Flowers Gallery has announced the Victoria & Albert Museum acquisition of works from two of Edmund Clark‘s groundbreaking projects. “Control Order House” is a critical exploration of the experiences of individuals placed under control orders, a measure implemented by the U.K. government in its counter-terrorism efforts.
This project reveals the profound effects of these security strategies established under the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005. These strategies include the authority to relocate individuals deemed as ‘controlled persons’ to specific houses nationwide, enforce curfews, and limit their electronic and personal communications. Notably, these ‘controlled persons’ were never formally charged with terrorism-related offences, and the evidence against them was kept confidential.
Edmund Clark, courtesy of Flowers Gallery
In “Negative Publicity: Artefacts of Extraordinary Rendition,” created alongside investigator Crofton Black, Clark delves into the hidden aspects of governmental control. This project highlights the period following President George W. Bush’s 2001 announcement of the ‘war on terror’ up to 2008, during which numerous individuals were clandestinely detained in a network of secret prisons managed by the CIA, through a process known as extraordinary rendition – essentially, transfers lacking legal oversight.
Edmund Clark, courtesy of Flowers Gallery
“Control Order House” will be showcased in the V&A Photography Centre starting June 2024. Clark’s work is a profound investigation into the unseen facets and experiences of conflict in the modern era. The exhibition prompts a discourse on the delicate equilibrium between national security and personal freedoms. Flowers Gallery is thrilled about the continued recognition of Clark’s work in national collections. His film “Orange Screen,” developed in collaboration with writer and curator Max Houghton, is currently on display in the newly inaugurated Blavatnik Art, Film and Photography Galleries. This exhibition features pieces from the permanent collection of the Imperial War Museum in London.
Edmund Clark, courtesy of Flowers Gallery
The gallery eagerly anticipates Clark’s upcoming series “Cosmopolemos,” also a collaboration with Crofton Black. This series presents a profound examination of knowledge and meaning against the backdrop of the immense power and budget of the U.S. Department of Defense. It scrutinises the minute details of the military-industrial complex, ranging from billions spent on global military operations to minor expenses. This new work unveils the extensive influence of the American military budget and how the U.S. military portrays itself and its global activities in the 21st century, both domestically and internationally.
©2024 Edmund Clark
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