Dr Louise Adkins
Senior Lecturer
Louise is an artist based in Manchester and a senior lecturer in the School of Art. Her practice predominately features performance, text, drawing and film.
Louise's work investigates the relationship between culture and historic narrative. It is concerned with recent histories and collective memory, historicity and the documentation of momentous events. She often works with collections, archives, libraries and heritage sites and is interested in the performative possibilities of these sites and histories and the narrative potential inherent in re-visioning them.
Performance works often feature specialist interest groups and communities, utilizing their skills, knowledge and specialist histories. These partnerships allow Adkins to access expert groups whilst developing new audiences and engagement in the work. Recent collaborations include the 3C's Youth Chess Club, Morecambe Bay and Furness Amateur Radio Society and SOTA - Summits on the Air Waves (to name a few).
In 2021 Louise completed a practice-led PhD at the University of Leeds in the School of Fine Art, Art History and Cultural Studies (Amanda BurtonScholarship). Her PhD title, On Memory; Smoke, Mist and Fog – Performance Revisioning, Remembrance and Reclamation critically evaluated a series of art residencies working with heritage sites and archives. Practice-led research methods looked to establish performance art practice as a vital means of engaging with heritage sites and archives. Considering how performance art practice can embody notions of memory and remembrance by applying an anachronic methodological approach to historical material and collections.
Recent projects includes The Notes for a Performance (2018- 2021) series of performances, artist books and large scale text drawings. This body of work has been performed and exhibited at the Portico Library Manchester, The Tetley Leeds, Temple Bar Gallery Dublin, Ruskin Gallery Cambridge, Holden Gallery, Manchester and Art Gene, South Lakes. Limited-edition books, Notes for a Performance – Final Draft and Notes for a Performance – Weather Permitting have been exhibited at a number of national and international artist book fairs including PAGES, The Tetley, Leeds, Malmö Konsthall, Sweden and Espai Barra de Ferro, Barcelona, Spain.
Projects
Between - Programme of Performance Commissions
The ‘Between’ project investigates how contemporary performance can challenge the relationship between art and historical representation through re-enactment. Using the ‘Between’ curatorial model the research explores the appropriation of historic cultural events extending the work of Deller and Lütticken as a method of understanding performance art practice within the cultural institution. Details…
Collaborations (Lisalouise)
Collaboration is an intrinsic part of Adkins practice and she has worked with artists from a variety of backgrounds including audio artists, classical musicians and composers and professionals within dance, television and theatre. From 1998 to 2006 Adkins collaborated with the Glasgow based artist Lisa Le Grove under the name ‘Lisalouise’. Details…
Material Balance - Performance re-enactment
The research aim was to investigate the role of re-enactment within the context of performance art. This is with particular reference to the way in which media culture and its reading can inform our understanding of contemporary historical events. Details…
Notes for a Performance - Weather Permitting
‘Notes for a Performance – Weather Permitting’ was performed/transmitted from the summit of Black Combe, Hodbarrow Point and Birkrigg Common on Sunday 17th March 2019. The performance transmission partnered Summits on the Air Ways (SOTA) with the Art Gene and the Extreme Views programme. Details…
Notes for a Performance - (Re) visioning a Ritual
Portico Library Manchester - Performance and Script Commission 2017 . Details…
Notes for a Performance - (Re) Visioning a Smoky Meeting
‘Notes for a Performance – (Re) visioning a Smoky Meeting’ was a four-month artist residency at the Tetley Centre for Contemporary Art in Leeds. Working with the Tetley’s industrial archive (located in-house and at West Yorkshire Archives, Leeds) the residency was concerned with imagining the past and how cinematic language informs our understanding of it. Details…
Notes for a Performance—(Re) visioning a Ritual 2017.
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Running, Jumping, Falling - Artist Film
The research aim is to explore narrative representation of women with particular focus on sexualised and violent depictions in contemporary horror films through the appropriation of cinematic choreography and post-production techniques. ‘Running, Jumping, Falling’ is a three-channel installation incorporating film, audio and text which is designed to interact as a series of performances with the architecture of the gallery. Details…
Un-Follow - Foundation of Art and Creative Technology FACT
Exhibition, performance and film installation. 'Un-Follow' was a series of interactive performance events and a film installation commissioned by the Foundation for Art and Creative Technology - FACT in Liverpool for the exhibition Follow. Details…
When I was 16 I Discovered Something - Text and Drawing
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Windmills of Your Mind - Performance Narratives
Since 2006 Adkins research has focused on the relationship between live performance and digital media. The work explores how new technologies can foster additional and alternative narrative within performance-based practice. Details…
Research
Louise Adkins is a member of the Design Research Hub.
Exhibitions
Adkins, LB., Duffy, N., Nicolson, M., 2018. 'Extreme Views'., Art Gene Gallery, 11/2018 - 3/2019.
Adkins, LB., 2017. Notes for a Performance (Re) visioning a Smoky Meeting, Tetley Contemporary Art Gallery, 1/9/2017.
Adkins, L.B, 2017. ‘Made in Translation’, Portico Library, Manchester., Feb 2017.
Adkins, L.B, 2016. Follow, FACT, December 2015 - February 2016.
Adkins, LB., 2015. Hold the Pose - the delegated4 performer, framing the spectator and being a 'Professional', Dark Matter Institute (Art in Unusual Spaces) at the Oursler Market in Bradford, and The Foundation for Art and Creative Technology - FACT, 24/6/2015.
Adkins, L.B, 2015. Outcasting A Century of Artists Films., Oriel Mwldan Cardigan, Wales., 2011.
Adkins, L.B, 2015. Sluice Art Fair, Sluice Art Fair - Oxo Tower London, 16 - 18 October 2015.
Adkins,L B, 2014. Dark Matter Institute, Public Art Work - Bradford, May 2014.
Adkins, L.B, 2014. Flat Pak, Toast Gallery - Century House (Castlefield Gallery), August 2014.
Adkins, L.B, 2014. Seamless - The Digital in Design, Museum of Architecture & Design, Ljubljana Slovenia, September 2013.
Adkins, L B, 2014. Video Jam - Windmills of your Mind, Manchester Art Gallery, July 2014.
Adkins, L., 2012. Between 1 - Hayley Newman & Trisha Baga, Cornerhouse, March 2012.
Adkins, L.B, 2012. Between 2 - Annika Strom, Cornerhouse Gallery, June 2012.
Adkins, L.B, 2012. Between 2 - Material Balance, Cornerhouse Gallery, June 2012.
Adkins, L.B, 2012. Between 3 - Lois MacDonald & Helen Collett, Cornerhouse Gallery, September 2012.
Adkins, L.B, 2012. Between 3 - Ruth Barker, Cornerhouse Gallery.
Adkins, L.B, 2012. Create Observe Perform, Galleria Alkovi Helsinki, Finland., 2012.
Adkins, L, 2011. Hold the Pose, Vinyl Gallery, May 2011.
Duffy, J., Griffiths, D., 2011. Outcasting: A Century of Artists Film, Oriel Mwldan, 21/5/2011 - 2/7/2011.
Adkins, L.B., 2010. Meanwhile in Manchester, Lombard Method & Grand Union- Birmingham Eastside, May - June 2010.
Adkins, L.B, 2010. Pairings, Special Collections, 2009.
Adkins, L.B., 2010. The Pursuit of Happiness, Arsenal Gallery - Poznan, Poland, May 2010.
Adkins, L., 2009. 'The Open West 09', 'Pittville Gallery' The University of Gloucestershire, 2009.
Adkins, L., 2009. 'The Pursuit of Happiness', 'The Pursuit of Happiness', 2009.
Adkins, L., 2009. Artists moving image programme, 'Another Roadside Attraction' Gallery, London, 2009.
Adkins, L.B., 2009. Outcasting Season 10, Outcasting - Online Gallery, November 2009.
Adkins, L., 2009. The Big Screen - Screening, The Big Screen. Cornerhouse, Manchester., 2004.
Adkins, L., 2009. ‘Pressure Point: Between Tracks’, 'Badhaus' St Gallen Switzerland & 'International3' Gallery, Manchester, 2009.
Adkins, L., 2008. Season 6, 'Outcasting' (moving image gallery), 2008.
Adkins, L., 2008. Various locations across the transpennine route., Artranspennine 2008., 2008.
Adkins, L., 2006. 'Et Tu Tribute', Embassy Gallery – Edinburgh College of Art Sculpture Court., 2006.
Adkins, L., 2006. 'The Magic of Real Life in Real Situations'. A CCA commission, CCA – Centre of Contemporary Art, Glasgow., 2006.
Adkins, L., 2006. The Big Screen - Screening, The Big Screen, Cornerhouse Gallery, Manchester and BBC, 2006.
Adkins, L., 2004. 'Bishops Move', Embassy Gallery, Edinburgh., 2004.
Adkins, L., 2003. 'Summer Show', International3, Manchester - Curated by Vilma Gold., 2003.
Adkins, L., 2002. 'Fight’., Leytonstone Centre of Contemporary Art (LCCA), London., 2002.
Adkins, L., 2002. Arches New Work Commission., The Arches, Glasgow., 2002.
Adkins, L., 2002. Helpmehelpyou – solo show, Hereford Salon, London., 2002.
Adkins, L., 2001. 'Lowry’s Living Room'., From Space Gallery, Manchester., 2000.
Adkins, L., 2001. Paradise Revisited., Bury Art Gallery, Manchester., 2001.
Adkins, L., 2001. Record Collection., The International 3, Manchester and Espace Contemporain, Geneva., 2001.
Adkins, L., 2001. Spinny Thing, East End Live., 2001.
Adkins, L., 2000. 'Somethin’ Stupid' a festival commission, Philadelphia International Festival of Visual and Live Art., 2000.
Adkins, L., 2000. Stuffed., The Stuff Gallery - Bethnal Green, London., 2000.
Adkins, L., 1999. 'Expo 99', part of Now 99. An Expo commission., Royal Moat House Hotel, Nottingham., 1999.
Performances
Adkins, L., Duffy, N., 2018. 'Notes for a Performance - Weather Permitting', Art Gene Gallery, 5/4/2019.
Adkins, L.B, 2014. 'A Violent Aesthetic: The Image Beyond Representation', University of California at Berkeley, 29-30 October 2015.
Books
Adkins, LB., Duffy, N., Buchler, P., Cass, DN., Hitchen, J., 2018. 'Notes for a Performance Final Draft: 29 November 2017', Wild Pansy Press - Leeds University.
Book Chapters
Adkins, L., 2018. 'Notes for a Performance - (Re) visioning a Smoky Meeting'. In PAGES - The Library, Wild Pansy Press - Leeds University.
Conference Papers
Adkins, L., 2018. 'Leeds Library 250th Anniversary Conference', Leeds Library 250th Anniversary Conference, Leeds Library & Leeds University, 20/9/2018 - 22/9/2018.
Adkins, LB., 2018. 'Theorem Notes for a Performance - Ten Men Smoking', Theorem, Anglia Ruskin University, 5/7/2018 - 5/7/2018.
Adkins, L., 2017. 'Life on the Outskirts Making Sense of a Creative Life', Life on the Outskirts Making Sense of a Creative Life, The Tetley Centre of Contemporary Art, University of Leeds & Manchester School of Art, 12/10/2017 - 15/11/2017.
Presentations
Adkins, L.B, 2015. '‘Windmills of Your Mind’ - cloth and clothing as a sexual signifier within the context of erotic performance.', A COLLOQUIUM THE EROTIC CLOTH: Seduction and Fetishism., The Artworkers Guild, London., 20 March 2015.
Adkins, L.B, 2014. 'Material Balance: ‘Re-enactment’ as Interface of Performance Art and Curatorial Practice', TAG14 - The Theoretical Archaeology Group, Manchester University - Department of Archaeology, 15th - 17th December, in TAG14 - The Theoretical Archaeology Group.
Other Outputs
Adkins, L., Duffy, N., Aubrey, K., Kettle, A., Biggs, L., Williams, C., Bonnell, S., Royle, N., Bryne, E., McCullagh, J., Cooper, D., Raven, L., Dixon, S., Schoene, B., Evans, P., et al, 2017. 'Made in Translation'.