Blowing Water, Critical Care

Blowing Water, Critical Care is a publication of 10 edited conversations that JJ Chan and Sunshine Wong had with peers, studio holders and neighbouring organisations who are supportive of Bloc Projects in differing ways. Established in 2002, Bloc Projects is a contemporary arts organisation in the centre of Sheffield. The printed extracts are from conversations that revolve around notions of care in all its direct and tangential forms: slowness, leaning-on, generosity and chatting. The project was inspired by the Cantonese phrase “blowing water,” which translates to “chatting” and represents the informal, supportive conversations that were central to Bloc Project's inaugural longitudinal residency: Blueprints for the Otherwise.

Sharples contributed to interview 2: ‘Literally on our front door’ with Sam Read as part of their collective work at GLOAM. Interviewed by Chan and Wong, Sharples co-directs a neighbouring gallery and studio space just down the road from Bloc Projects. They speak to Chan and Wong about their experiences building a creative space with others, making sense of themselves as a ‘co-operative’ and sharing space with the pub next door.

Design AW–AR

Supported by Arts Council England and Sheffield City Council.

Sunshine Wong (Editor), JJ Chan (Editor), Jack Whiting (Editor), Ellie Rankin (Editor).