Francis has exhibited widely across the UK and beyond and has project managed and designed various art platforms which provide opportunities for other artists to investigate the city as a site for exploration and development. These include Interrogation: Walsall in 2009 (delivered from the New Art Gallery Walsall) and Interrogation: West Bromwich in 2010. In 2010 a book to document and set out the process of Interrogation was published. (‘Interrogation Walsall: a handbook’ by Anna Francis).
Ongoing participatory project ‘There is Beauty in the City’ is an online project, where participants apply for a magnet, which they can place anywhere in their respective cities that they find beauty – photograph the location and send it in to the project blog. This is resulting in a catalogue of images from around the world, forming a consensus on the beauty to be found in urban space. In 2010 the project lead to exhibitions in the Leiden - Netherlands, Gijon - Spain and inclusion in a performance event in Bristol – UK.
Other projects see Francis becoming invented characters in order to test the boundaries of the city and its situations. The artist has variously become a dating agency director, a tour guide and a market researcher to investigate the city.
www.annafrancis.com
http://annafrancis.blogspot.com
What's new?
I am just working on a piece of work which has been selected for a show in Margate: the show is due to coincide with the opening of Turner Contemporary, an art space whose progress I have been following with interest. In these very hard times it is fascinating to see an art space of this size opening. I am keen to see the impact that this will have on the Town (having spent numerous summers as a teenager working in the Dreamland Fun Park in Margate.) The work I am making for the show will explore the limitations and possibilities created by the use of emoticons. As someone who uses digital medias and in particular, social networks a lot within my practice I am often frustrated, but also intrigued by the miscommunications and misunderstandings generated by the use of email and instant messaging. The emoticon attempts to provide a nuance of emotion but is generally inadequate. I am working on a series of self-portraits where I attempt to recreate emoticons with my face. Also, I am in the process of organising a group show of work by artists from Stoke-on-Trent, again in Margate. The show is called ‘Kiss Me Quick’ and in many ways looks back to the old Potter’s Holidays – where large groups from Stoke would all go to the seaside at the same time. The show will be in July 2011.
Where are we now?
I think we are still a long way from reaching anything like equality. I think it is still a very uneven playing field out there, and I feel this in both my position as a lecturer in fine art and as an artist. I have heard my work described by male colleagues as ‘Funny Little Projects’ which I feel is derogatory. I do not think that my work is about women in any way, and neither does it have a Feminist bent - but it does involve conversation, participation and I often take on various ‘Women’s Roles’ within it, though this has been an unconscious thing – almost a coincidence, and is down to the fact that I am Female. I think that a man working performatively in a similar way would not have their work described like that. I am also aware that my trajectory through my career as a lecturer is a lot slower than some of my Male Colleagues.
What's to be done?
I think there is a lot to be done to make things more equal – and I think a good start would be for everyone to be more vocal about their experiences (this project is a good start!)
Who's next?
Ellie Harrison – amazingly prolific and politically active.
Sophie Hope – fighting the good fight.
What are you looking forward to?
I am looking forward to working on a project with Helen Moore and others about the 4 Garden Festivals and their legacies (this is in its early stages).
Also really looking forward to Kiss Me Quick this summer on Margate Harbour Arm.
