Phillipson’s videos are often presented in installations taking the form of immersive environments in which the sculptural surroundings manifest themselves as physical projections of onscreen imagery. In the video work A is to D what E is to H (2011-13) Phillipson’s voice-over carries us through a series of puns and linguistic slippages, set to a video sequence of cut-up moving image excerpts, which include shots of her own body, architectural surroundings and found footage. Phillipson excels in her use of vernacular forms and the ability to seize the language of spectacle, to produce playful irony and reveal deeper truths by amplification, repetition and saturation.
The Grundy Art Gallery recently identified three core areas for future acquisitions: popular culture and commentary on the language of spectacle; works tracing the history of exhibitions at the Gallery or related to Blackpool; and a new strand of light-based artworks. The Grundy’s exhibition of Phillipson’s work in the summer of 2014 engaged with Blackpool’s local culture and landmarks, attracting some 7,000 people. The acquisition of Phillipson’s works ensures the enduring legacy of this popular exhibition, while meeting the Grundy’s core aspirations.
