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tactileBOSCH…. Artist Led Studio…a profile.

Since opening its doors in June 2000, the converted industrial building, a 200yr old former laundry, situated in Landaff North, in the Welsh capital, Cardiff, has developed into one of the main players on the Welsh Arts scene with an impressive back catalogue and experimental approach.

Established by artist Kim Fielding and Simon Mitchell, and supported through the years by Cardiff based artists such as Andrew Cooper, Jan Bennett, Mike Murray, Simon Fenhoulet, Tim Bromage, Tom Harrup, Graham Phillips, Sam Aldridge, Neil Jefferies, Dave Shepherd & Paul Beauchamp and organizations as disparate as the National Probation Service, Arts Council of Wales Project Funding, Culture Colony, UWIC & Chapter Arts Centre, the original vision behind tactileBOSCH - to meet, work and provide a platform for emerging local artists has expanded dramatically. With a three building complex sustaining over 25 studios and working residency's, [such as the inspired ‘Studio Without Walls*'] reaching towards a raised profile both regionally and international with the ethos of a traditional artist's collective still paramount, this is a vision which has been realized.

However to view tactileBOSCH as just a studio space or meeting place denies much of the group's persona or as the first exhibition very aptly announced ‘ tactileBOSCH has More Front than a Cows got… ' leaving you to mind the gap!

As an alternate gallery space, tactileBOSCH is adaptable, almost chameleonic in its nature. The vast light space transforms to adopt the character of each show, reflecting the idea that, structural factors allowing, there are no parameters placed upon the work. This ability to transform itself has resulted in a living, breathing environment, capable of producing a complex dialogue between artist, curator, gallery, location and audience.

Against the backdrop of their infamous party-style openings, artists are given the opportunity to show and experiment with their work in a way that is not always possible within a more traditional gallery or theatre structure. This air of exploration also has the potential to develop into a wider discussion, as was shown by the debate surrounding the boundaries of live performance and responsibility following the 2003 summer show, “ From Bahia to Over by Yer ”

Perhaps less well known is the collaborative side of tactileBOSCH a trend that feeds into a grater spirit of co-operation and communication between galleries that has been a familiar part of South Wales creative landscape. Working with individual artists, groups and other gallery's such as BayArt, Chapter Art Centre, Coed Hills Rural Arts Space and More Front Studios, tactileBOSCH has been able to produce larger and increasingly varied exhibitions.

Since ‘ tBHMFT ' [an offshoot of the ‘Stimulata' show staged in Manhattan] Fielding and Mitchell have built a reputation for making international links and establishing exchanges between artists and galleries in a host of countries. This has not only helped to bring a wide range of work to Wales, but has also aided in raising the profile of Welsh Art by insuring that artists have the chance to exhibit on the international circuit.

Feel free to indulge the senses a little by perusing the various exhibitions on the site & if so inclined contact the tactileBOSCH team directly either by e mail to gallery@tactilebosch.org / tel: +44 [0] 7951 256255 / or even by post to tactileBOSCH Studio's , Old Victorian Buildings, Andrews Rd, Llandaff North Cardiff CF14 2JP

Original Text by Debbie Savage / edited by tactileBOSCH's Dream Machine