Exploring the boundaries between language and sculpture

Born in 1970, Kate Daudy is known for work exploring the limits of language and sculpture/text crossover. A committed peacenik, a strong current of Daudy’s work as a visual artist expresses a desire for socio-political commitment from individuals, encouraging a sense of empowerment.

Early 2016, British artist Kate Daudy was designated by ONUART and commissioned to work on a used UNHCR tent provided to her, through their introduction, by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).

Known for her written interventions in public/private spaces expressing her search for meaning, she has redefined an ancient Chinese tradition as a contemporary art form for the modern era.

Driven by an insatiable curiosity about language and its creative potentials, her experiments have led her into collaborative dialogue with an array of artistic forms and disciplines.

The multi-dimensional works resulting from these interactions can be seen across Europe, America and the Middle East.

This ONUART-commissioned artwork, with the working title of “Home 32° 17′ 44.4″ N, 36° 19′ 25.5″ E” was conceived with the utilitarian purpose of giving voice to those experiencing the crisis first hand and in order to promote understanding and compassion.The message of the tent is apolitical. This refugee crisis is a human experience transcending questions of nationality or individual politics.

Thanks to the support of the Fundacion ONUART and other institutions, the work will tour museums and public institutions in various UN countries to raise awareness of the refugee situation and the work of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.

To help Daudy’s understanding of the situation the UNHCR organised for her to visit refugee camps in the Middle East. There and subsequently she met many hundreds of refugees, aid workers, doctors, human rights activists volunteers, lawyers from over 60 nations.

Struck with admiration for the human qualities of the individuals she encountered, Daudy will draw attention to their plight, and share lessons of their positive mindset. The trauma and loss of 67 million registered refugees must teach us something useful for the future.

The research upon which Daudy engaged for the purpose of this tent has led to a series of new bodies of work, inspired by the refugees and those she met with them. Most notably Daudy has embarked upon a prolific campaign of written interventions in public and private places, across Europe, the UK and the Middle East, conveying positive, thought-provoking messages and ideas. She has written across more than 250 places, from tree stumps to prestigious museums, rubbish bins, fire hydrants, world-famous restaurants, bus shelters, greasy spoons, grocery shops, a refugee registration centre, youth centres, libraries, schools and street corners.

Daudy currently has a solo show “This is Water» at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park in the UK and work at the “Off the Page” show at Mesa Contemporary Arts Centre in the USA.