a collaborative area for exhibition stuff (and other stuff)
Sunday 20 May 2007
Text for inclusion in July/August gallery guide
Just a reminder to send me what you have in terms of statementy stuff so we wan whittle it into something short and snappy for this gallery guide thingy that Jessamyn was talking about.
Sorry guys, I got a bit carried away...a bit philosophical today...
Life as such
Looks at the fundamental awkwardness and frequent discomfort of life and how we try to find a comfortable position in it physically, emotionally, intellectually. Finding a connection in a world in which one is fundamentally alone but not separate because we are all in the same experience of living on this earth. Trying to deal with physical space, physicality, history/ancestry, time, consciousness, mortality……………..Ha Ha is that all??
In my work so far, the play with gravity: it’s difficult and uncomfortable to be hanging off the ceiling but it’s kinda fun. The negotiation of architecture or the physical world as a series of boxes, lines, doors and windows: you can never see the whole picture and just have to keep going and try not to run away. People being confronted with themselves or living two parallel existences that are fundamentally the same.
Vera’s depictions of the routine of life and bodily functions - the difficulty, creakiness, scariness, sometimes embarrassing, yuk, disconnectedness but in general compassionate view of the monotony of life. Trying to get away from the blackness and the boredom. But maybe the lovely details of a dripping tap, a cup of coffee or a blossom tree (or a good poo!) is all there is and that’s enough?
Laura’s work to locate herself within and understand her family structure and history and describe individuals while keeping them in the context of the whole. Somehow making them all visible simultaneously despite being separated by time and space. Breathing life into her ancestors and inviting all them into the room together to have a chat and get to know them! Like a posthumous family reunion…
Basically: We're all in the same boat and we're all gonna die...!
This is great Astrid. It's really weird (in a good way) to read how someone else understands your work.
For the gallery guide, I think the first sentence of your first para has the basis of what we need.
Here's one possible version of it, which is 47 words in total:
LIFE AS SUCH
New works by Vera Klute, Astrid Walsh and Laura Butler
Life as such looks at the fundamental awkwardnesses, discomforts and unexpected pleasures of life, and explores the processes of negotiating a comfortable position for ourselves in the world - physically, emotionally, intellectually, socially, historically.
Do you mind if we leave things in the singular? i.e. awkwardness. I have a thing about the art world making things plural if they don't have to be.
...funny I never knew I had a thing about that till now...
LIFE AS SUCH
New works by Vera Klute, Astrid Walsh and Laura Butler
Life as such looks at the fundamental awkwardness, discomfort and unexpected pleasures of life, and explores attempts to negotiate a comfortable position for ourselves in the world - physically, emotionally, intellectually, historically.
Hmmm ... I think the singular version carries a different meaning: If they are singular, then we're just saying life is awkward and frequently uncomfortable; if they are plural, we are talking about encounters with discrete and unique occasions of awkwardness and discomfort, (and pleasure!). So I'd be championing the plurals still, I think.
If we go with the singular, then "pleasures" will have to become "pleasure" too, because the jump from singular to plural doesn't read easily.
And if you're thinking "Oh for goodness' sake, get over it Laura!", just know that there is already a voice in my head saying exactly the same thing!
Life as such looks at some of the unique occasions of awkwardness, discomfort and unexpected pleasure fundamental to life, and explores attempts to negotiate a comfortable position for ourselves in the world - physically, emotionally, intellectually, historically.
.............Yoik, I don't know. Actually looking at that now - are we looking at discreet and unique occasions of awkwardnesses etc? To me it seems like more of a generalised feeling of awkwardness etc...
No, I think we're doing the opposite really - getting stuck into some tough work, even though it's tricky. To go back to your original wording of the whole "awkwardness and discomfort" thang, how about:
Life as such looks at the fundamental awkwardness and frequent discomfort of life, as well as its unexpected pleasures, and explores the processes of negotiating a comfortable position for ourselves in the world - physically, emotionally, intellectually, socially, historically.
Can we keep "socially" (or some other word that covers the same idea) in there, 'cos otherwise there's no sign of the relational?
Thanks a million for that Laura!!!! Video thing sounds complicated but I'll give it a shot. That final version sounds perfect to me.... If you are into it to?
8 comments:
Sorry guys, I got a bit carried away...a bit philosophical today...
Life as such
Looks at the fundamental awkwardness and frequent discomfort of life and how we try to find a comfortable position in it physically, emotionally, intellectually. Finding a connection in a world in which one is fundamentally alone but not separate because we are all in the same experience of living on this earth. Trying to deal with physical space, physicality, history/ancestry, time, consciousness, mortality……………..Ha Ha is that all??
In my work so far, the play with gravity: it’s difficult and uncomfortable to be hanging off the ceiling but it’s kinda fun. The negotiation of architecture or the physical world as a series of boxes, lines, doors and windows: you can never see the whole picture and just have to keep going and try not to run away. People being confronted with themselves or living two parallel existences that are fundamentally the same.
Vera’s depictions of the routine of life and bodily functions - the difficulty, creakiness, scariness, sometimes embarrassing, yuk, disconnectedness but in general compassionate view of the monotony of life. Trying to get away from the blackness and the boredom. But maybe the lovely details of a dripping tap, a cup of coffee or a blossom tree (or a good poo!) is all there is and that’s enough?
Laura’s work to locate herself within and understand her family structure and history and describe individuals while keeping them in the context of the whole. Somehow making them all visible simultaneously despite being separated by time and space. Breathing life into her ancestors and inviting all them into the room together to have a chat and get to know them! Like a posthumous family reunion…
Basically: We're all in the same boat and we're all gonna die...!
This is great Astrid. It's really weird (in a good way) to read how someone else understands your work.
For the gallery guide, I think the first sentence of your first para has the basis of what we need.
Here's one possible version of it, which is 47 words in total:
LIFE AS SUCH
New works by Vera Klute, Astrid Walsh and Laura Butler
Life as such looks at the fundamental awkwardnesses, discomforts and unexpected pleasures of life, and explores the processes of negotiating a comfortable position for ourselves in the world - physically, emotionally, intellectually, socially, historically.
Do you mind if we leave things in the singular? i.e. awkwardness. I have a thing about the art world making things plural if they don't have to be.
...funny I never knew I had a thing about that till now...
LIFE AS SUCH
New works by Vera Klute, Astrid Walsh and Laura Butler
Life as such looks at the fundamental awkwardness, discomfort and unexpected pleasures of life, and explores attempts to negotiate a comfortable position for ourselves in the world - physically, emotionally, intellectually, historically.
Just a suggestion!!
Hmmm ... I think the singular version carries a different meaning: If they are singular, then we're just saying life is awkward and frequently uncomfortable; if they are plural, we are talking about encounters with discrete and unique occasions of awkwardness and discomfort, (and pleasure!). So I'd be championing the plurals still, I think.
If we go with the singular, then "pleasures" will have to become "pleasure" too, because the jump from singular to plural doesn't read easily.
And if you're thinking "Oh for goodness' sake, get over it Laura!", just know that there is already a voice in my head saying exactly the same thing!
Life as such looks at some of the unique occasions of awkwardness, discomfort and unexpected pleasure fundamental to life, and explores attempts to negotiate a comfortable position for ourselves in the world - physically, emotionally, intellectually, historically.
.............Yoik, I don't know. Actually looking at that now - are we looking at discreet and unique occasions of awkwardnesses etc? To me it seems like more of a generalised feeling of awkwardness etc...
Are we procrastinating?
No, I think we're doing the opposite really - getting stuck into some tough work, even though it's tricky. To go back to your original wording of the whole "awkwardness and discomfort" thang, how about:
Life as such looks at the fundamental awkwardness and frequent discomfort of life, as well as its unexpected pleasures, and explores the processes of negotiating a comfortable position for ourselves in the world - physically, emotionally, intellectually, socially, historically.
Can we keep "socially" (or some other word that covers the same idea) in there, 'cos otherwise there's no sign of the relational?
Thanks a million for that Laura!!!! Video thing sounds complicated but I'll give it a shot. That final version sounds perfect to me.... If you are into it to?
Yeah that seems fine to me. I just sent Vera a mail asking her to give it the once over.
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