CAST Gallery

Recently named by the Guardian as ‘Artists of the Week’, Heather and Ivan Morison's work blends factual recall with fiction, merging information into a narrative that builds on the mythology of their own lives and the lives of people they encounter. In previous work, the artists have looked at the currency of the escape vehicle, something that can transport you physically or mentally away from the here and now, or away from a potential future disaster. Dark Star, a 2006 film, Pleasure Island, and Fantasy Island, 2007, both timber structures, took their starting points from the American house-truck movement of the 1960s and 70s, as well as the hand-built shelter and self sufficiency movements of the same period. The Morisons have conducted research visits with the founders of these alternative lifestyles, tracing their influence in today's California. Their work often takes the form of sculptural objects within the public realm that act as catalysts for urgent discussions about our environmental future.

The Morisons featured in the British Art Show 6 and are represented by Danielle Arnaud Contemporary Art, London and Clint Roenisch, Toronto. They represented Wales at the Venice Biennale 2007 and have recent projects with the Barbican, London; Milton Keynes Gallery, Baltic, Newcastle and Firstsite, Colchester.

Heather Peak was born in Desborough, UK in 1973 and Ivan Morison was born in Nottingham, UK in 1974. In 2005 the Morisons acquired a site of ancient and mature woodland in North Wales and they are developing the area of mature conifers into an arboretum. They live in Arthog, North West Wales.