The Days of the Future Stand Before Us brings together two of Frears’ film works, Men Falling (2021) and 10 (2016/24) for the first time. In both works, Frears uses the studio window as camera, capturing and choreographing the movements of the surfers and beachgoers on the beach beyond.
The first part of Men Falling observes surfers as they come to the end of their ride on a wave. In these final moments they seem to give themselves to the sea, each bringing their own particular style to the dismount. This is paired with a second section that recounts the artist’s memories of the days leading up to the death of her father. Men Falling was commissioned by Exeter Phoenix as part of their moving image commission programme.
In 10, originally made for an exhibition at Kestle Barton, Cornwall in 2016, Frears explores how people typically behave on the beach, for example rolling in the sand, pointing or playing ball. Observing how the beach goers disappear briefly behind the frames of her studio window, like characters in the gutter of a comic book, Frears playfully choreographs their movements, exploring the space between what is past and what is yet to happen. Harbour House has commissioned Frears to make a new soundtrack for 10 with artist S J Blackmore. This is the first time this new version of the work has been shown.
Visitors can also explore a FREE drop-in Stop Motion Clay Animation activity in the gallery.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Naomi Frears is based in Porthmeor Studios in St Ives, Cornwall. Her practice includes work with film and video, as well as printmaking, painting, and collaborative curatorial projects. Her work is held in public and private collections including the Government Art Collection and in 2022 she undertook a large painting commission for Hospital Rooms at Bethlem Royal Hospital, London. In 2023, she was nominated for the Film London Jarman Award for her work with moving image. She teaches art students at Falmouth University and her work appears regularly on the cover of the London Review of Books. She has a show of new paintings and works on paper at Kestle Barton in September and is currently making new work as a guest of Britten Pears Arts in Aldeburgh, Suffolk, a charity founded by the composer Benjamin Britten and his partner, the singer Peter Pears.
Recent solo exhibitions and screenings include: Red River in collaboration with poet John Wedgwood Clarke, C.A.S.T., Helston (2021), COP 26, Glasgow (2021), Tate St Ives (2022), and Out of the Ordinary, Canberra University, Australia (2022); Men Falling, Exeter Phoenix (2021) and also shown at C.A.S.T., Helston (2022); Looking For Ray, Kestle Barton (2021); In Other Words, RAMM (Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter) (2021); Somebody Loves Us All with poet Ella Frears, at Bold Tendencies, London (2019); New Work, Beaux Arts, London (2019); All Going Nowhere Together, a collaboration with DJ Luke Vibert for Groundwork (2018); I 🖤 Plymouth, Newlyn Art Gallery, (2018).
Recent group shows include CLUSTER, a collaborative work with SJ Blackmore and Alice Mahoney for Flamm, Redruth (2023); Pebble/Shoe at Kingsgate Project Space, London (2023); We Are Floating In Space, Newlyn Gallery and The Exchange, Penzance (2023); Bridge the Tamar, Mirror Gallery, Plymouth (2023);
Frears co-curated Thanks For The Apples with Ben Sanderson, Falmouth Art gallery (2021/22) and Shame, that, an exhibition of artist Dean Knight in her studio at Porthmeor (2023).
OPEN
Harbour House Ground Floor Gallery
Mon - Sat 10am - 5pm