About

This site documents works made by Phil Coy whilst artist-in-residence at Brunel University. The role was initiated by Author and Professor Will Self and Professor in Experimental Particle Physics, Akram Khan.

Phil Coy researched different aspects of Brunel’s physical location near the M4, M40, M25, Heathrow and RAF Northolt Airports, HMV Record Factory and Pinewood Film Studios. Key references became Brunel’s formation as a Plate Glass University in 1966 with its iconic brutalist Lecture Centre, its use as locations for Stanley Kubrick’s film, A Clockwork Orange (1971) and the impact of concrete on the local landscape, including a network of fishing lakes.

Works include temporary and permanent installations, film screenings, a freely distributed imprint, sound works, and live events. During the residency Coy developed a permanent, site sensitive sound installation Stereo Pair that was installed on campus in January 2021 and is due to be launched and ‘Switched-On’ September 28th 2022. The installation references pre-radar aircraft listening devices; the locally produced HMV ‘Morning Glory’ Gramophone and the nearby invention of stereo sound reproduction. The work incorporates aggregate recycled from the former John Crank Building, demolished during the residency.

Eleven Windsocks for Brunel, installed atop buildings across the campus, considered the close proximity to Heathrow, the world’s second busiest airport. Coy designed the five-strip windsocks to comply with standard FAA aviation specifications, used by pilots to determine wind direction and speed. A subtle intervention to this design standard, Coy has modified the two-colour design to those of local bird plumage.

See Work for more details on each of the projects.

The Switch On launch event is free but please book a ticket > HERE

Key Dates

>> Launch of Stereo Pair 28 September 2022, 2pm – 5pm

>> Public programme 29 November – 1 December 2019

PRESS RELEASE – PUBLIC PROGRAMME

>> Temporary works installed 04 October – 16 December 2019

Residency timeline

>> 28.09.2022
launch of Stereo Pair

>> 23.06.2021
Stereo Pair speaker cabs completed and delivered

Phil Coy Stereo Pair Sound Installation
galvanized steel speaker cabs transform passive amplifiers into active amplifiers, encouraging the gardens to used as an outdoor arena for sound and performance

>> 21-23.02.2021
Stereo Pair installed in John Crank Gardens

>> 17.11.2020
foundations set for Stereo Pair

>> 01.02.2020
M25 B 93.2 [mad bridge] imprint release and distribution

M25_B_93.2
photo book of land ownership parcel parcel: 11648; a plot designated for redevelopment as part of the construction of Heathrow Third Runway

>> 29.11.2019 – 01.12.2019
artist talk, films and curated installations in The Lecture Centre

>> 29.11.2019
guided tour of works installed with Will Self and Phil Coy. Works included in tour:
eleven windsocks for Brunel
site office [closed circuit meditation facility]
M25 [the cars hiss by my window like the waves down on the beach]

>> 29.10.2019 – 01.04.2020
eleven windsocks for Brunel installed on the rooftops of eleven buildings across campus

Yellow Hammer on Antonin Artaud

>> 31.10.2019
imprint VCR [visual control room] printed and distributed

Phil Coy Visual Control Room
Photo book of Heathrow’s Airports Visual Control Room taken from different perspectives around the borough

>> 15.10.2019
funding confirmed for stereo pair permanent public installation on Brunel University campus

>> 04.10.19 – 16.12.19
site office installed and open to public behind Brunel’s iconic Lecture Centre

2019 Site Office Phil Coy
Site Office [closed circuit meditation facility] (2019)

>> 11.09.19
highway haikus announced with contributions from Will Self

>> 25.06.19
first imprint Hollows of Heathrow, Hillingdon, and Hayes (inverted images of voids on the Western fringes of London) distributed with Billboards installed in the environment

>> 05.06.19 – 27.07.19
filming of John Crank Building demolition and retrieval of materials for Stereo Pair

John Crank Demolition
John Crank building during demolition part of film Grey Goo

>> 18.05.19
360 degree capture of John Crank atrium used in filming of Kubricks A Clockwork Orange

>> 21.05.19
fallen eight choreographed movement to the 500 + CCTV cameras on Brunel campus

>> 18.04.19 (ongoing)
studio established and built in The Old Garden Centre

Phil Coy Studio
Phil Coy, Conical forms in studio

>> 14.03.19
youarehere! imprint established

Reflecting Coy’s practice in experimental publishing the residency programme included the formation of the youarehere! imprint, conceived together with Will Self as freely distributed publications on campus. The publications included a poster edition with an essay by artist, curator and writer, Richard Grayson. Hollows of Heathrow, Hillingdon, and Hayes [inverted images of voids on the Western Fringes of London],  Visual Control Room [VCR] , Eleven windsocks for Brunel and M25 B 93.2 [mad bridge]. The electronic publication Highway Haiku, was displayed on a VMS (Variable Message Screen) road-side billboard at the Eastern entrance to the campus. Here, Coy invited students and staff to consider the university’s context at a time of impending global climate catastrophe, and to write haiku based on their daily commute.

>> 15.02.19 – 16.02.19
somewhere_somewhere_nowhere installed in Antonin Artaud building for the Hillingdon Music Festival

>> 02.02.19  – 18.02.19
as far as i know [RGB] installed in Eastern Gateway Building

Phil Coy AFAIK
detail of as far as i know [RGB] installed in Wilfred Owen building

>> 20.02.19
phantom limb intervention + introduction to residency by Will Self

Will Self Phantom Limb intervention by Phil Coy
Will Self introduces the residency during phantom limb intervention.

Press release + more information

For further information please contact:mail@youarehere.work

How to get to Brunel

Map of work by Phil Coy at Brunel University Campus