New Folkestone Triennial Project Details Released

11.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 9th May 2008

Six new projects by Christian Boltanski, Tacita Dean, Sejla Kameric, Langlands & Bell, Pae White and Mark Wallinger have been announced for the inaugural Folkestone Triennial which will run from 14 June - 14 September 2008. One of the most ambitious public art projects to be presented in the UK, the Triennial is a three-yearly exhibition of works which will be specially created for public spaces throughout Folkestone.

Christian Boltanski will install sound-pieces on the town's public benches which will trigger recordings of letters to and from servicemen during WWI.

Tacita Dean's 16mm film explores a dawn crossing from Boulogne to Folkestone.

Sejla Kameric will install photographic works and posters throughout Folkestone's public spaces documenting the changing face of the town through atmospheric images and stories.

Langlands & Bell have spent a year observing and filming daily lives in both Folkestone and its twin town 22 miles across the Channel, Boulogne, and will present a 15-minute video of the process.

Pae White will create a state-of-the-art dog park for the town's dogs and their owners.

Mark Wallinger's Folk Stones will be placed on the Leas and pays homage to the role played by Folkestone's Road of Remembrance in the 1st World War. 19, 240 numbered beach pebbles represent the number of British fatalities on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.

The inaugural Folkestone Triennial will include both temporary and a number of permanent works. This pattern will be repeated in subsequent Triennials so that, over time, Folkestone will become a true creative centre for contemporary art of the highest calibre. The Triennial is conceived and led by curator Andrea Schlieker, co-curator of the British Art Show 2005/06, and aims to examine changing notions of art in the public realm.

The selected artists have been invited to develop new works for Folkestone's streets, squares, beaches and historic buildings to create a cutting-edge contemporary art exhibition in the public domain. The East Kent coastal town of Folkestone has long been a creative centre. Historically it has attracted figures as diverse as Charles Dickens, Derek Jarman, Jimi Hendrix, Marcel Duchamp and a host of 20th century literary figures from H G Wells to George Bernard Shaw and Samuel Beckett.

Participating artists are David Batchelor, Christian Boltanski, Adam Chodzko, Nathan Coley, Tacita Dean, Jeremy Deller, Mark Dion, Tracey Emin, Ayse Erkmen, Sejla Kameric, Robert Kusmirowski, Langlands & Bell, Kaffe Matthews, Ivan & Heather Morison, Nils Norman with Gavin Wade mit Simon & Tom Bloor, Susan Philipsz, Public Works, Patrick Tuttofuoco, Mark Wallinger, Richard Wentworth, Pae White and Richard Wilson.

Related Link:

Folkestone Triennial web site