Tom Clark is a curator and writer. He teaches and has worked on curatorial and publishing projects internationally. He is currently an AHRC/CHASE-Funded PhD Candidate at Goldsmiths, University of London, where his research explores infrastructural figures, politics and imaginaries as they relate to the institutions of art. He has been editor at BAK, basis for actuelle kunst, Utrecht (2015–2017); co-director at Arcadia Missa gallery, London (2010–2015); was contributing editor to Para\Fictions – Ed. Natasha Hoare (Rotterdam: Witte de With, 2018) and Maria Hlavajova and
Current Role/Position
(2017–present) PhD Art – Goldsmiths, University of London, London (AHRC CHASE consortium Funded)
(2017–present) Graduate Trainee Tutor: BA Fine Art, Critical Studies, Goldsmiths, University of London, UK (0.2) I lead weekly seminar groups on foundational critical studies topics from Contemporary Art; giving tutorials, undertaking assessment (formative and summative) and giving feedback for critical studies essays. I also undertook limited pastoral and administrative duties.
Research Interests
My work, is currently focused in my PhD thesis: Art after Infrastructure: New Models of instituting in the Arts after the global crisis of 2008, which considers how infrastructure and infrastructural critique is developed in the fields of art, curating, design, education, and policy. This concerns infrastructural figures and imaginaries as they emerge in and can be worked up on in creative and cultural fields. How this intersects practices of institution, instituting, self-instituting and its politics as it is produced after networks and infrastructure. It also asks if these are still valuable sites of resistance, emancipation, or transformation.
More Broadly, this covers contemporary art practice as site to explore questions of value, publics and collectivity in art and its organizations; political history in relation to contemporary art and activism; the Posthuman; learning architectures; the narratives, forms, materiality and politics of affect; alternatives to Euro-centric artistic and geo-political histories and ideologies.
Supervisors:
Simon Sheikh
Suhail Malik
Education
2012–2014 MFA Curating, with Distinction, Goldsmiths, University of London, London (AHRC Funded).
2007–2010 BA (Hons) Fine Art, 1st Class, Central Saint Martins School of Art and Design, London.
2006–2007 Foundation in Art and Design, with Distinction, De Montfort University, Leicester.
Previous Experience and Responsibilities
Teaching and Research
(2018–2019) Visiting Lecturer: Royal College of Art, ADS4, MA Architecture, led two seminars on professional curatorial and infrastructural research expertise for RCA students on the “Postproduction Architecture: a manual for redesigning reality” course.
(2017–2018) Graduate Trainee Tutor; BA Fine Art extension degree, Critical Studies, Goldsmiths, University of London, UK (0.2) –Seminar Tutor:
As a Year 0, BAFA critical studies tutor, I led a weekly seminar group on foundational critical studies topics from Contemporary Art. I gave tutorials, undertook assessments (formative and summative) and feedback for critical studies essays. I also gave a lecture on the topic of curating.
(2015–2018) University of the Arts, London – Associate Lecturer
2015 – BA Fine Art, Central Saint Martins: Developing and delivering various workshops on collaborative writing and editing, alternative and digital publishing and professional development. Various group and individual tutorials.
2016–2018 – BA Creative Direction for Fashion, London College of Fashion: Co-conceiving, teaching and assessing a module on cross-platform publishing. Various group and individual tutorials.
(2017) Visiting Lecturer University of Brighton
BA Fine Art Critical Practice – workshop.
(2016–2017) Sandberg Instituut, Amsterdam– Guest Tutor / Editor
2017 – Guest Tutor: Three-day writing workshop and tutorials, producing publication on the theme of proximity and publishing as a critical practice and educational model.
2016 – Guest Tutor: seminar on editing and group tutorials.
(2011–2015) Visiting Lecturer– University of the Arts London
Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design
2013–2015 – BA Fine Art – workshops, individual and group tutorials and off-site projects at Arcadia Missa Gallery;
2013 – BA Fine Art – Practice Post-University, workshop;
2011 – BA Fine Art – Critical Studies – Unit 8 Dissertation workshop,
London College of Fashion:
2013 – BA Fashion – Funding Options lecture;
2013 – BA Fashion – Research in to Practice: digital publishing lecture;
(2013) Visiting Lecturer and Tutor – BAFA – Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham – Lecture on Art after Networks; individual tutorials
(2011) Graduate Trainee Lecturer – Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design– Unit 6; In Exchange at the Lethaby Gallery (3D Pathway) & Art Publications / Self-publishing and the St Martins Archive (2D Pathway) – (Jan 6th – Mar 30th)
(2011–14) Research and Archive Associate – MayDay Rooms, London
(2009–11) Research and Archive Assistant – 10th Floor Research Group / Central Saint Martins Teaching Archive, London
(2011) Exhibition Coordinator / Researcher / Curator – IN EXCHANGE – Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. (Jan 24th – Mar 4th 2011)
(2009–10) Coordinator, Research and Admin Assistant – The ‘A’ Course: An Inquiry Conference – 10th Floor Research Group / Central Saint Martins Archive – London UK. (26th -27th Mar 2010).
Curatorial, Editorial and Publishing
(2017–present) Associate Editor – CHASE Brief Encounters Journal, United Kingdom
As an associate editor, I am responsible for peer reviewing submissions related to arts and design.
(2015–2017) BAK, basis voor actuele kunst, Utrecht – Editor
As editor at BAK my responsibilities included the following: Researching, conceiving and commissioning publications, publication-essays and articles; developing publications and editorial material through my own and BAK’s research interests. Topics included, geo-political history in relation to contemporary art and activism, the Posthuman, ecosophy and learning architectures. Editing at all levels (commissioning, substantive author-editing, copy-editing, and proofing) academic, critical and art historical essays, publications, exhibition texts and policy documents. Ensuring the quality of English language, the accuracy of references and house-style adherence, across all published and public material; drafting and writing of copy, maintaining and updating style guides. Representing BAK at public events, talks and teaching events. Specifically, I worked on the following publications in the capacities:
Contributing Editor – Maria Hlavajova and Simon Sheikh, eds., Former West: Art and the Contemporary after 1989, (MIT Press, 2016)
Co-Editor / Co-convener – Tom Clark, Maria Hlavajova, Lucy Lopez, eds., Instituting Otherwise (BAK, 2017);
Contributor / Author-Editor (BAK) – Rosi Braidotti and Maria Hlavajova, eds., Posthuman Glossary Bloomsbury, 2017);
Editor (English Language) – Tom Holert, Learning Laboratories: Architecture, Instructional Technology, and the Social Production of Pedagogical Space Around 1970 (Utrecht: BAK, 2016).
(2010–2015) Arcadia_Missa Gallery and Publishers, London – Publisher / Editor in Chief
As Publisher and Editor in Chief of Arcadia Missa Publications I had principal responsibility for originating, developing and editing, designing and producing, marketing and distributing its now well-recognised and respected publications. I oversaw all areas of the print publications, and their associated ebook and digital counterparts. Publications I edited:
Editor – The journal, How to Sleep Faster (Issues 1–5);
Editor – Anthologies: (networked) every whisper is a crash on my ears (2014);
Open Office (2013);
Editor – Online journals How to Sleep Faster E (Issues 1–3);
Editor – Artists books: (Danklands, Holly Childs (2014); Ecology of Secrets, William Kherbek (2013); Ocean Living, Holly White and Megan Rooney (2013)).
(2010–2015) Arcadia_Missa Gallery and Publishers, London – Co-Director / Co-Curator
As Co-Director of Arcadia_Missa Gallery I built and shaped this now internationally recognised and respected gallery. In collaboration with its Founding Director, I initiated and co-curated its ambitious exhibition and events programmes; developed and delivered its offsite events, talks and teaching; actively fostered its research community; co-authored funding bids and many institutional collaborations. Selected programmes, exhibitions and collaborations included:
2014 – Co-Curator – Every Line Ever Spoken, featuring: Takeshi Shiomitsu and Sandra Vaka Olsen, 68m2 project space, Copenhagen, Denmark.
2013 – Co-Curator – Arcadia Missa (networked) Programme, (Supported by the Arts Council.) Arcadia_Missa Gallery, London.
2012 – Co-Curator – Arcadia Missa Open-Office Programme, (supported by the Arts Council, Arcadia_Missa Gallery, London.
2014 – Advisory Partner – Lunchbytes, talks series in partnership with Goethe Institut, London, ICA, London, Goldsmiths, University of London.
(2016–present)Publisher and Editor in Chief – POOL Press, London.
(2015–2018) Freelance copy editor – Various: including, FormContent, It’s Moving From I to It, (Mousse Publishing); Eve Kalyva, Text and Image in Conceptual Art, Palgrave Macmillan.
(2015–2018) Editorial Board Member – Video in Common, London. (PT)
(2014–2015) Assistant Director – Video In Common (formerly Common Practice Video Network), London. (PT)
(2012–2013) Production Manager – Mute Magazine/Mute Publishing, London. (PT)
(2012–2013) Web / Digital Manager – MayDay Rooms, London. (PT)
Grants/Awards
(2017) AHRC CHASE Consortium Studentship Award – PhD Art, Goldsmiths, 3 years.
(2017) Arts Council of England Grants for the Arts – Part of awarded team, funded publishing project, Somewhere I’ve Never Been by Steph Kretowicz – co-published by Pool.
(2014) Goldsmiths Annual Fund – Awarded for Collaborative Project between MFA courses.
(2015) Danish Art Fond – Awarded production and travel grant to produce exhibition Just Frustration – Sixty Eight Project Space, Copenhagen
(2014) Danish Art Fond – Awarded production and travel grant to produce exhibition Every Line Ever Spoken – 68metres Squared Project Space, Copenhagen
(2012/14) AHRC Studentship Award – Goldsmiths University of London BGP Awards 2012/14
(2012/13) Awarded Grants for the Arts funding from The Arts Council of England for both Open Office Programme (2012), Arcadia Missa, London; and for the (networked) every whisper is a crash on my ears programme, (2013), Arcadia Missa, London and accompanying digital and publications (part of awarded team)
Publications (Editor)
(2018) Contributing Editor – Para\Fictions – Ed. Natasha Hoare (Rotterdam: Witte de With, 2018)
(2017–2018) Online Editor – Transformer Dialogues – transformermalta.com, Malta
(2017) Editor – Not Far From Where We Began – produced with the students of the MFA Critical Studies Dept., Sandberg Instituut, Amsterdam (London and Amsterdam: Pool and Critical Studies Dept., Sandberg Instituut, 2017)
(2017) Editor – Somewhere I’ve Never Been – novel by Steph Kretowicz (London and Berlin, Pool and TLTRPreß, 2017)
(2016) Guest Editor – General Fine Arts Vol.2 #1. [online] (Berlin: Version House, 2016)
(2013–2014) Editor of Arcadia Missa Publications Artist Books: Danklands – Holly Childs (2014); Ecology of Secrets – William Kherbek (2013); Ocean Living – Holly White and Megan Rooney (2013)
(2014–2011) Editor – How to Sleep Faster Arts Journal – Acadia Missa Publications; London.
Issues: 5 (Winter 2014); 4 (Autumn 2013); 3 (Autumn 2012); 2 (Spring 2011); 1 (Winter 2011)
(2014) Editor – Every Whisper Is a Crash On My Ears Anthology – Acadia Missa Publications; London, April 2014
(2013) Editor – HTSF E – Digital journal – Acadia Missa Publications; London.
Issues: 1–3
(2013) Editor – Arcadia Missa Open-Office Anthology – Acadia Missa Publications; London, April 2013
Publications (Author)
(2019) “Dependencies,”, Exhibition text for Rhodiola, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai, commissioned by 3 137, Athens, March 2019
(2018) “Making Alternative Futures: Instituting in a Weird World, Parts 1,2,3” three-part essay, Temporary Art Review, available at: http://temporaryartreview.com/essays/
(2017) “Invited In” – catalogue essay on Laure Provost, Art Night 2016. Published 2017.
(2017) “Post Internet,” in Rosi Braidotti and Maria Hlavajova, eds., Posthuman Glossary (London: Bloomsbury, 2017)
(2014) “ViC Report: A Multi-Channel Network (MCN) for the Arts,” Video In Common online at (http://mcn.incommon.org.uk/)
(2012) Catalogue interview, REALITY CONSIDERATIONS (FOR THE SAKE OF), 55 Sydenham Rd, Sydney (2012)
(2012) Interview with Arcadia Missa – Artlicks #9 (2012)
(2012) Revolutionizing Desire: A Reclamation of Representation for Its Affective Potential UNpublish Project, (London: Banner Repeater, 2012)
(2012) “Self-Compression: Interview with Jesse Darling,” Mute Magazine, vol. 3, no. 3, (July 2012).
Ongoing Exhibition texts – various, including for: Dream Works, group exhibition, Lethaby gallery, London, 2017; Modest Villa Immense Versailles, group exhibition, Kinman Gallery, London, 2016; Carburettor, Rebecca Ackroyd, Kinman Gallery, London, 2016; Devotions, Jesse Darling, Milou Van Der Maaden, Imran Perreta and Takeshi Shiomitsu, MOT International Project Space, London, 2015; SameSame, Jesse Darling and Takeshi Shiomitsu, Georgia, 2014. (See tomclrk.com for full listing)
Selected Curatorial (Independent)
(2018) Repeats (figures and infrastructures) – Curator, Featuring: Anna Zett, Asta Lynge, Dorine van Meel, Katie Hare, Paul Maheke, Simeon Barclay, Seecum Cheung, and Will Sheridan Jr., Sixty Eight, Copenhagen. May–June 2018
(2017) Curating as Publishing – Two-day workshop, developed and led – Grand Union, Birmingham, UK. (26–27th August).
(2016) Instituting for the Contemporary: Public Editorial Meetings – Co-Convenor. Speaking: Simon Sheikh, Ewa Mejewska, Rachel O’Reilly; Füsun Türetken, Bernadette Buckley; Gerald Raunig, pantxo ramas, Sidsel Meineche Hansen, Angela Dimitrakaki, Tom Vandeputte. BAK, basis voor actuele kunst, Utrecht, NL.
(2015) Just frustration (independent) – Co-curator. Featuring: Ester Fleckner (DK), Rachel McLean (UK), Imran Perretta (UK) Louise Haugaard Jørgensen (DK), Amel Ibrahimovic (DK), Hanne Lippard (UK), Chloe Seibert (US), Sixty Eight, Copenhagen. (7th August)
(2015) Devotions (independent) – Co-curator. Featuring: Jesse Darling, Milou Van Der Maaden, Imran Perreta and Takeshi Shiomitsu – MOT Projects – London.
(2012) The Reading Room (in conjunction with Redmond Entwistle) – Co-curator. International Project Space, Birmingham. (27 June–28 July 2012.)
(2012) Jesse Darling: Stockholm Syndrome and Other System Failures – Co-curator. Arcadia_Missa Gallery, London. (30th March – 8th April 2012.)
Conference Papers / Lecture Presentations/ Talks
(2019) Paper – “Imagining Users,” Designing Community, EHESS/Noodesign, Espace Niemeyer, Paris, 19th–20th April, 2019
(2019) Paper – with Dr. Susannah Haslam, “Indeterminate—Infrastructure,” Productive Gaps: SAR International Conference #10, Society of Artistic Research, ZHdK, Zurich, Switzerland, 21–23rd March 2019
(2018) Paper – “What if the ground is not art?” – BXNU Symposium: In Need of Education, BALTIC, Newcastle, 3rd November 2018
(2017) Workshop – On co-produced educational futures – Co-convened with Susannah Haslam – Against the Slow Cancellation of the Future conference, Centre for Cultural Studies, Goldsmiths, University of London. 15th Jun 2017.
(2017) Talk – “Curatorial Research Group” – Eastside Projects, Birmingham, 25-5-2017.
(2017) Moderator – “Why Publish? Why Print?” presentations by Ben Freeman of Ditto Press and Anja Aronowsky Croneberg of Vestoj Journal – Print Publishing Symposium: Print Matters – London College of Fashion, London, 9-3-2017.
(2016) Panellist & Talk – “A Throw of the Dice Will Never Abolish Chance” Blockchain Workshop – Banner Repeater, London, 22-10-2016
(2016) Panellist & Talk – The Value of Visibility – W139 – Kunstvlaai, Amsterdam, NL. 24-9-2016.
(2016) Panellist & Talk – Thinking Through Publishing Symposium – Central Saint Martins and Flattimehouse, London. 12-2-2016.
(2016) Panellist – Friday Salon – Artists’ Visibility – ICA, London. 15–1–2016.
(2015) Paper – Made in spite of, defiantly enmeshed among, the Internet– V?ra Jirousová Award for Young and Established Art Critics and the Research Centre of the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague, Veletržní palác (National Gallery), Prague. 6-9-2015.
(2015) Panellist – CopyPress Reader’s Union at Housmans Bookshop; Developing and Contact — Revisiting the Bonaventure Hotel by Jaspar Joseph-Lester, Housmans Bookshop, London. 10-4-2015.
(2015) Panellist – Art Publishing – Art15 – London
(2014) Talk – AoDL Meetup – Subscribe, Share, Comment – dashboard-based institutions – The Photographers Gallery, London. 8-12-2014.
(2014) Talk – On new languages in publishing after networks – Modern #1 Moody – La Biennale De Art Lyon – macLYON, Lyon, France. 19-11-2014.
(2014) Talk – On Embeddedness – APT Gallery – APT / Goldsmiths / ICA Moscow collaboration – Deptford, London.
(2014) Panellist – Artist Run Festival – Copenhagen, Denmark. 11-5-14.
(2013) Digital Networks and Research – Skype Lecture – Funen Art Academy, Denmark. 12-12-13.
(2013) Talk – Art and Organisation Symposium – Paper – Goldsmiths PhD symposium with Andrea Phillips, Goldsmiths, University of London, London. 23rd Oct 2013.
(2012) Cult of the Amateur – Panel Member – chaired by Sarah McCrory, Cell Projects, London. 29-5-12.
Workshops and Conferences Attended
(2018) REALTY STATECRAFT, KW, Berlin, 17–18th November.
(2018) Market Politics Symposium, Goldsmiths, University of London, 25th May
(2018) From Critical Studies to Public Programming Symposium, Goldsmiths, University of London, 18th May
(2017) Vessel International Curatorial Workshop 2017 – Instituent practices in the context of Southern Europe – 4 Day workshop, Bari, Italy, 20–24 August 2017
(2017) Museum as Battlefield: Alternative Models of Museum Practice – Contemporary Art Society – British Museum, London, 2 May 2017.
(2016) moneylab#3 – Institute of Network Cultures – Amsterdam, 1–2 December 2016
(2015) Did you feel it? – Dutch Art Institute – Eindhoven, 2015
(2015) Les Immatériaux: towards the virtual with Jean-François Lyotard – The Courtauld Institute of Art, London. 27-3-15.
(2015) FORMER WEST: WHO IS A “PEOPLE?” CONSTRUCTIONS OF THE “WE” – Goldsmiths, University of London, London. 27/28-2-15.
(2014) SYMPOSIUM: THE FUTURE CURATORIAL WHAT NOT AND STUDY WHAT? CONUNDRUM – CSS Bard, New York – Invited participant. 6/8-11-14.
(2014) Final conference: Cultural value and the digital: practice, policy and theory – Tate Modern, London. 7-7-14.
(2013) Affective Experiences: New Media, Audiences and Affective Experiences – Parasol Unit, London. 9-12-13.
(2011) Conference for Emerging Art Organisers 2011 – Alisn (Artist-led Initiatives Support Network) – Goldsmiths, University of London, London. 24-11-11.
(2011) Finding Utopia in the Archive: creative interventions in archives of artistic practice – Birkbeck College, London. 26-5-11.
(2011) Archiving From Below: Engaging Histories – Mayday Archive Conference – London. 8-5-11.