individual in conflict: an evening of talks to accompany our exhibition at The National Archives, Kew. This will take place at TNA on:
Wednesday, 20 April 2016
17.15 - 1915.
Speakers:
Dr Stuart Franklin, award winning photographer, discussing his iconic Tank Man series, focusing on the 1989 protests in Tiananmen Square.
Dr Tim Mcinerny, leading consultant forensic psychiatristic at The Royal Bethlem Hospital, discussing the role of the First World War in mental health and the development of psychiatric care.
William Spencer, prinicpal military expert at The National Archives, discussing a personal and professional view of the Battle of the Somme and war in general.
This will be followed by a panel Q & A
This is a free event, but booking is essential here
Copyright: Stuart Franklin 2016
Changing the Landscape's Sarah Kogan talking about the artist as a catalyst for change within major heritage organisations at Archivist as Interpreter conference at The British Library.
Changing the Landscape specially commissioned series of films by Jeremy Bubb and Sarah Kogan to be exhibited from April 2016 in London. Venue to be announced shortly.
January 2016
Jeremy Bubb talking at the Meccsa annual conference at Canterbury Christ Church Unversity, Kent about his film 'Palimpsest' commissioned by Changing the Landscape and previewing in London, April 2016.
Changing the Landscape team setting up photo shoot for the 2016 catalogue and London exhibition.
December 2015
Changing the Landscape 2016 exhibition catalogue will follow the journey of Barney Griew, Somme mapmaker 1916 interpreted by his great niece, British artist Sarah Kogan marking the centenary of the Battle of the Somme.
September 2015
Changing the Landscape's 2016 education programme is now being planned by Nathalie Ginvert. It will primarily focus on community groups and schools in Hackney, East London where Barney Griew's parents settled in the 19th Century and Barney was born and attended Hackney Downs Grocers' Company's School before working in the family furniture manufactory in Hoxton Square. Exciting venue to be announced shortly.
Uncle Barney's brother Sam & sister Ethel who died in Hackney, London in the 19th Century diptheria epidemic.
Images of Barney by artist Sarah Kogan for the Changing the Landscape 2016 Battle of the Somme exhibition in London.
Working with https://www.historypin.org to recreate Barney's 1916 journey from Hackney, East London to The Somme, Northern France in 1916. Looking at ways of using images and text on a digital map.
Trying to pinpoint which maps Barney worked on within The National Archives, UK collection.
June 2015
Jeremy Bubb filming for Changing the Landscape in East London. Following the journey of Barney Griew. Matthew Gunston on camera.
Changing the Landscape studio was the venue for the first planning meeting with Nathalie Ginvert, who will be heading the education strand in 2016. Great to hear some plans for bringing the project to diverse groups from the same East London location that Barney left, headed for the Somme, in 1916.
Changing the Landscape studio will be open on Friday,12th June 2015 6 -7.30pm at Southgate Studios, 2 Southgate Road, N1 3JJ. Please feel free to drop in. All welcome.
April 2015
Soon to be announced: venues and programme for 2016 Changing the Landscape ACE funded multimedia Battle of the Somme exhibitions in London. Watch this space.
December 2014
Happy birthday Barney Griew, born in Hackney, London, 5th December 1896. Died The Somme, France 1st July 1916.
November 2014
Presenting paper on Changing the Landscape as part of programmed arts research day at The National Archives, UK. Very interesting to hear the other speakers talking about arts outreach work fascilitated by ARK at the Archives.
October 2014
Meeting the French descendents of WW1 on a Changing the Landscape East End studio visit by the Lycee in Toulouse. The group are touring the Somme battlefields followed by WW1 Centenary projects in London.
September 2014
Changing the Landscape will be opening the studio doors for The Whitechapel Gallery's First Thursdays 2nd October 2014 6-9pm (one night only). Please see Contact page for address.
Jeremy Bubb's film will be showing.
August 2014
Have a look at Sarah Kogan's article on Changing the Landscape, published in American Magazine 'History is Now' special WW1 Centenary edition:
http://www.historyisnowmagazine.com/blog/2014/8/16/world-war-one-special-the-new-issue-of-history-is-now-magazine#.U_MhAlZN3wI=
The house in Hackney, East London where Barney Griew was born and left to fight in the Battle of the Somme, 1916.
July 2014
Changing the Landscape will be presenting work in progress at Southgate Studios Show 2014 as part of Time Out First Thursdays & Haggerston Riviera, 2 Southgate Road London N1 3JJ Thurs 3rd July 6-9pm, Fri 4th July 12-9pm, Sat & Sun 5th-6th July 12-7pm. Come & visit us.
June 2014
Children of The Great War compiling film of Sarah Kogan talking about Changing the Landscape and the Barney Story for their archival collections on http://www.europeana-collections-1914-1918.eu
Changing the Landscape's Sarah Kogan and Jeremy Bubb presenting their conference papers:
Parallel perspectives: mapping an archive
The Journal of Media Practice and MeCSSA Practice Network Symposium hosted by:
The Practice as Research Group, Roehampton University London
14th June 2014
The Journal of Media Practice and MeCSSA Practice Network Symposium hosted by:
The Practice as Research Group, Roehampton University London
14th June 2014
Sarah Kogan is participating in the Artist and Archives event at the National Archives at Kew. A chance to meet the experts and give feedback on ways to work together.
Changing the Landscape's Sarah Kogan and Jeremy Bubb will present:
Parallel perspectives: mapping an archive
The Journal of Media Practice and MeCSSA Practice Network Symposium hosted by:
The Practice as Research Group, Roehampton University London
14th June 2014
At Roehampton University, Roehampton Lane SW
May 2014
Sarah Kogan is now a contributer to Oxford University's WW1 Centenary: Continuations and Beginnings
http://ww1centenary.oucs.ox.ac.uk
Read her first blog here :
http://ww1centenary.oucs.ox.ac.uk/space-into-place/changing-the-landscape-mapping-an-archive/
April 2014
Barney Griew's 1915-16 photograph album has just been rediscovered. It features photographic portraits of the men he describes in detail in his letters. The photographs will be digitised by http://www.savephoto.com and added to the rest of the archive to publish.
Whilst in The Somme, the French newspaper, Le Courrier Picard, interviewed Sarah Kogan about Changing the Landscape and her chance meeting with a local farmer, Rene Choquet, who lives in a village where Barney Griew and the LRB were billeted in 1916. Rene's grandmother hid British Secret WW1 maps in her chimney to avoid discovery by the German Army. The barn housed a First World War hospital.
Changing the Landscape's studio in The Somme, 2014. This evocative former WW1 billet had not changed in 100 years.
Art materials and images sorted for research trip to The Somme. Planning to make new work whilst there and staying in billet close to site where Uncle Barney marched and died.
March 2014
Imperial War Museum and Historypin event
Changing the Landscape joined Historypin at an event behind the scenes at The Imperial War Museum, which is closed for refurbishment until July 2014. An expert group of IWM curators, Art historians, cartographers, psychologists and other interested parties focused on the people, locations and events depicted in the work of WW1 war artist Sir William Orden, collecting data and adding to Historypin and IWM's knowledge base.
Work in progress
Following a period of research within The National Archives, Sarah Kogan is now developing the art pieces for Changing the Landscape - a map maker's journey from Hackney, London to The Battle of the Somme, 1916. It will include Barney's correspondence, images and text from the 1916 War Diaries, as well as the contemporary artwork. Jeremy Bubb has begun work on the multi-screen film for Changing the Landscape.
Changing the Landscape's studio in East London.
Film shoot with Jeremy Bubb.
February 2014
Digitisation
The digitisation of the archive of Rifleman Barney Griew has been completed by Save Photo.
Historypin continue to build the online map of Barney's journey from Hackney, London to The Somme, Northern France, ready for release in 2016.
Hidden history in The Somme
Since the 2013 research trip to The Somme Valley, Changing the Landscape has maintained
correspondence with the descendents of those who lived through The Great War in Northern France, working to reveal hidden history relating directly to map making in WW1. Another research trip is planned for 2014.
