CADIGAN IS HIMSELF A KADIGAN

In linguistics, the term placeholder can refer to objects or people whose names are either temporarily forgotten, irrelevant, or unknown in the context in which it is being presented. Examples of placeholders for people include, ‘whatshername’ referring to a colleague named Roberta, ‘mate’ for a stranger in the pub, Common placeholders for objects include ‘thingy’ or ‘gubbins’.

For the duration of Group / Show Solo, the fourth invited artist instigated a process to link his practice to the location and curatorial remit of the show. Sole proof of this process may appear in an article on 5th August 2011 edition of local paper the Thanet KM Extra. The project required the participation of several actors - a curator, artists, family members, journalists, and newspaper editors. After a series of misinterpretations, it became unsure the initial intentions of the work would be conveyed in the article, or even if the article will be published at all. Without this proof, can we be sure that his project really happened?

From 2nd to 5th August, the artist must assemble a show, uncertain of this article’s existence…

If the article is published, the exhibition is the artist’s first solo show. The objects on display become placeholders; their initial names are forgotten and they become visual residues illustrating the artist’s project.
If it is not published, the exhibition is a group show of the other participants’ work. Instead, the artist becomes the placeholder.