Millennial Prayer is a personal essay film by one of the UK’s most promising emerging artists that will open at Jupiter Artland on 8th August that aims to decipher what it means to transition into adulthood at the turn of the new millennium. The show opens to coincide and as part of EAF (Edinburgh Art Festival)
Margate based artist Guy Oliver, born 1982, falls into the age tier labelled “first generation millennial” Falling on this threshold of history first generation millennials are uniquely identified as experiencing analogue childhoods and digital adulthoods, so how is this generation holding up? In the words of the band Grandaddy from the song He’s Simple, He’s Dumb, He’s the Pilot, “How’s it Going 2000 man?”
The work opens on the cusp of the Edinburgh festival season, as part of EAF (Edinburgh Art Festival) and on the eve of one of the biggest millennial bands – Oasis – coming to the capital that same week. The work will remain on show until 28th October 2025.
What did it mean as an adolescent approaching this fantastical looming milestone and what does it mean as a middle aged 40 something looking back on a quarter century passed? In an era that became obsessed by memorialising this numerical change of the calendar, it is only with the benefit of hindsight can we see what it all added up to. The artist appears as the film’s protagonist/broadcaster with the backdrop of various examples of millennium architectural projects as he proposes an elaborate treatise on what “The Millennium” means today. The film explores the various incidents, influences and ephemera of the time, a time where young people grew up with and without digital culture. The work creates a picture, particularly, of the male psyche such as Fight Club, Woodstock ’99, Columbine, The Matrix, the Nail Bomber, Jackass etc, as part of the artist’s ongoing investigations into masculine identities and subcultures.
“One of the starting points for the project came after watching a Netflix documentary about Woodstock ’99 and trying to understand why it was such an unpleasant convulsion of violence, anger and misogyny. It led me to ask the question, what was wrong with culture in 1999? When compared to the earlier iterations of the festival in ’69 and ‘94, it specifically made me question whether there was something uniquely disagreeable with youth culture at that moment in time? I turned 18 in 2000 so this is essentially my generational peer group. 25 years on, that peer group is beginning to assume the roles of political and corporate power, so it seems like an appropriate time to stop and take stock of “The Millennium” or “Y2K” as a cultural moment. It is also a personal reflection of the passing of time whilst trying to make sense of the cultural and technological changes that have come with it.”
says Guy Oliver.
There will be a special event to launch the exhibition on Friday 8th August at 7pm, with a BBQ which is open to all.
Unlearning the Script: Masculinity, Media + Making Space
Join artist Guy Oliver and guests for an intimate conversation exploring how masculinity and self is shaped by media, moments in recent history and reimagined through art. Set in the dreamlike surroundings of Jupiter Artland, this event invites open dialogue around identity, performance, and expression — with screenings, discussion. Expect bold ideas, humour, and room to rethink the roles we’ve inherited.
Moderated by Emily Steer, with special guests :
Psychologist / Author Peter Meades, Kimi Zarate-Smith, a writer based in London, UK. She was formerly Editor-in-Chief of Era Journal and works for Frieze and Colin Macfarlane from Scotland’s YMCA .
About
Jupiter Artland is an award-winning, contemporary sculpture park, located just outside Edinburgh. Set over 100 acres of meadow, woodland and indoor gallery spaces, Jupiter Artland has to date commissioned over 35 permanent site-specific sculptures from the world’s leading artists including Alec Finlay, Andy Goldsworthy, Anish Kapoor, Antony Gormley, Anya Gallaccio, Charles Jencks, Christian Boltanski, Cornelia Parker, Helen Chadwick, Henry Castle, Ian Hamilton Finlay, Joana Vasconcelos, Laura Ford, Marc Quinn, Nathan Coley, Nicolas Party, Pablo Bronstein, Peter Liversidge, Phyllida Barlow, Rachel Maclean, Sara Barker, Shane Waltener, Tania Kovats, and Tracey Emin. A curated annual programme of exhibitions and events from leading visionary artists and emerging talents, as well as public talks, assemblies, and an active live art programme, make Jupiter Artland a thriving location for new ideas. Central to Jupiter Artland’s vision is to engage Every Child in Scotland with art through its learning and outreach programme offering free school visits, digital projects, and hands-on activities for learners of all ages. Jupiter Artland was founded in 2009 by Robert and Nicky Wilson and since then has grown into one of the UK’s most significant places to see outdoor sculpture. @Jupiteredit
