The irreducible document, the radical archive is a reflection on and visualisation of artist-run archives, their role in recording non-normative thinking and how they serve communities. While institutional archives may reinforce colonial practices and power structures, the volunteer-run nature (and therefore precarity) of emerging art organisations creates a radical role for them in the broader arts ecology. By collecting and commissioning, they record ‘evidence of us’ in the documentary form of artworks - irreducible documents that communicate both thoughts and feelings from the communities they serve.
David Greenhalgh’s practice focuses on reanimating plants, objects and animals trapped in digital documents, through the dark art of remix. The hope is that by collating mundane parts of the past into digital videos that he will develop a deep loving relationship with insignificant moments, while at the same time, leaving a long shadow of information about himself.
He was a cofounding director of Archive Space, an artist run initiative that operated with the aim of documenting emerging Sydney practices (2013-2015). David was also a management and editorial board of Runway Australian Experimental Art: Here he acted as archivist, relocating the 12 year history of the publication for digitisation and co-edited Issue #35 SPACE.
In his spare time he works in museums, previously as a program producer and educator for the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, Sydney Vanitygen and currently as a curatorial assistant/archivist at the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra.
The irreducible document, the radical archive is a reflection on and visualisation of artist-run archives, their role in recording non-normative thinking and how they serve communities. While institutional archives may reinforce colonial practices and power structures, the volunteer-run nature (and therefore precarity) of emerging art organisations creates a radical role for them in the broader arts ecology. By collecting and commissioning, they record ‘evidence of us’ in the documentary form of artworks - irreducible documents that communicate both thoughts and feelings from the communities they serve.
David Greenhalgh’s practice focuses on reanimating plants, objects and animals trapped in digital documents, through the dark art of remix. The hope is that by collating mundane parts of the past into digital videos that he will develop a deep loving relationship with insignificant moments, while at the same time, leaving a long shadow of information about himself.
He was a cofounding director of Archive Space, an artist run initiative that operated with the aim of documenting emerging Sydney practices (2013-2015). David was also a management and editorial board of Runway Australian Experimental Art: Here he acted as archivist, relocating the 12 year history of the publication for digitisation and co-edited Issue #35 SPACE.
In his spare time he works in museums, previously as a program producer and educator for the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, Sydney Vanitygen and currently as a curatorial assistant/archivist at the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra.
Runway Journal acknowledges the custodians of the nations our digital platform reaches. We extend this acknowledgement to all First Nations artists, writers and audiences.
Runway Journal is assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.
Runway Journal receives project support from the NSW Government through Create NSW.
Runway Journal acknowledges the custodians of the nations our digital platform reaches. We extend this acknowledgement to all First Nations artists, writers and audiences.
Runway Journal is assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.
Runway Journal receives project support from the NSW Government through Create NSW.