edwin burdis - a car park in cardiff
As part of Cardiff Contemporary 2016 Spit & Sawdust invited artist Edwin Burdis to create a filmed response to the skateboarding scene in South Wales.
This new work was screened for the duration of the month long festival, alongside an exhibition showing the history of skateboarding in South Wales and a poster work also by Burdis.
Two events took place during the exhibition -
Squatting and Gentrification - a talk by Kieron Livingstone (artist and Editor of The Nervemeter Magazine) giving insight into his view on what and who civic space is for, what rights we as residents have to our city and it’s ownership.
Film night - ‘The Devil’s Toy’ and ‘This Ain’t California. An evening of films that explored the social under-belly of city life and street activity, free public expression and the abandon of youth.
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For the film, Burdis composed a cut & paste soundtrack including spoken excerpts and opera performances of pop hits. The ‘libretto’ was based on interviews and meetings with skateboarders, security guards, and others.
All the material for the work was either created by Burdis or physical versions have been found and manipulated. This research intentionally bypassed the internet. Burdis goes in search of ‘feeling’ through objects, images, sounds, and wants to reflect the specific relationships we have with tangible things.
Burdis has a particular interest in fashion and sub cultures, architecture, nostalgia and youth.