Reactor is a Nottingham based artist's collective who work collaboratively and individually on a variety of events, exhibitions and projects.

 

 

 

Reactor is a Nottingham based collective who work collaboratively on a variety of events and projects. Since it’s inception The Group have instigated a plethora of unique projects, making us consider alternative venues alongside conventional galleries, and building up a wave of reaction as a result. Offering events that parody the social cliché of the art launch event and challenge the ‘new art rules’.

 

Reactor originated from two separate groups, Aldaran and Graze, both housed within an old factory building in Nottingham.

 

From July 2002 onwards the two groups collaborated on a series of monthly art events entitled Apocalypse Soon, so named in anticipation of the forthcoming demolition of the building. These one-night events offered the opportunity to experience performance and installed works in varied sites across the 4 floors of this dilapidated building.

Being cross-disciplinary by nature these projects developed an ethos of collaboration and a joint practice emerged, stemming from the artist's disenchantment with the limited and isolating nature of regional arts provision.

 

 

In September 2002 a 10-day event was staged under the name of Reactor, from which the group was to take its name. Focusing on developing works collectively, based around ideas of evolution and interaction. The event created a labyrinth of dynamic installation that challenged the viewer to no longer be a passive observer but to directly respond and interact with the work.

 

The Group moved from their condemned factory building to a new location on Arkwright St and Reactor as an entity was formed. This space acting as a hub rather than a container of the group’s activity, through collaborative practice and fluid use of space this was to be a hive of creative activity and dialogue. The space itself has been the site of a series of Function platform events to showcase experimental and collaborative ideas. Giving the audience the opportunity to experience a series of evolving works, interactive installation and performance in an unconventional setting.

 

The space has also served as a springboard for collaborations with numerous artists, and partner projects with other organisations such as Toy and Dismantle at the Angel Row Gallery and GHAOS: Starts Here as part of the NOW Festival. These events have created all-encompassing environments, through a process now termed GHAOS, which sees the group experimenting with it’s own collective practice and situating it in new contexts, providing the opportunity to create playful and exciting works in response to unfamiliar environment and working methods.

 

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