The Sheffield Pavilion 2009

The Sheffield Pavilion 2009 is a limited edition book and DVD of specially commissioned and existing video works by eleven Sheffield-based artists.The Sheffield Pavilion 2009 was first screened, launched and distributed during the opening days of the 11th Istanbul Biennial at B y k Londra Hotel, presenting the work of Sheffield-based artists and promoting contemporary art activity taking place in Sheffield, UK in an international context. It features an essay by artist / curator Ian White ( adjunct film curator at the Whitechapel Gallery ) and is designed by renowned Sheffield-based design firm The Designers Republic. The project was included in the biennial's listing of collateral events and went on to be screened again at Sierra Metro in Edinburgh 12 20 December 2009.This was the second Sheffield Pavilion, the first having been inspired by the traditional format of the Venice Biennale, where different countries are represented by pavilions. The Sheffield Pavilion was a totally new variation on a small series of city or location-specific interpretations of the national pavilion construct which aimed to challenge the notion that art practice in non-metropolitan areas operates on a provincial or parochial level or conversely suggest that the international art world is simply another such parish. The construct of the Pavilion (a temporary structure used for leisure, entertainment or exhibition) was again used in 2009 to structure the project and the artists contributions. The nomadic pavilion, an exhibition in book form or a paper-based architecture for art aimed to respond to the migratory movements of the art world with equal levels of critique and complicity.The publication was given away at the launch in Istanbul in exchange for the business cards of the visiting arts professionals, critics and curators, creating a diasporic network of connections world-wide and career development and exhibition opportunities for the artists involved.The project was funded by Arts Council EnglandThe pavilion was published by Site Gallery.