Post by Anthony Boswell.
Collaboration Space originated in both of us coming into contact via our shared location and projects through Longhouse. On our first meeting, we discussed our individual practices and shared interests. With the idea of a joint project, we both discussed the areas in which we would both be able to give individual and newly shared input. It is hoped the result will be not just a singular piece of work by the collaboration, but to inform both of our practices individually.
As the theme would be that of the interior, we initially gave ourselves time to go away and reflect on ideas and needs. On meeting again, we looked for the common themes that ran throughout. Needing an interior for a starting point, we settled on Haden Hill House, a location near to both of us and owned and ran as an open museum by Sandwell Council. The visit revealed areas of the house that where off the common route of visitor interest, the servants areas and quarters. Little is known about these people, giving interest to Rachael’s idea of private and collective histories and my interest in rooms and spaces.
Walking through the house, I had my usual response to the spaces, Rachael finding ideas within the objects, or suggestions of them, the personal side of the servants. We both found ourselves reacting metaphysically.
We are gathering our first responses, thoughts, visual clues. The aim will be to portray the house in a way that will be received as universal, to make a work that will be anonymous and embodying the collective memory.
