An Institutional Critique: Billy Apple + Refinery

Year: 2021

Material:

Dimensions (W/H/D): Variable

Corner box removed

Corner box removal begun

Box removed and new trapdoor in position

The artwork sits where the opening used to be

Corner box in original condition

After helping Billy Apple with two exhibitions at the Suter Art Gallery as technician, I developed a good friendship with Billy and he subsequently became interested in the Refinery Artspace which I was also involved with at the time.

Billy wanted to intervene and address two areas within the space with his famous Institutional Critiques. He gave me orders to close in the opening in the front gallery, and remove the box in the corner of the rear gallery to reveal the stairwell.

After a good many months of negotiations I completed the work and we had a show with just these alterations showing and two printed works to accompany it.

It was an absolute privilege to work with Billy on this artwork, and to get to know him along the way was an honour. The space looked so good with nothing else in it and only Billy’s two works.