Bibo Keeley's sculptures at the Royal Scottish Academy NC2020 exhibition 15.02.-11.03.2020
I create art against the backdrop of my life experiences and my feeling of being deeply connected with nature.
I respond to themes which resonate with me and which influence my view on the world, whether they affect me directly or indirectly. This includes ecological concerns, feminist values, Brexit and healing.
Bibo Keeley – BA(Hons) first class (Gray’s School of Art, Aberdeen, Scotland)
sculpture: HOUSE ON FIRE, mixed media, ca. 150cm x 50cm x 110cm
I mainly work in sculpture, performance, photography and combinations of these. My work in the New Contemporaries 2020 includes sculpture and sound art, and a performance at the NC2020 related Academy Late event.
My sculptures were featured in The Scotsman art review of this exhibition: https://www.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/art-review-rsa-new-contemporaries-royal-scottish-academy-edinburgh-1890509
The key themes and some of the thoughts which inform my work in this exhibition are
- the urgency of climate change, extinction and loss of biodiversity, extractivism, climate refugees, the disharmony in global climate efforts, the passing down of corporate waste-reduction responsibilities to the consumer, ...
- my personal experiences of the fragility of human life, particularly the traumatising experience of my partner’s near-death, long critical illness and heart transplant in 2013 and the on-going medical committments resulting from this
- the divisiveness of Brexit, feelings of uncertainty, political polarisation, the unease associated with the re-emergence of borders
- the need for healing
In order to keep the environmental impact of my work low, I sourced and used many materials which would otherwise have gone to waste.
My sound art which is an integral part of my work in this exhibition was mentioned in an article in the RSA partnering magazine The Skinny: "Local lore and classical-mystical German music forms combine in Bibo Keeley’s sonic exploration of the rugged areas of Scotland."
EXHIBITION DETAILS
New Contemporaries 2020
15 February 2020 - 11 March 2020
The Roayal Scottish Academy
The Mound, Edinburgh EH2 2EL