ARTISTS TALKING

I usually make new work for each individual context, place or circumstance in which I'm working, so the reason for making work shifts each time. The latest work does not stick with the previous content or form of earlier work. I can't guarantee what the work is going to be or look like, that only comes from research into the situation and circumstances surrounding the context or idea.

I work with Ben Jones and Sean Williams as MASS – a collaboration that came through casual discussions about painting. So far we have instigated and organised two exhibitions: 'Vim & Vigour' where over seventy artists were invited to submit a painting to be included in one big installation in which we were intending to upset the perception of painting being solely a 'progressive' studio practice. More recently 'Home (Between 8 & 10 pm)' in which we endeavoured to explore similarities between aesthetic decisions made in home decoration and those presented in contemporary art, especially painting.

I have recently concluded a four-year, ongoing research project with artists Dutton & Peacock and Steve Hawley. The project was an exploration of cultural regeneration within two cities that had experienced a decline in their manufacturing industries. Dutton & Peacock and I decided to collaborate on producing new work for the exhibition 'Province Sheffield – Bilbao' at The Mappin Art Gallery, Sheffield and 'Bilbao Arte' Bilbao.

I also collaborate with Andrew Hewitt on non-gallery work. We are both interested in the social and political context of working in public or community space. We recently completed a Year of the Artist residency in local government in order to highlight opportunities for arts within a series of redevelopment and regeneration schemes. The works/actions we make are temporary and are produced from a direct engagement with the site or community.

As Hewitt & Jordan we have been invited to work at the SLAK foreign guest studio, Arnhem, The Netherlands, throughout August 2001. This project entitled 'Work Shy' will see us attempting to do something different everyday for thirty-one days.