AFTERGOLD  
Summer 2012

Working with acclaimed musician, writer, and artist Momus, AfterGold aims to use the forthcoming Olympics and the presence in Loughborough of teams from Great Britain and Japan as an opportunity to begin an on-going investigation into notions of value. 

AfterGold was conceived by Momus and takes as its premise that -- whether we're chasing gold medals or gold coins -- there comes a point where we've achieved all we can competitively, and the focus shifts to what we'll do after sporting or commercial success, and why we'll do it. This theme links Britain and Japan, as societies which have been highly successful as trading nations and are now shifting to post-industrial and service economies. The question is essentially one of values: what do we do -- and who do we become -- after we've supposedly won at life?

What roles might artists take within this society and how could they impact upon it? What are the attitudes or approaches to living that can emerge as we shift our focus?

These questions have been posed to six internationally regarded Japanese artists who have all been invited to come to Loughborough to develop new projects which will take place throughout the Summer months. 

Artists: Atelier Bow Wow / Takahiro Iwasaki / Yoshinari Nishio / Yukihiro Taguchi / Shiro Takatani

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AfterGold is part of the London 2012 Festival and the Cultural Olympiad in the East Midlands, and is funded by Legacy Trust UK through Igniting Ambition and Arts Council England through Grants for the arts.  AfterGold has received additional funding from the Sasakawa Foundation, Diawa Anglo/Japan Foundation and the Japan Foundation.

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