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Displacement Behaviour is Charles Richardson’s first UK solo exhibition in a public gallery and brings together recent video and new installation works that explore themes of male identity, social digitisation and contemporary cultural uncertainty. Packed with paradox and contradiction, Richardson’s works combine digital sophistication with an absurd, deadpan humour, drawing together elements of video, sculpture, performance and collaborative practice.
In the newly formulated video work Displacement Behaviour, Richardson presents a series of hyper-real but glitch-ridden 3D images of torsos that are bound with tape and everyday detritus. The static figures slowly revolve, floating in front of a flickering 16mm projection space and accompanied by found and ambient background sounds. These animated busts are provisional hybrids, simultaneously lifelike and statuesque, their dominant scale is reminiscent of ornate figures or saints.
Headbone (2015), Richardson’s video installation first shown at the Zabludowicz Collection in 2015, emphasises the materiality of the sources he captures, using chintzy patterned furniture, hand tools, mobile phones and crumpled packaging. It’s protagonists, a male figure in a visored helmet and dress as well as an, apparently pregnant, self-portrait appear frozen and mute, yet are full of psychological resonance. The specially recorded soundtrack is a version of the children’s favourite ‘Dem Bones’ - its lyrical origins from the Old Testament Book of Ezekiel in which the prophet has a vision of God breathing life back into scattered human remains. Richardson’s ambitious and distinctive work suggests unexpected connections across different threads of cultural history, imbuing current technological possibilities with echoes of the past. It points to a kind of nostalgic future and the unfulfilled potentialities of the present.
Further sculptural elements draw lines of reference to and from the digital works, between the virtual and the physical. Richardson makes connections between the artist, artworks and location – utilising found materials sourced in the city and a collaborative process that brings together local artists and students.

Associated events:

Artists Talk and Performance Sat 16 Apr, 1.30pm, Free 
Join the artist for a discussion on his exhibition and wider practice, followed by a live music performance in the gallery at 3pm in response to the exhibition.

Daata Editions Screening with David Gryn Tuesday 12 April, 7-9pm, £4 (£3) 
Daata Editions Director David Gryn will introduce this screening of selected moving image, sound and the web-based artworks from Season One’s digital editions.
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The exhibition has been developed with the support of Arts Council England’s Grants for the Arts.