Giles Smith, co-founder of the award winning multi-disciplinary artistic collective Assemble, who had a residency at Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff, speaks with Luke Owain Boult about winning the Turner Prize, architecture and defining art.
What was the idea behind Assemble?
“I guess that’s quite a difficult question in a sense because there isn’t really an idea behind Assemble. It’s more a kind of an accumulative collection of lots of ideas. I guess that’s partly because of the creative process. We started off with a group of individuals just doing full projects together and that still agrees with us.”
You won the Turner Prize for your work redeveloping Toxteth in Liverpool. Why in particular was that area chosen?
“We were invited to look at the area by a buyer who was interested in a philanthropic investment in the area and looking to refurbish some houses. But that project hasn’t gone ahead, however, in the process of making our work, we’ve met people who were based in the area and things went really well. We’ve then gone on to start the Granby Workshop Project there as well. We’ve been very lucky to have been chosen by people to help out with the area rather than us being called to the area to see the work.”
Had you expected to win the Turner Prize?
“We certainly didn’t expect to win, and definitely didn’t expect to be nominated. I guess it was certainly one of those surprises that just gives you that shock and with the prize now, that’s just the kind of role that we’ve taken on. We’re probably more shocked than anyone else that we were even included. It really had never occurred to us that this is a prize we’d be eligible for. We were hoping we’d be questioned whether or not we should have been eligible for the Prize.”
What do you think art is?
“That’s a very difficult question. You’d think I’d be well qualified to be able to answer although there are far more people out there who will be able to tell you what it is. It’s the way in which we work and we think it’s important to undertake work that changes and kind of manifests the feeling of the real city in which we live. It’s also about changing people’s attitudes towards what fits the place for everyday life. Whether or not that’s art I guess is a question I’m not able to answer. I suppose there isn’t an answer really.”
How did your interest in architecture develop?
“I grew up in Belfast, which was a city where 20th century architecture has an extraordinary effect on everything. The experience of growing up there really moved me and I questioned how that physical stuff got shape. I guess more generally the movement all came together at architect school and started doing things together. Assemble kind of came out of this practice reaction and from what we found when we left architect school to going to work in an architect group.”
What’s next for you guys?
“Well hopefully more working in Cardiff and working with Chapter. We’re really interested in how the local art scene and art practice manifests and cultivates, and how we can play a role in that and be a part of all of that. I think that it would be a really nice thing to be doing that next.”
How do you think the cuts to Cardiff’s arts will affect the area?
“One of the things that are probably at risk is the community of art in Cardiff, which is the thing that we really enjoyed in our residency. I just think that diversity is really important in the city and I hope that we don’t risk too much because of the cuts made by the council.”
Assemble. Info: www.assemblestudio.co.uk