(Text for text panels in exhibition of Hirschhorn's work):
I have taken a keen interest in Hirschhorn’s work since seeing his Bataille Monument at Documenta XI in 2002. What excited me was how Hirschhorn had involved people living in a particular part of Kassel to such an extent in the project that it became theirs, whilst still remaining his work. I also really liked the idea of introducing a thinker’s work to people in such a way that they might get as excited about those ideas as one does oneself. I imagined trying to achieve that in this country. Would it be possible?
When I was told about ‘The Incommensurable Banner’ and saw some images of it, I was instantly enthusiastic because I made connections between what the banner shows and the lack of imagery of the destruction of bodies in the media coverage of our war against Iraq. And the provenance of the images being largely unknown opens the work out so that it is not just about the imagery of war. The work raises many questions about where one positions oneself, literally, in terms of where you stand in relation to it and also politically by being encouraged to think hard about what it gives us to consider. Aesthetically and ethically too, there is so much that can be discussed in relation to this work.
I have been given the opportunity to approach this residency first and foremost as an artist rather than as a facilitator or gallery educator, work which I have a lot of experience of. One of my challenges will be to rethink my working relationship as an artist to others engaging in a dialogue with myself via a blog, with anyone who wants to get into contact with me via the blog or by email and with Hirschhorn via the work and through readings of his ideas about what he is trying to do as an artist.
I have instigated an ongoing gallery project to make a banner showing a collection of images that anybody can contribute to. Words to go with those images can also be considered. In addition to this, there are ways to contribute your responses to the work and I, together with yourselves and Fabrica volunteers and staff will be thinking about what to do with these responses. Where do they belong?
Alongside this I will be inviting people from different disciplines (eg a philosopher and a poet) to view Hirschhorn’s work and contribute a personal response informed by their particular specialisms. All of these activities will inform and contribute to my own responses to the residency and to the work on show.
Where that may lead has to remain open for now…
(end of text panel text)
I know you want some images. But both my cameras are broken at the moment. I'll try and find some soon to liven this up a bit , I promise.
Am having a very busy time at the moment. I don't know when I'm not busy really so it almost seems redundant to point it out. And now, late in the evening I am checking my blog to see if anyone is talking to me and – they're not. So it's me, sitting here, talking to myself again. I've not blogged before (as you can no doubt tell) and am being careful not to make this whole blog be about blogging itself.
Who is the 'you' I'm talking to? Who are you? I tell you what, if anyone does read this, please let me know, by leaving a post, or should I just send out messages, bottle post-like, with no hope or expectation of any return?
Some keys:
individual – social – responsibility – guilt – involvement – detachment – solitude – position (in relation to what/whom?)
Chatted to Liz today on the phone about text panels and presentations we are going to be giving at the Engage conference, which is going to be happening in Brighton around the Photo Biennial.
I've just re-read what I sent in for the text panels and you (who are you?) might as well have a first glimpse. Maybe it'll give you more insight into what I'm up to with the residency. I think it's probably cheating but it's late and it's easy.
[Just tried to send the text panels text but got the message 'Post validation failed' because I'd exceeded a 500 word limit that I didn't know existed. So, I'm going to send this next in another post. Which will mean that my post for this evening will be somewhat back to front. I feel a bit conspiratorial with You (have decided you should start with a capital Y) and that we are covertly subverting the rules of this blog software.]
Have lately been thinking a lot about the notion of equality. This came out of a conversation I had with Liz Whitehead as part of our planning for the residency. For one thing she was describing to me the potential of the animateur's role to challenge any institutionalised aspects of the way that things are done at Fabrica. She was also telling me about running workshops so that everyone can be a participant. This set me thinking about equality. I got a glimpse of really understanding what equality means. You know that difference between understanding something intellectually and kind of 'getting it' from the inside out, which involves a different kind of understanding which happens in your whole being rather than just in your head.
I wonder if there is a connection between the incommensurable banner and these thoughts? I suppose there must be. And I suspect it has something to do with the depiction of death. I will think about this some more.
I've started a new (freelance, part-time) job and it has taken up most of my time this week. And my thoughts. I keep longing for some really free time to let my thoughts roam.
'Sans commune mesure' is the French for 'incommensurable'. Without common measure. I'll try and decipher what it is Rancière says about this and let you know . . .
I have been thinking that perhaps I should explain what I meant by 'at a loss' in relation to Hirschhorn's work. I see it as a good starting point, one from where anything might happen and any direction might be taken. I suppose it's like being at a junction of several paths with no signpost. A position where a great deal of thought and perhaps some animal instinct might be called on to take me somewhere. Hirschhorn asks the question 'Where do I stand?' and for me to feel, at this stage, as if the ground has disappeared from under my feet can only be a good thing. I am standing but the nature of the ground is not apparent nor is my position in relation to it.
I would like this blog to be a shared space where I and others can post some responses to Hirschhorn's work 'The Incommensurable Banner' and to everything that happens around that.
Tomorrow I'm meeting Liz and Matthew at Fabrica to go over preparations for the residency, talk about text panels and so on.
I think I am supposed to have a plan.
I've got ideas.
But not a plan as such.
I keep coming back to the phrase: I am at a loss.
It seems like the most appropriate one to use.
I'm sure it must be dangerous to publish one's thoughts like this as they happen. I am deeply suspicious of blogs and of people's motives for having them.
But as a shared space I can contemplate the use of one.
At a loss. That sounds so financial in these credit crunching days. Perhaps that is appropriate. We'll be thinking about weights and measures in relation to the idea of incommensurability. I'd like your help with that one, using Ranciere's 'The Future of the Image' as a point of reference.
No plan, just ideas. At a loss. The work leaves me at a loss. And I haven't even seen it yet. But I've been thinking about it since April. And thinking about Hirschhorn's work for several years.
I will have to ask permission of certain friends if I can share their thoughts with you too. If they mind or not if I talk to you (whoever you are) about conversations we have had. I think that would be helpful.
