Six artists, six collaborations, six Alien films.

For Middlesbrough Art Weekender 2018, Sam Read and fellow GLOAM studio members proposed an exhibition in which each artist produced two separate works; each in a rotational structure of collaboration. The decision was made to centre the exhibition around a piece of popular media with six iterations. After some discussion the group settled on the Alien cinematic franchise, including Alien, Aliens, Alien 3, Alien Resurrection, Prometheus & Alien: Covenant. This decision was also inspired by the metamorphic life cycle of the fictional Alien parasites.

Together, GLOAM watched each film successively before discussing topical references and cultural-historical contexts. Sam’s collaborations with Mark Riddington produced concrete monoliths embellished with symbols from Ron Cobb’s semiotic standard for the ship Nostromo. His drawings with Rose Squires were inspired by the religious iconography of Alien 3.

The title “A Hatching”, suggested by GLOAM member and performer Victoria Sharples, is a theatre term used to describe a moment of collective creativity and also references the eggs laid by the Alien Queen. Blue and orange spot lighting was chosen in homage to Ridley Scott’s films Alien and Blade Runner.

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Semiotic Standard (with Mark Riddington)

2018,  Cement, Black Dye, Silver Adhesive Vinyl, 44 x 68cm each

Untitled Collaboration (Drawing Series with Rose Squires)

2018, Pen, Pencil and Collage on Paper, 42.0 x 59.4cm each

Image credit: Victoria Sharples 2018

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