Cornelia Parker's work explores the uncharted territories within those most visited places and ideas. By harnessing their aura and histories and using them as a material, she creates a new space for contemplation amidst the over familiar. In Parker's hands, nothing is stable. Objects fall apart, collide, combust, explode or are compressed to remerge as new and surprisingly beautiful forms.

Subconscious of a Monument is composed of fragments of dry soil, which are suspended to waist height from the floor. These lumps are the now-desiccated clay, which was removed from beneath the Leaning Tower of Pisa in order to prevent its collapse. There is an absurdity about removing the very earth that supports the foundations of a building to keep it standing, and here the earth seems to have percolated upwards through the gallery floor and hangs like a ghostly molecular version of Walter de Maria's Earth Room. The work highlights many of the concerns inherent in Parker's practice from iconographic objects, places and buildings to a fascination with Freudian psychoanalysis.

The Royal Institute of British Architects is located at 66 Portland Place, London W1B 1AD

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Cornelia Parker will be talking about her work on Tuesday 11 October at 18.30 at the Royal Institute of British Architects, Wren Room
This evening is an opportunity to enter into a dialogue with the artist about her work. Tickets £8 (£5 concs) Tel 020 7307 3699

Artist images and biography can be found on Cornelia Parker's artist page.
Cornelia Parker artist page

For further information please contact Dale McFarland on +44 20 7494 1550

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