Better Place Portraiture

The lights are dimmed and the atmosphere is hushed as you enter the ‘Better Place Portraiture’ séance. Watch film footage or step into the séance yourself to get in touch with lost pets who have passed on to a Better Place. Vane is pleased to be hosting this engaging performance by artists Darren Banks and Flora Whiteley.

‘Better Place Portraiture’ is an ongoing psychic collaborative project initiated by the artists Darren Banks (UK) and Flora Whiteley (Germany). Together they channel a shared interest in the intuitive, the domestic and the supernatural.

Their collaborations include: ‘The Bird Room’, Magnifitat, Edinburgh (2002), ‘Better Place Portraiture I’, mima, Middlesbrough (2004), ‘The Disembodiment’, displayed at both Magacin, Belgrade and Temporary Contemporary, London, ‘Phatasmagora’, performed at Auto Italia South East, London (2009), ‘Better Place Portraiture V’, performed at The Barbican, London (2010).

In collaboration with artist and musician Christopher Rollen (Germany) ‘Better Place Portraiture’ have also created the sound piece, Cat Q and A (in homage to Belgian poet, filmmaker and artist, Marcel Broodhaers). Originally created in 2009 for Auto Italia South East, London, it has been revisited for the current show at Vane and will be broadcast on 18 and 19 May on Basic FM, the broadcast project initiated by Pixel Palace, the digital arts and new media programme of the Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle upon Tyne.

Presented as part of The Late Shows 2012. www.thelateshows.org.uk

The Late Shows marks the international event ‘Museums at Night’, which takes place across Europe. For further information visit www.culture24.org.uk/museumsatnight

The Late Shows is supported by Arts Council England and managed by Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums