ARTISTS TALKING

# 7 [11 May 2007]

Time passes swiftly when you have a deadline speeding towards yourself... I started at 8am this morning, on what I thought would be a job that would consume an hour or two.. I finished at 14:00h... And this was just for the projector stands.

My DIY-worker will hopefully have the screen stands ready for me by sunday when I will start putting the installation up at the Anglican Cathedral in Liverpool...

The workmen at the Cathedral workshop are great, understated, competent and helpfull.I managed to find some semi opaque white/milky sheet plastic which hopefully will work for my projection screens.. And I got it for free from one of the local print workshops. These places are always worth checking on, as they otherwise only throw the end f rolls into the weekly rubbish. Sometimes they have unusual types of paper/plastic/acitate-type stuff on rolls..

I can't reccomend other people's bins enough..

Now I think I am for the most part set to open on monday. there will be no private view, these make me nervous, I need time to acclimatise to my own work, especially if it is an installation which is hard to feel a bond with unless I had a little time to look at it and contemplate..

I am still waiting for film reels, without which I can't do anything at all, hopefully they will be in my letterbox tomorrow. Yesterday I got some motion sensors which didn't cost £70 but £5.99 each.. After being told that I would have to spend £70 I am now perplexed why mine were just a fraction of that, will they work? That will also be the first time that I do some wireing.... Perhaps this isn't a statement I should make so public, but I am excited about trying new things. And motion sensors which will activate the projectors when audience walks by, that is new and exciting for me.

Well, now I am looking forward to see how the work in progress will work in the space.

# 6 [10 May 2007]

The adrenalin is beginning to gather and flush through my arteries in increasing quantity.. Everything is due to go up on monday.. I have delegated the task of making my projection screen stands to a sculptor and am going to take a look at his work this morning. There is the sense of: "Have I got the passport !!!", is there something essential that I forgot ?

Yesterday I had a meeting with one of the musicians who will perform one evening, marking the midpoint of the exhibition. Their performance will respond directly to the content of the work. So it will be an audio interplay of a holistic whole to a Babel like (musical) conflict between the individuals.

I had an interesting conversation with a Buddhist yesterday, it refocused some of my attentions and brought back into the light the motivations with which I began this project....I will re-edit this later, only now I am getting indigestion trying to eat breakfast, write and look at my list of things to do.. Multitasking is for people with stronger stomachs..


(Should you want to get in touch with me, then you can do it through this link... http://www.myspace.com/papersculptures )

# 5 [9 May 2007]

Today has been spent organising items for the show. Borrowing projectors, ordering spare parts, seeking out a few solutions to a few glitches.. Finding a carpenter to help with the making of screens and being invited to join another small project after I conclude this part of this one.

Art is taking up a large part in my life, some friends are angry with me for not finding the time to be with them. I am a workaholic, I will die lonely..

# 4 [7 May 2007]

I am so grateful for the Tate online events archive! (http://www.tate.org.uk/onlineevents/archive/) Watching lectures stimulates, inspires and shakes one out of moments of nervous doubt. Other people take a shower to refresh while I listen to a lecture, read a book or a culture review... (Which could render me quite smelly... however...)

This morning I by chance had an opportunity to speak to an artist from former Yuoslavia (not saying that qualifies him in any special way, however his responses did ..); and I feel back on track, all it took were a few words with a senior artist who has accrued some wisdom that can only come with the passing of time.

And the sense of calm is restored.

I am still pushing furniture, convincing myself that the repositioning of bulky items will clarify obstacles and questions in art.. It is bank holiday, sensible people put their feet up altogether.. Perhaps I will in future make work about leasure and sloth-ness; rather than moral and identity which are slippery fish..

It started to rain outside: perfect conditions to get on with work.

# 3 [6 May 2007]

It was mostly an art free day.
Except for Plato who snuck under my duvet, so I read a discussion on knowledge in 'Theaetetus'.
Tomorrow I will assemble loopers, order drive belts and spare lamps for the projectors. Then it is time to panick and pull several rabbits out of hats. I want to re-shoot the film.I am not happy with what I currently have. The show opens in just over a week at the Anglican Cathedral Liverpool...

# 2 [5 May 2007]

Regarding Progress:

The exhibition is due to open in 9 days and it doesn't quite feel real yet. There is a mountain of work yet to be conquered..

I am clear now that I won't again entangle myself in another un-funded project like this. The costs have been phenomenal. I think it is hideous the way that we can be such good artists but then still find ourselves baffled by the task of fundraising. It's a bit of a defeat for me..

But I am counting on that this project will be sufficient to raise my profile for future funding to find me (yes, I dream, but it is part of what brought me to the arts..)..
And here is a quote I found when I researched Menschlichkeit / humanness:

Wer den Hafen nicht kennt, in den er segeln möchte, für den ist kein Wind ein günstiger.
Seneca, Philosoph (um 4 v.-65 n.u.Z.)

(That is approximately:
He who doesn't know which port he wants to sail to,
for him no wind is favourable..)

# 1 [4 May 2007]

(ORIGIN of Choreography: from Greek khoreia ‘dancing in unison’ (from khoros ‘chorus’ ) + -graphy )

The catalyst for this installation is the divisive force with which I observe a great number of people responding to cultural identities that differ from the respective indigenous one.. So I am seeking out what is shared between and across cultures, unifying emblems of what make all of us equally human.. The project investigates specifically ritual movements made during devotional practices as these rituals are common to all faiths. The exact choreography differs, but like in any good performance on a stage, individual choreographies combine to a potentially holistic whole.. The grammar and composition used within dance is just as valid applied to life. For a harmonic performance a certain generosity and empathy towards fellow performers is required.

These movements and rituals will be shown as a multi screen projection which explores the aesthetics of the endlessly repeated choreography that accompanies devotional practices. I am orchestrating a dance about cultural kinship.