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17 April 2011

“Talk To Us, Not About Us” at The Tyranny of Grammar at Fishmarket Gallery in Northampton, England

http://decalcomaniaproject.wordpress.com/2011/04/12/recent-decalcomaniacs-activities/

Adam Burton is currently exhibting Talk To Us, Not About Us as part of The Tyranny of Grammar at Fishmarket gallery in Northampton, a festival in response to the dead poet John Clare. Clare’s poetry was often concerned with issues of the enclosure of common land that was happening all about him during his lifetime (1793 – 1864). Following this lead Adam’s work looks at contemporary forms of enclosure; the title of this work comes from the slogan of ‘Abahlali baseMjondolo’ a movement based in South Africa that works to fullfil the rights of people who are forced to live in shacks.

Adam researched and selected a number of social movements, organisations, individuals, who are involved in the work of land rights. Reproduced in the exhibition are examples of their writing about their work and situation; films about some of the movements, issues and protests. The main gallery area also has a number of coloured shapes painted onto its walls as well as a large isometric painting of a house created by a group of children from a local school. During the festival the building has also became a meeting place for discussions about contemporary forms of enclosure (and its effects). And finally, visitors to Northampton Central Library have been invited, in several languages, to join such discussions.