From noon, Saturday 15^th September on Sky Arts 2 and Sky Go

Artist Doug Aitken takes over Sky Arts 2 for the day, curating programmes inspired by the theme of his project - Sky Arts Ignition: Doug Aitken - The Source, 

opening at Tate Liverpool the same day.

As leading contemporary artist Doug Aitken reveals the first project in the Sky Arts Ignition Series at Tate Liverpool, Sky Arts 2 celebrates this pioneering new public realm installation, The Source, with a day of programmes dedicated to his work and inspirations.

Artist Doug Aitken is one of the world’s most established and innovative contemporary artists. Aitken's body of work ranges from photography, sculpture and architectural interventions to films, sound, moving image pieces and installations. 

A 24 Hour Happening will see Aitken curate 24 hours of programming on Sky Arts 2 and offer viewers the chance to see excerpts from his inspiring new installation which explores the roots and realisation of the creative process through the thoughts of some of the world's most inspiring creative visionaries. These excerpts will include insightful conversations with people, including singer-songwriter Beck, rocker Jack White, contemporary artist Ryan Trecartin, photographer William Eggleston and pop artist Richard Phillips, and will introduce programming selected by Aitken.

The take-over will start with the UK Premiere of Tim Marlow on Doug Aitken, in which Sky Arts presenter Tim Marlow will interview Aitken about the concept of his work as they both explore the installation at Tate Liverpool. Doug Aitken - A Compilation will contain excerpts and documentations from Doug’s acclaimed previous works including: Song1, Black Mirror, Frontier, Il Tempo del Postino, Sleepwalkers Walkthrough and Sleepwalkers MOMA Happening.

Sky Arts Ignition: Doug Aitken - The Source will be a fast moving portrait of modern creativity housed on Liverpool’s historic Albert Dock in a structure designed by Aitken in collaboration with British architect David Adjaye OBE. The commission will form part of the seventh Liverpool Biennial, and will be Aitken’s first public realm installation in the UK, showcasing his ambitious approach to contemporary art. It will be free admission and will open to the public on 15 September 2012, continuing to 13 January 2013. Visitors to The Source can also download the Sky Arts Ignition Series app – which will send users moments of creative inspiration throughout the day based on their location, and offer them a chance to respond with their own moments. For details see sky.com/arts from 15 Sept.

The full schedule of Doug Aitken's The SOURCE: A 24 Hour Happening:

Tim Marlow On Doug Aitken – Saturday 15^th September 12.00pm

Tim Marlow interviews artist Doug Aitken as they tour around Sky Arts Ignition: Doug Aitken - The Source, his new work opening at Tate Liverpool

Rem Koolhaas: A Kind Of Architect – Saturday 15^th September 12.30pm

A look at the striking designs and theories of the Dutch architect, whose work includes Seattle Library, Porto's Casa da Musica and Las Vegas's Guggenheim Heritage museum.

The Exterminating Angel – Saturday 15^th September 2.40pm

Luis Bunuel's wicked critique of the upper-classes. The day after a dinner party, a group of guests find themselves psychologically trapped in their host's house.

Man With A Movie Camera – Saturday 15^th September 4.15pm

Polish director Dziga Vertov's experimental silent masterpiece which fuses film and documentary by recording a day in the life of a large Russian city. (1929).

Beam Drop - Saturday 15^th September 5.30pm

Chris Burden's dramatic and dangerous piece of 2009 performance art, Beam Drop Antwerp, in which he dropped 118 steel construction beams into cement from a 150-foot crane.

Doug Aitken A Compilation – Saturday 15^th September 6.00pm

Excerpts and documentations from Doug’s Aitken acclaimed previous works including: Song1, Black Mirror, Frontier, Il Tempo del Postino, Sleepwalkers Walkthrough and Sleepwalkers MOMA Happening.

From The Basement: Beck – Saturday 15^th September 7.00pm

Beck, Jamie Liddel and Jarvis Cocker give intimate performances of their work. No presenters, no audience, just the artists and their music.

Killer Of Sheep – Saturday 15^th September 8.00pm

Charles Burnett's gritty film, made up of a series of almost unrelated vignettes, captures the monotony of working-class life through the eyes of a disenchanted slaughterhouse worker.

The Cool School – Saturday 15^th September 9.25pm

Jeff Bridges narrates the fairy tale of the Ferus Gallery in LA, which rivalled New York by nurturing artists like Ed Ruscha and Craig Kauffman, later hosting Warhol's first solo show

Sympathy For The Devil – Saturday 15^th September 11.00pm

Director Jean-Luc Godard's examination of 1960s black and white culture divisions, intercut with footage of the Rolling Stones recording their eponymous landmark track. (1968)

Ali: Fear Eats The Soul - Sunday 16^th September 1.00am

Rainer Werner Fassbinder's powerfully simple look at racial and social prejudices. Shot in 15 days, a widow and a young migrant form an unlikely relationship.

A Bigger Splash – Sunday 16^th September 2.40am

Director Jack Hazan’s documentary film that takes a snapshot of David Hockney's life, looking at his work during London in the early 1970s.

Doug Aitken A Compilation - Sunday 16^th September 4.30am

Excerpts and documentations from Doug’s Aitken acclaimed previous works including: Song1, Black Mirror, Frontier, Il Tempo del Postino, Sleepwalkers Walkthrough and Sleepwalkers MOMA Happening.

Tim Marlow On Doug Aitken - Sunday 16^th September 5.30am

Tim Marlow interviews artist Doug Aitken as they tour around Sky Arts Ignition: Doug Aitken - The Source, his new work opening at Tate Liverpool.

The Exterminating Angel - Sunday 16^th September 6.00am

Luis Bunuel's wicked critique of the upper-classes. The day after a dinner party, a group of guests find themselves psychologically trapped in their host's house.

From The Basement: Beck - Sunday 16^th September 8.15am

Beck, Jamie Liddel and Jarvis Cocker give intimate performances of their work. No presenters, no audience, just the artists and their music.

First Point - Sunday 16^th September 9.15am

White Stripes: Under Great White Northern lights  - Sunday 16^th

September 9.30am 

Poignant and revealing account of the energetic rock duo's 2007 Canadian tour, which also included unannounced gigs in bowling alleys, malls and on a bus.

Tim Marlow On Doug Aitken - Sunday 16^th September   11.25am

“Sky Arts Ignition Series is not just about the creation of artwork, it is about collaboration and shared experiences with astounding artists like Doug Aitken and great institutions such as Tate Liverpool.” comments James Hunt, director of Sky Arts. “Doug has embraced the values of Sky Arts and worked closely with us on curating programmes that have inspired his imagination and fired his creativity. Together we are able to give Sky Customers a real insight into his thought processes and artistic vision.”  

Sky Arts Ignition: Doug Aitken - The Source is the first project  in the Sky Arts Ignition Series, which launched in 2011, and will enable Sky Arts to back the creation of major new works of art as well as nurture emerging talent. The series will see Sky Arts collaborate with six arts organisations over the next three years in the creation of brand new works. For each of the chosen projects, Sky Arts will provide a cash investment of up to £200,000 and work with the arts partners to bring their projects to a wider audience, using Sky’s platform.

For more information on the Sky Arts Ignition Series, please visit the website at www.sky.com/skyartsignition.

ENDS

Contacts:

For more information please contact:

Rachel Furst               rachel.furst@virgin.net                 07957 457668

Dominic Collett         dominic.collett@bskyb.com        020 7032 4892

Notes to Editors

About Sky Arts

Sky is the only broadcaster in the UK and Ireland with channels dedicated solely to the arts, with 48 hours of the best arts content from around the world across Sky Arts 1 and Sky Arts 2 daily. Recent highlights include the latest season of the Met Opera, Chekhov Comedy Shorts, a season of brand new plays starring the cream of British comedic talent, Tim Marlow on Sculpture 3D and The South Bank Sky Arts Awards.

Sky Arts also seeks to connect with culture on the ground; creating and collaborating with the best of the arts in the UK and Ireland to bring new experiences to life. The flagship show, The Book Show, now goes to four literary festivals including Hay and Cheltenham. Sky Arts Creative Wish is part of Sky Arts Ignition Series which launched in in 2011 to invest in the arts landscape of the UK. The Series will seek to collaborate with six arts organisations over the next three years in the creation of brand new works; Sky Arts Ignition Series: Futures Fund will support five young artists with a bursary of £30,000 each, enabling Sky Arts to back the creation of new works of art as well as nurture emerging talent. Sky Arts also encourages new formats and methods for accessing opera; beaming the world’s first live opera in 3D to cinemas across the UK and Ireland from ENO.

See sky.com/arts

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