http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 Grande Residence at L'H du Siege, Valenciennes Wed, 03 Dec 2008 08:05:46 +0000 a-n rss generator a-n The Artists Information Company and contributors edit@a-n.co.uk technical@a-n.co.uk http://sites.a-n.co.uk/img/logo.gif http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 I arrived at L’H du Siega on Saturday the 15th of September 2007, by car. It seemed easier at the time, I was packing and bringing most of my belongings and preparing for three month being away from home. It was very easy to get here, a drive from Brighton to Dover, then a nice easy ride on the ferry to Dunkerque, and then 1 – 2 drive to Valenciennes. Everything was fine until we (me and my partner) got back into the car and started to drive on the opposite side of the road. Got very nervous but in fact the drive was very easy, until we got to Valenciennes, where we got lost and couldn’t find the Gallery and this is when the panic button hit in.After some time we managed to find the Gallery and we met with the Director and president of the Association, Philippe Bétrancourt and the cultural mediator Adeline Michel. Adeline is my saver really, is the only person that I can have a conversation with, with out having to look at my dictionary every second.After all the formalities and inductions I got settled into a beautiful small house. On the ground floor there is the living area with small kitchen, bathroom and sleeping/living space and upstairs very nice bright studio space, plus I’ve been allocated another large situated the Gallery. All this can be seen on the website: www.hdusiege.org - residences – Présentation.L’H du Siege is founded by Acte de Naissance in 1996 and is housed in a former joinery in Valenciennes. The space comprises a gallery, artist’s workshops and a livework studio for artists in residency. They are dedicated to the development and promotion of contemporary art and the support of artist through a programme of exhibitions and residencies. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 Valenciennes is a town in northern France. In the 9th century the region was run by the Normans and in 1008 was badly effected by the Plague. In the 15th century the city was economically independent with manufacturers of wool and fine linens. Valenciennes is historically renowned for its lace. Until the 1970s, the main industries were steel and textiles, but since their decline, there is mainly automobile production. In 2001, Toyota built its Western European assembly line for the Toyota Yaris in Valenciennes.As I began my research I started to look at how and draw ideas from the lace production. I found an old traditional school, the only one in the region, called Dentelle de Valenciennes, (www.dentellieres.com) which I am going to visit this afternoon and will tell you more in my next post.I also started researching food specialities of the region and traditional dishes. Became fascinated by the butchers and the production of the selection of they meat and products that French people eat!I bought some samples to experiment with such as tripe, offal, intestines and Caul Fat, or as the French would say ‘CRÉPINE’, sounds like a pancake, something nice!Intestines are the most disgusting things I ever had to clean so far in my life, smell’s awful, and has an ‘interesting texture! At the moment they are drying in my studio space and the smell is getting worse by the minute. I am being taken to a slaughter house this afternoon to see and perhaps get some more samples, so I will tell you more about it tomorrow…. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 Sorry about the short delay in getting back with my news. The Tuesday afternoon wasn’t a good day, we got to the slaughter house very late and there was just the secretary and the top director left in the office and it wasn’t a nice experience, they where very unfriendly and very unhelpful!!!But this didn’t put me of I went back the next morning and with a translation and the help of Adeline and Bernard- the technician, managed to find a very friendly butcher who will be helping me source the material for a very small price, ad list I hope so. We even where taken inside, and that was an amazing experience a huge walk in fridges full with hanged caws, but sorry no pictures where permitted.The last two days here have been bit of a madness, trying to do anything here takes double amount of time, and is so hard to find anything, such as materials, products etc. I found that the web is not as good as in the UK, I think we are bit spoiled when it comes to researching and trying to buy products on line. Maybe this is also because I am doing a search in English not in French… but got so bad that I have to call companies in England to get any relevant information, specially when it comes to Taxidermy and tanning products. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 Thursday morningI am waiting to go back to the Slaughter House; the butcher has called yesterday to say that he has all my ‘Crepines’ so I am going to collect them. I just got back last night from the UK. It was so frustrating trying to find all the tanning solutions and chemicals that I decide it to go back to the UK to buy them. But one thing I didn’t know and wasn’t aware that there was and still is a postal strike. So had to come back still with no chemical. I am so hoping that they will arrive by Friday that my partner who is coming by car can bring them over on Saturday. So will see…. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 I have my material now but still no chemicals…. Very interesting exhibition: www.lefresnoy.net is in different locations around the region. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 I have an open studio so if anyone is in the area please pop in. A l'occasion de la 10ème édition des Journées Portes Ouvertes des Ateliers d'ArtistesL'association Acte de Naissance vous convie à la Galerie-Ateliers L'H du Siège.Les Vendredi 19 octobre de 14h30 à 18h30et les Samedi 20 et Dimanche 21 octobre 2007 de 10h à 12h et de 14h30 à 18h30._ Les artistesSylvie HOURIEZFrédéric MESSAGER& Pascal PESEZvous invitent à venir découvrir leurs ateliers._ Invité par l'association Acte de Naissance l'artiste Elpida HADZI-VASILEVAactuellement en résidence à L'H du Siège, ( www.elpihv.co.uk)... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 Don’t know where time is going but days seem to be flying by. I’ve been here now for over a month and still struggling with my French, I guess you can’t learn that fast.... I have started to make some improvement with getting materials though and started to make some good contacts in the Slaughter House. I got my chemicals ad last today, at the end I had to make a second order to be delivered from the UK – France. They where collected from customs office with not much of a problem. Which is very interesting, as here in France I couldn’t even buy some, actually they said I can only buy maximum of 15gr and I need kilograms not a grams. Apparently aluminum Sulphate Powder is what I am using to preserve the organs is used in bomb making, so they are very careful and don’t sell it in large quantities. But I hope is not going to be to late for my organs as some of the tripe has started to turn, smells of a rotten meat, but I am still giving a try and hoping that the chemicals will reverse the process.The studio open went well, was not as busy as I thought might be. I felt little bit as a circus girl everyone came to see the tripe and the caul fat, looks like the word has been spreading around and they came to meet the wired English artist.This made me also over of how actually small the town is.I went to visit the Dentelle de Valenciennes, the lace school and had a very pleasant experience. The main teacher was very friendly and chatty and told me all about the history of Dentelle and offered many designs to look at and some photocopies to take away so I can develop my drawings. The ladies even gave me some of they little tools as a souvenir to keep. Making of lace is such a delicate and intricate work. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 I am having a much more productive day today. I’ve cleaned the last tripe skin and they are all in the alum mix now soaking and preserving, (fingers cross) I had a meeting ad last with a manufacturer about a metal structure for my work so, he’s taken my model and will get back to me beginning of next week with a price and will see.Apart from that here is very cold, damp and quiet today and not much happening. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 I went to visit a Museum in Belgium, not far from Valenciennes about 30 min by car. It was called Musee des Arts Contemporains in Site du Grand-Hornu. I was taken by the architecture of the place, an amazing space, if ever in the area you have to check it out: www.mac-s.beAt the moment they are hosting an exhibition from the collection of the Museum in Lille, which is apparently closed at the present for renovation. The exhibition was very good as well but the space was incredible. It is a historical site, erected in 1810, and used for many purposes such as mining industry, a residence for the factory workers and administrators and train – carriages repairs.... ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 At last I went to visit the metal factory, Delos in St Amand near Valenciennes, which is on the way to Lille. The meeting didn’t go very well, wasn’t what was I expecting to be. I thought today I would have an answer if they can make the structure, a price and a better idea of what and how to pursue with my work. But instead there were many an answered questions and the usual we will let you know next week???At the beginning of the meeting they showed me my model, which was fully smashed and everyone found it amusing and apparently someone had sat on it and everybody laughed.The price they suggested was very high and completely out of my budget, so after a long discussion and negotiation they said will think about it and get back to me next week and they assured me that they will do everything they can to help me.Today I really had enough with this tomorrow and next week attitude, which has been happening quite a lot.Today, also with the help of Pascal, had a fun trying to find a place to hire a pro-video camera. On the 13th of November I have a visit to the Valenciennes sewage, which also took few weeks to organise. I would like use this opportunity to make a work about my experience bellow Valenciennes, and hopefully I will have enought time to edit and finish the work and show it at the exhibition in January.The rest of the day I was in my studio working which was much more relaxing and fun. I had a such a mad day and just had to shat the door and put my head to work. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 Very quite day, it is a holiday today in France and nobody is working, everything is closed in Valenciennes and hardly a person to be seen on the streets, very strange.I spend most of my day in the studio literally sawing pieces of tripe together. As the tripe is drying is becoming to hard to saw and join, so I’ve been trying to work as fast as I can to put them together before they go to hard. One thing is happening and I am not sure if I am happy about it or not, the colour is changing and they are going from creams to ochre to light brown. I don’t know why? If anyone has any ideas please email me? ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 I am having a complete nightmare out here everything is going wrong.... I went to the UK last weekend just for few days. I had an interview for a commission work with the Woodland Trust and Green Arc organised by Commissions East. I still haven’t heard about the results, so will see. I also had few other meetings and came back to France on Thursday afternoon.I was given the good news about my metal structure that the company has agreed to help, that I only have to pay for the materials and they will do the work in kind, but have to supervise my self daily. Also had another good news that the Gallery has found a camera (Sony Z1) that we can hire and they have booked it for my visit to the subterranean on the 13th of November. So everything was perfect and everybody was happy. On this evening there was also a party in the Gallery L’H du Siege. BMW has hired the Gallery to advertise two of they new minis and they have invited many people to the party where they gave lots of Champagne, snacks and sweets.This evening I was advised or given a lecture about the hire camera and was asked that I have to be very careful with the camera because usually the artist has to give a5000 euro deposit as a holding check but in my case because I am English the Gallery has to pay the deposit! I was also asked to ‘promise’ that noting will happen to the camera!I said that I couldn’t promise anything that I can be as careful as I can, but that I am going in a dark underground spaces and anything can happen, I may slip or fall but I was assuring them that everything will be OK. Also asked if there is a insurance for the camera, or if they can insure me through they gallery insurance?Anyhow, next morning about 11am I had a knock on my door and Adelina came to tell me the bad news: First that my trip to the subterranean has been canceled and secondly that there is some problems with the metal works and have to go back to the factory to see the model again!!!In regards to the subterranean apparently there is too much water to go under, but when I raised the question if the trip could be rebooked for another day they said “NO” and the reason for this is that is to complicate.Regarding the metal structure apparently the factory has made one circle of the model and found out that is very difficult to do and now would like to revise the price or they may not be able to do the work as it is to time consuming?So all in all a nightmare......... and the problem is that I am not sure how much aware they are of the problem this is going to cause with my exhibition? ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 Not much has been happening with me here in France; hence I haven’t sent you any news. The last few days I’ve been working in my studio, working very hard to try and finish some of the skins before they turn and start to smell. Winter has arrived here in the north is so cold outside that even my studio is unbearable. Lucky for the skins but not for me, I walk up this morning with a very bad cold and now trying to keep and stay warm.Couple of days ago Elsa, postgraduate in Digital Media, and me had some fun. She arrived at my place at 7pm with, an instrument that she hired from the university, ZOOM H4 – handy recorder, and we went out to try and capture and record some sounds from the subterranean of Valenciennes. I hoped that we will be able to find an entrance in one of the tunnels, I remembered the place where we wore suppose to met the man from the water before the tour got cancelled. We had an interesting hour, we found the place and found one tunnel which was more of an under passage not an entrance to the subterranean. Was amazingly interesting what this little machine could capture, sounds that our ears couldn’t even hear. Although outside was raining and the car noises where bit loud we managed to capture something. Then after having some food we came back to my studio and we try to record different sounds from our stomachs. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 Much more productive day at work, today in my studio I managed to do and finish few things and also met two interesting curators visiting from Brussels. Apparently very interesting place to visit: www.netwerk-art.beAlso tonight I met the family of a friends boyfriend who were very pleasant and nice people and had some very fine French food. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 Jane Fordham, an artist from Brighton, had an opening at 118 Gallery in Lillie. The exhibition was print work and was very interesting the space was small but nice, almost like a corridor space that you walk through that opened to an outdoor courtyard and then another space with offices and computer room.  There were few people visiting from Fabrica Gallery from Brighton, people from L’H du Siege, some other artist and curators so the night turned into an amazing party with music, drink and food. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 Tomorrow is my big day and a big week and a half a head. Hopefully tomorrow I start to install the exhibition at the Gallery. I had so many problems with the work and the making of the structure that at the end had to change the concept and the installation of the work. So I don’t know what will happen and how the work will look. I am still trying to finish some of the pieces and had lots of problems with the supply of the organs. Here in France, as you probably know have had many strikes and this has effected everything, even me. The Slaughter House has not been able to give me the orders I need it and this has put me back with the making. I have been told and hoping I can get some more organs enough to finish the work next Thursday. This is how far I got with some of the pieces but need 10 or so of each of the skins to finish them!!! ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 Well into the installation week now and things are moving very slow. I have made some decisions on how to install the work and instead of a tunnel there will be a walk-in – walkway structure, almost the shape of an intestine, such as labyrinth. Everything seems to be going wrong, I don’t understand why? Even a small things such a paint for the metal, they bought me paint for wood? So I spend 3 hours painting the metal to find out that this was not the right paint then all that work had to be taken off and repainted, good start of the week. Now the metal has dried, last night I started to hang the metal structure (which is very flimsy but hoping will do the job). ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 Installation day 5 and work is strating to take some shape now. I am hoping to have most of the pieces hang by tusday and then adjust and join all the work by the end of next week.The work is very delicate and has to be done very slow as any sudden movement can pull and ripe it down so will take a long time.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 My problems have continued and there has been a new problem every day. I don’t know why but everything is so difficult and takes so much time to explain and justify. I have two more days left and leaving on Sunday morning, so I am hoping will be able to finish most of the things and complete the installation.On one of the images you can see the labyrinth is almost there, is just that I have run out of material and had to go back to the Slaughter House to get some more Caul Fat to make one more section. This section will have to be left to dry and will be installed in January before the exhibition.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 Yes I am home now and been home for a week. Very nice I have to admit. Lots of gatherings and catching ups to do. Last Monday I had a meting with Metro Imaging in London. They are printing a large photograph (148” x 33”), which will be part of the exhibition at L’H du Siege. The photograph is part of a work that I did in Cobn, Cork in 2006, but has never been realised and shown before. On Thursday I when back to Metro to see the sample of the print and it looks good. The photograph will be ready after New Year just on time for my return to France. At present I am also trying to finish the editing of a video work, which again was created in Cobn, Cork but never shown before. And yes I am trying to have some time off for Christmas and New Year.Happy Christmas to everyone readying this blog.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 Hope you all had a good Christmas and New Year and are ready for a start of a new year. Well I am glad to have left 2007 and hoping that 2008 will be much more productive. I collected the print yesterday from Metro Imaging and looks great I am very happy with the colours and the quality of the print. Last night I also went to an opening in Studio 1:1, which was very well attended. There were many people from Braziers Workshop and was lovely to see them and catch up with them. Sadly made me feel bit sad of not leaving in London any more and not having gatherings like that here in Brighton. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 I am bit late with my update of this blog and I do apologies for that.Last week I was back in Valenciennes to finish the installation of the work and open the exhibition. It was a mad week with many problems, firstly technology was the main problem. Trying to show a double projection with two different DVD players wasn’t going to happen. We managed to borrow professional pioneers from www.lefresnoy.net and they kindly connected the two DVD players to a computer so we can start them in a same time. This solved one problem but we still had a major problem with the two projectors. It was impossible to adjust the projectors, they where hanging from the ceiling attached upside down by screws to a timber shelf, which made impossible to move. Only thing we can move was the trapeze but this was not enough. Also there was a problem with the colour, one projector had green and the other purple cast so the images looked completely different and out of sink. With many discussions and disagreements the Gallery decide it, without my agreement to run and show the videos…. And there it was the exhibition opened. I recorded the work on the Saturday morning and came back to England. So now a week in I don’t have any news and don’t really know how the exhibition is going!!!... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 I haven’t had much news about the exhibition and not really sure how is it all going. Last update, well short email from Adeline was that one of the pieces ‘Bad Hair Day’ is going bit mouldy and she was very worried and didn’t know what to do. Now has been treated again and I haven’t herd anything further so I guess no news is a good news. A part from that there has been few reviews in the papers which I have to translated to see what they are really saying,…..We’ll keep you posted if I have some more news. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 Time seems to be going so fast, almost the end of my exhibition in France. I am off to visit my family in Macedonia tomorrow for a week and as soon as I get back I am going back to France to take the exhibition down.Is a very funny feeling, feels as I’ve just put the show up and am already taking it down. I have had no correspondence from either the director or the curator from the Gallery so really have no feed back in how the show has been or is progressing…… I am really looking forward to finding out what has been happening, how are people reacting or seeing the work. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658 The exhibition finished on Saturday the 23rd and I just de-installed the exhibition yesterday and today. I was really worried about the taking down but pleasantly surprised how easy it was. I was hoping to take the work down in one section but this was not possible and had to separate the outside in three sections and the inside in four sections. Three of us slowly took the sections down without any damages. Now the show is over feels very good somehow!!! I was also very nervous about going back; because of the problems I had at the opening, but everything when well.I had lots of positive feedback and book of interesting comments. Well that’s it I guess, is the end!!! ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/387658