Announcing QUAD International Digital Fellows 2021-2022

QUAD is delighted to reveal that artists Seema Mattu and Bruce Asbestos have each been awarded a QUAD International Digital Fellowship. They will research and develop new commissioned work over the next 7 to 8 months, culminating with each artist producing a solo – but related – exhibition in the summer of 2022 in QUAD Gallery, focused on the central theme of ‘Play’.

Through an international Open Call for artists, and considering ‘Play’ in its broadest sense, including notions of playfulness, curiosity, imagination and – most importantly for QUAD and our continuing work – ‘wellbeing’ and participation, both Seema and Bruce proposed ideas for interactive, tactile and engaging works that will be for specific age groups and intergenerational. Both artists will work with and be supported by QUAD’s curatorial, education and participation teams to develop their ideas, along with public talks, workshops and sharing events along the way.

Previous QUAD International Digital Fellows include: Gibson/Martelli; teamLab; Kimchi and Chips; Rebecca Allen, Megan Broadmeadow and current fellow Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley. 

QUAD and the QUAD International Digital Fellowships programme are generously funded and supported by Arts Council England and Derby City Council.

Seema Mattu – Project Overview:

This immersive VR experience consists of a literal slow ride – accompanied by its physical, tangible twin in the form of the ‘Surplus Store’, where you can touch and acquire the storytelling objects experienced in the virtual reality journey. Content explored will become another realm inside SEEMAWORLD, which is its own sustainable digital community hub in development.

Seema Mattu Short Biography:

Seema Mattu is a gender-expansive Valmiki artist, whose practice is framed as a theme park – known as SEEMAWORLD. Within SEEMAWORLD, vessels and portals are built and evolved – giving viewers access to the realms she constructs. Through the welding of 2D and 3D mixed-media, themes explored include: the system of caste, queer sorcery, fan labour and gender taxonomy.
Recent projects and exhibitions include: Eastside Projects, CCA Glasgow, Fotomuseum (Zürich, CH), Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA), LUX, Berwick Film and Media Festival and IKON gallery and New Art City. She is currently participating in Film London’s FLAMIN Fellowship (2021-2022), and a recipient of New Midland Group’s Research and Development Bursary (2021-2022).

Find out more about Seema’s work here: https://www.seemaworld.com/

Bruce Asbestos – Project Overview

The work is a combination of Bruce’s sculptural output of giant eyes, friendly worms and cartoon hands and ‘Eye of Newt’, an interactive videogame installation, with a companion IOS game.
Drawing from a rich history of painting, sculpture, popular culture, folklore and fairy tales, the artwork mixes everyday objects with high art, fashion, and responds to global pop culture. His interdisciplinary practice combines performance, painting, clothing, social media, video games, curating and a multitude of collaborations. 

Bruce Asbestos’ work is produced in collaboration with and supported by Bluecoat, Liverpool, and QUAD, Derby.

Bruce Asbestos Short Biography:

“Through his shrewd use of social media, personal re-hashing of global pop culture and use of new digital technologies, he has established an unmistakable visual identity and unique brand (complete with logos) to almost become a living artwork.”   Art Review

Recent projects and exhibitions include, S/S 2021, National Justice Museum, S/S 2020 Bonington Gallery, Bruce Asbestos X Juliana Sissons, Primary, A/W Collection, Kunstraum, A/W 2018 Nottingham Contemporary, Arts Council International Fund NYC/Philadelphia, Bruce Asbestos A-B Testing, Concrete, Hayward Gallery. Sunscreen, Venice Biennale. Ivan Poe / Reactor, Plymouth Art Weekender. He was nominated for the Paul Hamlyn Breakthrough Fund 2013/4. Bruce Asbestos S/S 2020 is part of the Government Art Collection.

Find out more about Bruce’s work here: https://www.bruceasbestos.info/