Two artists had work on hand; the third was unable to attend, but the ideas in his work were explained to us beforehand. We were asked to provide creative responses, as opposed to traditional reviews. Two of these follow below.
This makes it a longer post than usual, but one that may frisk different pockets of your thinking.
Space Invaders
SAC Birthday party
31st March 2012
Salamanca Arts Centre Hobart
A birthday party with a twist as the body of the charismatic host, (the historical buildings of SAC) was invaded, exposed, installed, interrogated, animated and endlessly celebrated by a collection of anarchic and bizarre installations, performances and exhibitions.
A giant game of snakes and ladders as party goers swarmed up and down stairs, through back rooms and attics, kitchens and bathrooms, workshops and trapdoors, queing in the semi- darkness with strangers who soon became friends in expectation of the chance to partake of the bizarre and wonder-filled cup cakes of art offered up for consumption.
The fabulously well-rehearsed, the seemingly spontaneous and the work still in- development all mixed together …
My faves: – of course the incredible generosity of Maude Daveys’ consummate, marathon of intimate offerings from her adventures in the infamous “Burlesque Hour”; and Frog Peck/Blue Bottles/ Tristan Stowards’ opportunity to childishly hurtle through the dark in the empty Long Gallery by bicycle, whilst the lights dim and glow in response to your speed. And Georgia Lucy, the scary “BurlEsky” women, writhing in and out of the fridge.
But down the stairs I was called to some of the works still in-development …
Art but why?
Dylan Sheridan – At the top of a ladder, a dream recurs.
A journey of expectation … Did he just run out of paper mache?
Around the corner, wait, watch for the blue light to go out, sneak through the back of the gallery , wait again, a trap door, rickety ladder , wait your turn and finally, peak through into…
Another world. A giant Ganesh gazes down through the smoke, its black eyes intent, piercing darkness through a startle of white head, its trunk truncated, broken, unfinished , torn short. An ornate brazier with chain swings heavily in hand to hand ritual, this strange cave creature somehow calling silently with its eyes a Dickensian “Bring out your dead!”
Electronic music waxes and wanes like a tide across the floor of grass, which at nose level smells so alive in contradiction. Is he trapped? He seems to be waiting for something, some one? Can I pull up the hatch and rid myself of the noisy others below endlessly waiting for their turn. But there is no room.
Listen! Something significant is happening here!,
Sarah Ferrington – Can I help you ?
I don’t know what to make of this.
The idea of being a someone’s PA for a day offers fascinating opportunities. But documentation as art, of an experience already one step removed, and the sound muffled whilst the party crowds surge past. It’s a hard sell. Images of Sarah’s day as PA with the artist tumble across a screen in a loop; odd angles, amidst a soundtrack of his music and seemingly inane chatter. And ? It loops again .
If there is a story here I struggle to find it.
The mundane can be interesting but I don’t get that from this.
Here mundane seems facebook trivial.
Perhaps that's the point ?
Lots of questions, frustrations even .
Throw me a clue, please. Like,
Who is this woman? What is she actually doing? And where is the artist?
Does he even know she’s here ?
The idea of being a someone’s PA for a day offers fascinating opportunities. But documentation as art, of an experience already one step removed, and the sound muffled whilst the party crowds surge past. It’s a hard sell. Images of Sarah’s day as PA with the artist tumble across a screen in a loop; odd angles, amidst a soundtrack of his music and seemingly inane chatter. And ? It loops again .
If there is a story here I struggle to find it.
The mundane can be interesting but I don’t get that from this.
Here mundane seems facebook trivial.
Perhaps that's the point ?
Lots of questions, frustrations even .
Throw me a clue, please. Like,
Who is this woman? What is she actually doing? And where is the artist?
Does he even know she’s here ?
Images of lots of cups of coffee, does that mean a relationship has formed? And…?
A random list of questions flashes past – too fast to read properly.
Aha ..she is investigating for him ? A clue at last!
And then it all loops again. Did I miss something?
But I am left holding two solid objects – the picture of the boy with the chicken and some answer to his quirky questions. Yes I WOULD like to know more about these and about the artist and how these relate to his work
But I’m not sure I’m so interested in what Sarah is doing …is that the point?
A random list of questions flashes past – too fast to read properly.
Aha ..she is investigating for him ? A clue at last!
And then it all loops again. Did I miss something?
But I am left holding two solid objects – the picture of the boy with the chicken and some answer to his quirky questions. Yes I WOULD like to know more about these and about the artist and how these relate to his work
But I’m not sure I’m so interested in what Sarah is doing …is that the point?
