Opening on the 180th Anniversary of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, inside the buildings of the oldest existing passenger railway station still in use, “Dream Machine” will celebrate the first journey taken between two cities through a series of large-scale works which reflect on time, routine, repetition, direction and discipline; qualities that all inform the artistic process.
A reflection of the beat and rhythm of train traffic and influenced by the idea that the rail industry’s timetabling created a need for a uniform measure of time throughout the UK, the work will show how the journey itself can be a source for artistic inspiration.
It’s nearly show time! On Wednesday I went to Metal to install “Down”. By the time I arrived, it was already a hive of activity: Phil was busy finishing his sculptural structures; Tom was up miles of scaffolding sorting the lighting for his thousands of paintings and Richard was completing his installation upstairs – the work in the show is pretty diverse, but it all comes together amazingly well. The unusual layout and the history of Edge Hill’s building is a massive bonus – it’s not a typically sterile gallery space at all, it feels special.
I love the giddy but purposeful atmosphere of a space just before a show. It’s a shame that Ailis (the composer I have collaborated with on “Down”) wasn’t there to see it all coming together in the final stages (though she had an excellent excuse – she was away at yet another premiere of her work… I thought I worked hard till I met Ailis http://ailis.info/).
When I asked Ailis if she had a score for the music she’s made to accompany “Down”, I think she thought it wouldn’t be of interest to anyone else, but it’s definitely worth seeing… it’s a small peek into the way her mind works – a bit like having a chance to look through an artist’s sketchbook. Given how few people actually hand write scores anymore, it’s also quite unusual.
Dream Machine is showing between 15/09/2010 – 23/10/2010
Metal, Edge Hill Station, Tunnel Road, Liverpool L7 6ND
http://www.metalculture.com/liverpool/
