Lay Down is an entirely new work by Capaldi, a site-specific installation involving a video sculpture with continual performance, inspired by her time in the deserts of the American West. Here, Capaldi met a Utah cowboy and his horse, a film exploring their relationship and the vast, performative landscape that surrounds them forms the core of the installation. Lay Down asks how power is constructed and understood, this question arising throughout the installation, in the iconic figure of the American cowboy, the influence of the sublime landscape and the authority of the screen.

The crossover area between the disciplines of sculpture and performance are of particular interest to Leah Capaldi’s practice, with echoes of the seminal performance work of the late 1960s and early 70s. Capaldi’s work explores the pivotal relationship between object or subject, encouraging the audience to question themselves in relation to the work and playing with notions of surveillance and spectatorship.

Video, 5.1 surround sound, projectors, steel frame, silicone screen, timber, cortex, plasterboard, light bulbs, roll matt, foam, timer and male performer. Dimensions variable. Video Duration 21 mins.

Download Press Release with a text by the artist.

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Leah Capaldi: Lay Down at Matt’s Gallery is generously supported by The University of Brighton, 5A Studios and Arts Council England.

With thanks to: West Taylor, Bill Roberts, Elliot Ross, Jason Moffat, Roddy Canas, Paul Russell, Barbara Capaldi, Arthur Manzo, Al Gunby, Elias Bate, Angus Braithwaite, Lawrence Leaman and Tim Lucas from Price and Myers.

Performer Credits: Jonathan Caruana, Josh Gardener, Gordon Raeburn, Bless Klepcharek.

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Biography
Born Chertsey, UK 1985, Lives and works in London. Studied 2008-10 Royal College of Art, Sculpture, and 2004-2007 University of Brighton, Sculpture. Selected Exhibitions and Performances 2015 ICA, London; 2014 Witness Matter, Vitrine, Bermondsey; Hum, ART14, London; Hung, Serpentine Gallery, London; Allure, Perf4m, ARTISSIMA, Italy; Leg, 35 Birthday Party, Matts Gallery, London; 2013 No Questions, Ausstellungsraum, Basel, Switzerland; mass.en mass. mass medium, Café Gallery Projects, London; 2012 Invites, Zabludowicz Collection, London; Incubate Festival, Tilburg, Holland; Parts & Labour, Camberwell Space, London; Give Me Strength In My Heart, Copenhagen Space, London; Prop, Vitrine, Bermondsey Square, London; Everything, ICA, London; 2011 New Contemporaries, ICA, London; New Contemporaries, Site Gallery/ S1 Artspace, Sheffield; FRIEZE Night, David Roberts Art Foundation, London; Week Five, The Hole, London; The Caitlin Art Prize 2011, The Tramshed, London; The King and The Minotaur, Wignall and Moore, London; Gluegun, The Hospital Club, London; 2010 The Plaza Principle, Leeds Plaza, Leeds; EXPOSURE 2010, Parasol Unit, London; London Lola, Kunstverein Familie Montez, Frankfurt; Young Gods, Charlie Smith, London; SHOW RCA, Royal College of Art, London; Park Night, Pump House Gallery, London; Unitary Structures, STEW, Norwich; Embrace RCA at ECA, Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh; Testing Ground: Live, Zabludowicz Collection, London; 2009 Making Mistakes, Tim Prichard, London; Sausage Nose, Kunsthochschule, Berlin; A Race Against Myself, Tim Pritchard, London; The Fifth Plinth, 145 Gallery, London; Summer Show, Royal College of Art, London; Making Mistakes, Paradise Row Gallery, London; 2008 Work in Progress, Royal College of Art, London; 2007 Degree Show, University of Brighton, Brighton, 2006 NOISE, URBIS, Manchester; NOISE - Liverpool Biennial, Matthew Street Gallery, Liverpool; Through Me, Grand Parade Gallery, Brighton; 2005 Show One, Admit One, Media Centre, Brighton. Residencies & Awards 2015 ACME Firestation, LIVE/WORK residency, 2014 The Arts Foundation Yoma Sasburg Sculpture fellowship 2012 Girton College University of Cambridge Residency finalist 2011 Catlin Art Prize finalist 2010 Parasol unit EXPOSURE award 2009 Stanley Picker bursary 2006 Michael Hick prize for sculpture

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