Biography
James Webb’s work, exhibited as large-scale installations in galleries and museums or unannounced interventions in public spaces, often makes use of ellipsis, displacement and détournement to explore the nature of belief and the dynamics of communication in our contemporary world. Employing a variety of media, including audio, installation and text, his practice references aspects of the conceptualist and minimalist traditions as well as his academic studies in advertising, comparative religion and theatre.
Webb’s work has been shown internationally at institutions such as Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Wakefield, UK; Wanås Konst, Hässleholm, Sweden and Darat al Funun, Amman. His work has also been exhibited at Sharjah Biennial 13 (2017); 12th Bienal de la Habana, Cuba (2015); 55th Venice Biennale (2013), 3rd Marrakech Biennale (2009), Melbourne International Arts Festival (2009) and 8th Biennale d’Art Contemporain de Lyon (2007).
Webb was an artist-in-residence at USF Verftet, Bergen, Norway (2010); Cité internationale des arts, Paris (2009); KIT - Kunst im Tunnel, Düsseldorf (2009); Visby International Composers’ Centre, Götland, Sweden (2009) and Medialab-Prado, Madrid (2007). He was awarded the Art Moves Africa Travel Grant in 2009 and the ABSA L’Atelier Award in 2008.
Born in 1975 in Kimberley, South Africa, Webb currently lives and works in Cape Town.
SAF participation:
Sharjah Biennial 13.