Monday 8 April 2013

The making of …



Lets begin with the origins of this story, which comes through the virtue of struggle.
A story personally peculiar, sitting in-between yet of the culture …

I saw a hero once

“The armour, firmly encasing the body… a cloth undertunic hanging down in deep folds…”

Historical documents say he was conquered. Maybe he was persuaded to another way of thinking.

“He had bitterness for his evil idolatry and dilation of his country…”
 He was from Thebes…

In a room below ground, a process takes place.
Some methods are used… But since the tools are inadequate and the framework non theoretical, it’s difficult to know what comes first?

Can it be designed - then produced?
Does geometry or symmetry play part?

‘Form-blind’ working in the abstract is the only means available…

buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Drums resonate through the corridor…
In other circumstances it might be meditative

Does sacrifice have a sound track?

buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Maybe an intervention needs to take place here…

buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz 

A maker befriended his model

“He possessed a marked propensity for creating legends…”

He told a story of a substance invested with great symbolism. Coveted by many some saw the potential in harnessing its power and worked hard to master its craft.

He continues this tale with a king, whose appetite for the substance was insatiable. The king lost his crown – not defending his kingdom but in a freakish happenstance.

“He walked bare foot through ice and snow from the monastery…. “
He prayed to get it back.

Another ‘hero’ put thoughts to paper
He dissuaded others from doing the same
Just get stuck in, try your best  - sweep the remains aside…

Trying too hard could kill it…

buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

When did ‘it’ come into the picture?

Lets be methodical about this and list the properties…

1. Soft
2. Dark
3. Round
 or

a. Smooth
b. Dark
c. Handsome

Buzzzzzzzzzz

Protected by interlocking circles, He took on a colour for the collective.
Sadly his “lance, shield and lower parts of the legs are now missing…”

His arms still work but he’s is unable to march towards the new frontier

Whine rattle
bizzzzz
buzzzzzzz

Fuck !

All things should have the dignity of a name
If chosen correctly good influences can rub off

In company?
There is strength in numbers

What can boredom unleash?
I was taught some rudimentary skills once but my memory fails me.
“You have to persist in being truthful to your intentions”
What ever they are…

Without a clock I utilize ancient timekeeping methods
But with imprecise increments, there’s no idea how long it’s taken to arrive at ‘Untitled’

Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Buzzzzzz

A sign would be welcome…

Autopilot is engaged, a black object sits in the corner analysis of its contents brought few results initially.


‘A day comes when I realise I have a corpse in my hands – relics of a movement in art that is now passed…’

buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Despite the bad treatment his features survive in the ole polychromy

Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

He wears a plaited band upon his tightly curled hair - some would consider it course.

He looks awkward in his attire
On his knees his suffering is approved
A test for a knight of Faith

How damaged can something become?
Buzzzzzzz
Become
Buzzzz
Be?

Despite the decay he is found useful
But upon investigation there isn’t clue to how he came about

In tatters he’s handed over for remedial measures, these include hairspray, pins and a book.

His scraps have currency, set in a box and put on display to ‘reform’ many characters.
Curious fingers fumble leaving him a little less ‘present’ after each outing…

Interactivity is proving dangerous

Trading off divine provenance he is peddled to raise funds for a ‘good cause’

Someone writes an eloquent assessment of the situation
The critic’s remarks are cutting, drawing attention to his poor condition and failure to fight to the bitter end.

And to those who wish to vicariously draw upon a treasury of merit
FIND YOUR OWN DAMN CRUSADE

‘He’ begins to disintegrate under too much scrutiny
Existing in doubt
What’s left could be dead or worse ordinary…




Wednesday 3 April 2013

‘ism’ or ‘ness’


Feminism is back in – or perhaps its me hearing the word a lot these days…  I’ve never been able to declare myself as one, despite the empowerment and my deepest respect for the legacy of that particular ‘ism’. I am very particular about names, mainly because I don’t want to contend with a whole bunch of other things to conform or live up to. For example it’s very important that I keep my surname – not that it can be traced very far (I have no idea what happened to slave one even) but it’s my property, I’ve grown into it and defined it. And of course this continual negotiation of ‘Black’ as a cultural/political identity, which becomes (one could argue) more amorphous by the decade.  Interestingly I went along to a talk at the Arthouse by a young artist who has a plethora of cultural influences and is admittedly a Lewisham bod. 



Now for me as young adult I tried to assume some kind of belonging to a generic idea of Black culture and expanding the notion of Britishness. These days in the ‘urban’ neigbourhoods kids are finding ties with each other through things like postcodes.  Now I have to admit dismissing this trend as a nonsense, mainly because a lot of the information mediated is usually negative, associated with violent confrontations etc… but this artist made a really intelligent show appropriating Lewisham as a brand and identity playfully, showing a confidence and ownership by reconfiguring Lewisham, demonstrating a fluidity of the meaning of words and even if you don’t understand them what they could imply...

I dunno Lewishamness?