Work
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The History of Revolution: Ellie Harrison’s Fireworks Display
Conceived as the sister work to The History of Financial Crises, this performance spectacle is a one-woman attempt to re-enact a chronology of ‘the history of revolution’ over the course of the last 360 years via the medium of pyrotechnics.
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Press Release
Devised specifically for the context of the ‘degree show’. For the final three weeks of her Master of Fine Art course at Glasgow School of Art, Harrison made a conscious decision not to make any ‘work’, in favour of instead transforming her studio into a ‘press office’ and attempting to directly solicit the media coverage which many hope will come as a result of this much anticipated show.
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Trajectories: How to Reconcile the Careerist Mentality with Our Impending Doom
Harrison’s 2010 thesis, published in four parts by Furtherfield, addresses the ethical implications of continuing to choose the ‘career’ of artist in the 21st Century and presents her manifesto for how best to move forward. (Word count: 8,284)
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General Election Drinking Game
An endurance performance devised by Harrison to coincide with the 2010 UK general election. Four ‘players’ represented the main political parties – each attempting to drink one shot of lager for every seat in parliament their party won, live as the results came in throughout the night.
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Hedonism vs. Asceticism: A control freak’s guide to the MFA
A lecture by Harrison as part of the Master of Fine Art (MFA) screening programme at the Centre for Contemporary Arts in Glasgow. Detailing her experience of studying on the MFA course at Glasgow School of Art from 2008 – 2010, the lecture offers an insight into how she set about organising both her time and the contents of her mind, and explores her tempestuous relationships with ‘work’ and ‘play’.
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This is… Ellie Harrison
15 Nov 2009
Central Station launch, Sloans, Glasgow -
Data Visualisation
4 Nov 2009
Ffotogallery, Turner House, Penarth -
In conversation with Sally O’Reilly
9 Oct 2009
Space, London -
Desk Chair Parade
On Sunday 2 August 2009, Ellie Harrison & Adele Prince (Sports Day) staged the inaugural Desk Chair Parade took place in Manchester as part of We are the Champions – Castlefield Gallery’s 25th Anniversary. A group of willing volunteers – office workers, shoppers and gallery goers alike – embarked on a magnificent adventure, freewheeling through the streets on ordinary office chairs.
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Bring Back British Rail
In 2009, Harrison – the self-professed ‘Che Guevara of trainspotters’ – founded the national Bring Back British Rail campaign to popularise the idea of re-nationalising our public transport system. Now with more than 150,000 supporters across Facebook, Twitter, Riseup and its online petitions, Harrison continues to coordinate the campaign with the help of a small network of volunteers around the UK.
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Toytown
The sister installation to Vending Machine, this piece features a dilapidated 1980s kid’s car ride which starts up and offers people free rides when news relating to the recession makes the headlines on the BBC News RSS feed.
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Altermodernism: The Age of Stupid
Published by Furtherfield in 2009, Harrison’s second essay for her Masters at Glasgow School of Art uses Nicolas Bourriaud’s Altermodern exhibition at Tate Britain as a paradigm for exploring the artworld institution’s lack of acknowledgement and action over climate change. (Word count: 2,528)
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Vending Machine
An installation for which an old vending machine is reprogrammed to release snacks only when news relating to the recession makes the headlines on the BBC News RSS feed.
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Confessions of a Recovering Data Collector
23 Apr 2009
Plymouth College of Art -
Confessions of a Recovering Data Collector
Harrison edited the first book about her work Confessions of a Recovering Data Collector, published by Plymouth College of Art in April 2009. The book profiles twelve of her former ‘data collecting‘ projects, for which she obsessively recorded information about different aspects of her daily routine. It is introduced by artist and curator Hannah Jones and features a specially commissioned essay by Sally O’Reilly. (Word count: 5,394)
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The History of Financial Crises
An installation in which the turbulent history of capitalism over the last century is re-enacted each day by a row of popcorn making machines.
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Transactions
Developed to accompany The History of Financial Crises installation – for the duration of exhibition, Harrison sent an SMS message to the phone installed in the gallery every time she made an economic transaction. The Coke can dances with joy every time a message is received.
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How Can We Continue Making Art?
Harrison addresses the fundamental question of whether we can justify the continued production of art in the age of climate change, for her first essay whilst studying for her Masters at Glasgow School of Art. Published by Nottingham Visual Arts Magazine in 2009. (Word count: 3,106)
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Know Your Thinkers & Theorists
Not strictly an installation, but more the by-product of a year-long research project for which, as part as her self-improvement programme, Harrison attempted to teach herself an overview of the chronology of Western philosophy and critical theory from 800 BC to the present. She hoped to retain this newly acquired information by designing an easy-to-read, quick reference, colour-coded wall chart for her studio wall.
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Angel Row Jukebox
An interactive installation commissioned for the closing party of Angel Row Gallery in Nottingham. The Jukebox contained all the UK #1 hits which corresponded with the openings of 254 exhibitions held at the gallery over its lifetime. The audience were asked to punch in the code for the exhibition they first remembered visiting.
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Olympic Ring Doughnut Eating Contest
Harrison collaborated with Adele Prince as Sports Day on the Olympic Ring Doughnut Eating Contest on Saturday 15 September 2007 at Burgess Park in south London as part the second Artists’ Sports Day organised by Grunts for the Arts. The Artists’ Sports Days are organised as a protest against the recent siphoning off of 35% or the Arts Council Grants for the Arts funds in order to pay for the 2012 Olympics.
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Notts on Tour
In September 2007, Harrison coordinated Notts On Tour – a group road trip to Germany combining visits to Documenta 12 in Kassel and Sculpture Projects Münster 07. The trip was attended by 40 artists and curators from Nottingham, Leicester, Birmingham, Sheffield and Derby. Notts On Tour aimed to provide an important shared experience, which would strengthen the art community in Nottingham and its surrounding region.
Project website -
Work With Me
Work With Me is an international campaign to help find a long-term collaborative partner for Harrison. Read all about Harrison’s ambitions and desires, her influences and expectations for art and her outlook on life. Peruse the ‘testimonials’ written by a range of Harrison’s previous collaborators, friends and family members including Jon Burgerman, Anne Harrison, Bernard Harrison, Helen Jones, Sally O’Reilly, Niki Russell and Jennie Syson, and then decide whether you’re right for the job – or if anyone is for that matter.
Project website -
I’ve Been Watching You
For three-and-a-half years Harrison was ‘undercover artist-in-residence’ at Broadway Cinema in Nottingham. Assuming the role of usher, she spent her shifts getting to grips with the inner workings of the cinema and expanding her knowledge of contemporary film. After ‘coming out’ as an artist in 2007, she was asked to present her findings as one of the commissions for the launch of Digital Broadway – the cinema’s new digital arts programme alongside works by Marcus Coates, Nina Pope & Karen Guthrie and Annie Watson.
Project website