Events

ONE WORK | Sarah Forrest, 'The Unit'

Part of ONE WORK

13 July 2021
7.30–8.30pm

Online

IA video still shows a dark room, we are close to a wooden table on which are placed two glass objects. We can see the lines of where the table could fold down, and the curve of the table edge across the centre of the image. A bottle, and next to it sits a thin vase with green shoots in it. On top of the objects sits text, large white san serif font that reads ‘ONE’.
Sarah Forrest, The Unit, 2021. Courtesy of the artist.

For the next online event in the ONE ARTIST | ONE WORK series, Sarah Forrest will discuss her new work, The Unit (2021).

Are we seeing what we’re supposed to see? What clues are being hinted at and how are we, the viewer or reader, caught up in the narrative? This new work by Glasgow-based artist Sarah Forrest takes on the detective novel as its starting point in order to unravel how our attention is shifted when we are on the trail of a sleuthing mystery.

In detecting, the act of inquiry means that our senses become heightened as every object encountered could be laced with apparent or hidden meanings. The detective novel supposes that logic will ultimately triumph over dark forces. We are led from A to B to C in a sequence that foregrounds rationality and precision. It is the triumph of close looking.

The Unit was commissioned for Glasgow International 2021. Supported by Glasgow School of Art (GSA) and Maryhill Burgh Halls.

The Unit can be viewed for free online for the month of July here, with captions by Valery Tough. The discussion event will take place on Tuesday 13 July, 7.30pm.

ONE ARTIST | ONE WORK is a series of online events established in response to the first lockdown in March 2020. Focusing closely on a single work, these generous discussions provided an opportunity for an artist based in Scotland to present a recent work and talk through how the work came into being. These events have since developed into a more substantial part of our programme, and now include a month-long online screening and a specially commissioned written response that will be published on the LUX Scotland website. The series now provides an opportunity to think more deeply about the work and provide a record of the discussion events.

The event will be live transcribed using automated transcription service otter​.ai

How it works

Our online events will take place on Zoom. The event will be live transcribed using otter​.ai live transcription. We will also use the chat space to post questions /​comments being raised by the guest artist so they can be referred back to.

We ask that all participants are respectful and listen to the facilitators and other participants. An attendee list will be circulated to all participants in advance of each event. At the beginning of events we will introduce the guest artist and invite participants to briefly introduce themselves and their reason for joining.

During the event discussion, we ask that one person speaks at a time and that you type hi’ in the chat to indicate you want to contribute. A member of the LUX Scotland team will keep a track of who wishes to contribute and will direct the conversation to you. You may also wish to use the chat space to type your question or comment, should this be preferable for you. We ask that you keep your microphones on mute until you are going to speak to ensure everyone can hear clearly. We invite you to have your cameras on, where possible, as this maintains a feeling of being together in the space.

If you require support to participate in our online events, or have any questions, please let us know by contacting us on email hidden; JavaScript is required and we will be happy to assist.

LUX Scotland is dedicated to providing a welcoming online environment for everyone, regardless of gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, or religion or belief. Participants who do not adhere to this code of conduct and the participation guidelines will be asked to leave the event.

Image description: A video still shows a dark room, we are close to a wooden table on which are placed two glass objects. We can see the lines of where the table could fold down, and the curve of the table edge across the centre of the image. A bottle, and next to it sits a thin vase with green shoots in it. On top of the objects sits text, large white san serif font that reads ONE’.

About the artist

Sarah Forrest

Sarah Forrest is an artist based in Glasgow who works across film, installation, text and sound. She graduated from the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, Dundee (BA Hons Fine Art) in 2003 and the Glasgow School of Art (MFA) in 2010. She was recipient of the Margaret Tait Award 2017/​18 and is a current AHRC Doctoral Researcher at Glasgow School of Art (What is Seen, What is Said to be Seen: Exploring doubt as a critical tool within artists’ moving image practice) Solo exhibitions include: The Unit, Glasgow International (2021); The Unreliable Narrator, Hospitalfield, Arbroath (2019); Sarah Forrest: April, LUX, London (2018); Again, it objects, Kunstraum Dusseldorf, Germany (2016); I Left it on Page 32, Supplement, London (2014); Two Solo Shows: Sarah Forrest and Mounira Al Sohl, CCA, Glasgow (2013). Recent group exhibitions include: Maintenant et Encore (with Linda Sanchez), 3 Bis F, Aix-en-Provence, France; Against Time, co-curated by Paula Zambrano and Sarah Strang for Glasgow International, Civic Room, Glasgow; Cabinet Interventions, Glasgow International, Pollok House, Glasgow (all 2018).

Part of ONE WORK

ONE WORK is a series of online events that focus closely on a single work. These generous discussions provide an opportunity for an artist to present a recent work and talk through how the work came into being. Each work is available as a month-long online screening, followed by a specially commissioned written response that serves as documentation of both the work and the discussion.

Learn more