Artangel’s latest commission, The Two Eyes are Not Brothers by British artist and filmmaker Ben Rivers, is now open to the public at Television Centre until 31 August.
Award-winning artist Ben Rivers has created a multi-projection, site-specific work in the vacant Drama Block building at Television Centre in White City, which is being redeveloped into a mixed-use scheme by Stanhope.
Set among the spaces previously used by the BBC to construct scenery and props for television drama since 1960, the abstracted footage of The Two Eyes are Not Brothers is projected inside a sequence of found interiors and new structures built from redundant film sets. The project will be the first public event at Television Centre since its closure in 2012.
Alistair Shaw, Managing Director of Television Centre, said: “We are delighted to host Artangel at Television Centre, reflecting both the cultural history and future of this historic site. It is particularly fitting that our first public event at Television Centre will animate a space that for many years was used by the BBC to create scenery and props for some of Britain’s favourite TV programmes.
“We look forward to opening the doors for members of the public to come and see Artangel’s latest installation here in the heart of an evolving White City, a new centre of gravity for London.”
Since winning a commission from Artangel and BBC Radio 4’s Open call for British artists in 2013, Rivers has developed multiple narratives for The Two Eyes are Not Brothers, at the heart of which is an adaptation of A Distant Episode, the short story set in Morocco by American author Paul Bowles, first published in 1947.
Michael Morris and James Lingwood, Co-Directors of Artangel, said: “The former Drama Block at Television Centre makes the perfect location in which to project Rivers’ filmic fragments. Artangel is thrilled to be working in White City at such an exciting moment of transition.”
“Wood Lane is fast becoming one of the most creative and dynamic places in London” said Cllr Andrew Jones, Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Regeneration.
“We applaud Stanhope’s commitment to the arts during Television Centre’s renovation and we hope that White City will become an even better place in which to live, work, shop and enjoy the arts.”
The Two Eyes are Not Brothers is co-commissioned with the BFI and Manchester’s Whitworth Gallery.
For more details, visit: www.artangel.org.uk/benrivers
Source: Stanhope www.stanhopeplc.com