Artist Rachael Clerke’s work is hard to define – blurring the boundaries of genre, and bringing in elements of live performance, installation, and community infrastructure to ask playful and provocative questions about how we live.
They describe their approach as “experiments about what real life might look like if we were less concerned with what real life ‘should’ look like”.
Clerke’s ongoing decade-long series, Businesses 2019-29 is “an attempt to understand, expose and co-opt systems of money, trade and exchange through the creation of real life businesses”.
Independent journalism
is needed now More than ever
Keep our city’s journalism independent. Become a supporter member today.
Rachael Clerke’s Transactionland Debt Gala, St Anne’s House, 2022 – photo: Ruby Turner
To date, these have encompassed Subscription Business (2019), Shared Ownership Business (2020+) and Transactionland (2022), a brilliantly eclectic economic systems-inspired two-week long installation at St Anne’s House – memorably featuring a ‘debt gala’, daily doughnut economics discussions (powered by Future Doughnuts) and a ‘shoplift o’clock’ hour, in which customers were permitted to steal anything in the ‘shop’, provided they could get away with it.
Always thoughtful and questioning, Clerke’s entire process is also characterised by a warmth, inclusivity and a lightness of touch that permeates their work.
Rachael Clerke at the launch night of Art Business Ltd – photo: Ruby Turner
The newest project from ‘The Artist Formerly known as Sole Trader Rachael Clerke (TAFKASTRC)’ is Art Business Ltd, a year-long company running from April 2024 to the end of the tax year, 2025, seeking to open up the truth of what it is to be an artist in a capitalist society.
During the course of the project – while wearing a specially commissioned uniform by Moa Johansson, Clerke will publish data on ‘good work days’ and ‘bad work days’, receipt of invoice payments, the outcome of funding applications, and their own menstrual cycle.
The logo for Art Business Ltd was custom designed – artwork: Rosa ter Kuile (@rtiiika)
Along the way, they will also utilise dance – developing a collection of useful gestures in The Dance of Professionalisation for Survival (in collaboration with Clara Potter-Sweet); and art business skills – setting up an artist-led cooperative business school.
“I’m really interested to see what this work holds!” says Clerke.
Rachael Clerke, Art Business Ltd official portrait – photo: Ruby Turner
“Is it possible to ‘professionalise’ as an artist without selling your soul? Will people want to see how my periods affect my work? Am I going to look stupid in my uniform? Is it funny? Is it depressing? Is it art?
“And most importantly – what can we learn to help each other through this mess, build solidarity and move joyfully towards a post-capitalist future.”
Rachael Clerke on Castle Bridge – photo: Ruby Turner
The development of Art Business Ltd is supported through a research and development fellowship from the West of England Visual Arts Alliance.
Find out more about the project by following @artbusinessltd or visiting www.artbusiness.ltd where you can also sign up to the mailing list.
Further information about the artist’s previous work is available at www.rachaelclerke.com, and the archive site for Transactionland can be accessed here.
Main photo: Ruby Turner (Rachael Clerke, Art Business Ltd official portrait)
Read next:
