2005 Turner Prize winner Simon Starling is fascinated by the processes involved in transforming one object or substance into another. He makes objects, installations, and pilgrimage-like journeys which draw out an array of ideas about nature, technology and economics. Starling describes his work as ‘the physical manifestation of a thought process’, revealing hidden histories and relationships.

Black Drop/ Oxford was produced for Modern Art Oxford to accompany Simon Starling’s 2013 exhibition Black Drop, which responded to the rare planetary phenomenon of the transit of Venus and its relationship to the beginnings of moving image technology. The most recent transit of Venus took place in June 2012, and will likely be the last in our lifetimes, with the next taking place in 2117. With the medium of film rapidly disappearing, Starling decided to visit Hawaii and Tahiti to film the transit and the sites of previous observations – Point Venus, Tahiti, in 1769 and Honolulu in 1874 – documenting the last transit to be recorded using 35mm technology. The resulting film is a multilayered documentary, narrated by Peter Capaldi, and illustrated with still and moving images of geographical locations and historical information, set against the backdrop of a 35mm film-editing suite.

Black Drop was commissioned by Modern Art Oxford, in association with the University of Oxford, and was first shown at the Radcliffe Observatory, which was built with funds from John Radcliffe’s legacy at the suggestion of the astronomer Dr. Thomas Hornsby, following his observation of the 1769 transit of Venus.

Following the installation of Black Drop at the Radcliffe Observatory it was exhibited at Modern Art Oxford, alongside Venus Mirrors (2012) and a poster designed to mark both Oxford screenings. This edition is a reproduction of the poster.

Exclusively made for Modern Art Oxford, our artist editions are often created to accompany a major exhibition in the galleries. Modern Art Oxford is a charity and all proceeds from the sale of these works directly support our exhibition and education programmes. All editions come with a certificate of authenticity.

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