Edge of an Era is a project that revisits seminal performance art events that took place in the UK in the 1980s, through artistic commissions, archival digitisation, public events and workshops.
In the 1980s, Performance Magazine (1979-1992) started presenting performance art events in London, including Art in Danger, At the Edge and Last Sweat of Youth at the Diorama and AIR Gallery. This culminated in EDGE 88, one of London’s first site-specific performance/installation festivals which was attended by artists such as Helena Goldwater, who was at the start of her career.
Thirty years later, Helena Goldwater and Rob La Frenais, (former editor of Performance Magazine and original Director of EDGE 88), in collaboration with Alex Eisenberg and the Live Art Development Agency (LADA) are revisiting this and other 1980s performance art events, connecting influential artists from the 1980s with current generations.
This project sheds light on under-represented histories that have had a significant influence on current art practice, and responds to the current resurgence of interest in performance art in the mainstream.
More information about the project
Edge of an Era is a project that revisits seminal performance art events that took place in the UK in the 1980s, through artistic commissions, archival digitisation, public events and workshops.
In the 1980s, Performance Magazine (1979-1992) started presenting performance art events in London, including Art in Danger, At the Edge and Last Sweat of Youth at the Diorama and AIR Gallery. This culminated in EDGE 88, one of London’s first site-specific performance/installation festivals which was attended by artists such as Helena Goldwater, who was at the start of her career.
Thirty years later, Helena Goldwater and Rob La Frenais, (former editor of Performance Magazine and original Director of EDGE 88), in collaboration with Alex Eisenberg and the Live Art Development Agency (LADA) are revisiting this and other 1980s performance art events, connecting influential artists from the 1980s with current generations.
This project sheds light on under-represented histories that have had a significant influence on current art practice, and responds to the current resurgence of interest in performance art in the mainstream.
Archive
Available Now
The Edge of an Era archive was compiled for the research and development of Edge of an Era. Materials were generously provided by artists, studios and archivists, and digitised for this project. Throughout 2019 we will continue to research, collate and digitise materials from many other artists involved in all programmes and events and add them to the Edge of an Era archive.
Do you have archival materials from these programmes that you would like to submit?
Edge of an Era: Commissions
We present a series of specially commissioned new works by artists/writers, who have responded to the materials gathered from the 1980s events.
Robin Bale responded to BLED EDGE (EDGE 88) by Alastair MacLennan.
Zvikomborero (Mayfly) Mutyambizi responded to Mona Hatoum’s Reflections on Value (EDGE 88)
Something Other (Maddy Costa, Diana Damian Martin and Mary Paterson) explored the notion of correspondence with feminist practices from the late 80s.
Adam Patterson has made a performative video work in search of Isaac Julien’s Looking for Langston (EDGE 89).
Morgan Quaintance has made a moving image work pitched between documentary and abstraction, comprising of newly shot footage and archival materials relating to Bow Gamelan Ensemble’s work, White Lightning (At the Edge, 1987)
We present a series of specially commissioned new works by artists/writers, who have responded to the materials gathered from the 1980s events.
Robin Bale responded to BLED EDGE (EDGE 88) by Alastair MacLennan.
Zvikomborero (Mayfly) Mutyambizi responded to Mona Hatoum’s Reflections on Value (EDGE 88)
Something Other (Maddy Costa, Diana Damian Martin and Mary Paterson) explored the notion of correspondence with feminist practices from the late 80s.
Adam Patterson has made a performative video work in search of Isaac Julien’s Looking for Langston (EDGE 89).
Morgan Quaintance has made a moving image work pitched between documentary and abstraction, comprising of newly shot footage and archival materials relating to Bow Gamelan Ensemble’s work, White Lightning (At the Edge, 1987)
The commission by Zvikomborero (Mayfly) Mutyambizi will be added soon. Please sign up to our newsletter to be kept updated.
Edge of an Era: Event
Marking the 30th birthday of EDGE 88, a 12 day festival of performance art that took place in the same Central London spaces three decades ago, 2019’s Edge was many things at once: a commemoration, a celebration, a performance of performances, a reunion, a marking of what once was and the legacy with which it now challenges the present day.
Louise Gray on Edge of an Era, for The Wire, March 2019
Below are a series of videos from the event which took place on 4 February 2019 at St James Church, Clerkenwell.
Walking Tour
A walking tour of the street and sites of EDGE 88 in Clerkenwell will last for one hour and be led by Rob La Frenais (original Director of EDGE 88).
Introductions
Introductions to Edge of an Era by project curators – Helena Goldwater, Alex Eisenberg and Rob La Frenais.
Panel Discussion
A panel discussion with Rob La Frenais, Helena Goldwater, Alastair MacLennan and Sara Selwood.
Performance by Robin Bale
A short performance by Robin Gale as part of the Edge of an Era event at St John’s Church, Clerkenwell.
Credits and Thanks
Edge of an Era is curated by Helena Goldwater and Rob La Frenais, Alex Eisenberg and Live Art Development Agency, London.
It is produced in partnership with Artsadmin and Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London, supported using public funding by Arts Council National Lottery Project Grants with additional activities made possible through the Jonathan Ruffer Curatorial Grant from Art Fund.
Image credits on this page (from the top): Cover Image from EDGE 88 catalogue – Tina Keane’s The Diver. Photo: Gary Varrar, Coming Soon section: Richard Layzell, Clarity Art in Danger at the Diorama, 1985-6, Courtesy of the Artist | At the Edge Programme, 1987 | Lucia King, Push Book, Photo Credit: Heitor Alvelos.
Special thanks to all the artists and those involved in the event and those who have generously provided archive material, Jon Bewley and Jonty Tarbuck at Locus+, Anna Harding, Christine Jakobson, SPACE/AIR Gallery archive, LUX, Lois Keidan, CJ Mitchell, Joseph Morgan Schofield, Amy Poole, Finn Love, Elsa Boutorin, Cecilia Wee, John Seth, Alex Schady, Steve Radmall, Jane England, Anne Bean, Richard Wilson, Isaac Julien, Mona Hatoum, Sophie Greig, Milda Batakyte, Helen Ratcliffe and Alan Smith at Allenheads, Hester Schofield, Rob Dingle and Emma Coleman at Art Fund, Evie at St James Church, Clerkenwell.
Credits and Thanks
Edge of an Era is curated by Helena Goldwater and Rob La Frenais, Alex Eisenberg and Live Art Development Agency, London.
It is produced in partnership with Artsadmin and Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London, supported using public funding by Arts Council National Lottery Project Grants with additional activities made possible through the Jonathan Ruffer Curatorial Grant from Art Fund.
Image credits on this page (from the top): Cover Image from EDGE 88 catalogue – Tina Keane’s The Diver. Photo: Gary Varrar, Coming Soon section: Richard Layzell, Clarity Art in Danger at the Diorama, 1985-6, Courtesy of the Artist | At the Edge Programme, 1987 | Lucia King, Push Book, Photo Credit: Heitor Alvelos.
Special thanks to all the artists and those involved in the event and those who have generously provided archive material, Jon Bewley and Jonty Tarbuck at Locus+, Anna Harding, Christine Jakobson, SPACE/AIR Gallery archive, LUX, Lois Keidan, CJ Mitchell, Joseph Morgan Schofield, Amy Poole, Finn Love, Elsa Boutorin, Cecilia Wee, John Seth, Alex Schady, Steve Radmall, Jane England, Anne Bean, Richard Wilson, Isaac Julien, Mona Hatoum, Sophie Greig, Milda Batakyte, Helen Ratcliffe and Alan Smith at Allenheads, Hester Schofield, Rob Dingle and Emma Coleman at Art Fund, Evie at St James Church, Clerkenwell.