LONDON, ENGLAND.- Gasworks presents Open Studio: Shadi Habib (Palestine) and Cao Guimarães (Brazil), on view December 15 – 17, 2006, 12-6pm. This open studio event is an opportunity to see new works by Cao Guimaraes, winner of the Videobrasil Award at the 15th Videobrasil International Electronic Art Festival, and emerging Palestinian artist Shadi Habib, whose works in progress are being shown for the first time in the UK.

Shadi Habib is an emerging artist from Palestine working in various media including installation, sculpture and animation. He uses simple imagery and objects to make reference to human limitation: our valiant naivety in the face of short and bewildering existences. At Gasworks Habib has been developing new work following on from his 2006 piece An Ongoing Tale, using projection and screen-based animation to make narratives out of typical imaginings about ‘cave men’ – the use of fire, the hunt, the communal dance. Habib will show work in progress towards a new animation, which displays his use of unexpected humour and innovative installation.

Shadi Habib's residency is organised in conjunction with ArtSchool Palestine as part of their ongoing commitment to create opportunities for outstanding young artists to be based in the UK and is supported by Visiting Arts, British Council - Palestinian Territories, Nabil Hani Qaddumi and Charles Asprey.

Cao Guimarães works in film, video and photography and is one of Brazil’s foremost artists, combining a shrewd awareness of issues of anthropology with visual and aural sensibility that is both opportunist and contemplative. For his Open Studio Guimarães will premiere a new short video work created at Gasworks, for 2007’s XVI Videobrasil Festival. Working intuitively, his short works often seize and crystallise compelling moments from the most ordinary of contexts. This new work concentrates on a drowsy moment on a train, interweaving a sleeping man’s reflection and the surrounding ambient noises with a speculation of the things he might be dreaming about. Images and sounds, like a dreamer’s consciousness, slip in and out of reality and reflection.

The Soul of the Bone - screening - In addition, at 6pm on 15th Dec there will be a screening of Guimarães' 2004 feature-length work The Soul of the Bone organised by TrAIN at Chelsea School of Art & Design, only ten minutes' walk over the river from Gasworks.