Interim Show - The Real Thing

Because we had already exhibited in a smaller space as a Taste/Tease Show a lot of the groundwork for this show was already in place. However, this was where we could all show our fully developed work for the unit and continue the story hinted at in the first smaller show.

Naming and promoting.

One of the first things we needed to agree was the name for the show. After some discussion and options that included ‘Exhibiting Process’ and ‘Continued’, we simply added ‘2’ to Process Exhibited. This meant we could progress to updating the poster and website. As I was working with Imogen on this, as part of our roles within the group, we decided to include some of the processes shown on the TV of all of us making work, rather than featuring one piece or making one image a hero image, as is often the case with exhibitions, especially when it is from one artist. This is a group, a collective and we didn’t want elevate one piece over another.

We put these ideas to the vote and the overwhelming option was for the first one but with the number 2 in white not burgundy. I was happy with any of them but had a slight preference for the simplicity of the middle version shown above as it was clear and concise. Happy with the chosen one though. This could then be printed and distributed and also the updated visual identity could also be translated to the website. There was quite a dispute over the colour green. I had chosen green to differentiate it between the first show and the red/burgundy, I had also taken the green from one of the images and made sure it was bright enough to work but also dark enough to hold the text. 

Much discussion was had on our WhatsApp channel about how white out of green is proven to be harder to read than other colours but after much disagreement and scientific documents sent back and forth it was finally agreed to keep it as I had intended and by using my 30 year experience in creating work visually and graphically I was confident it would be fine, readable and visually strong in the context of this experience, where it was being promoted and to the audience that we were targeting. 

As part of the website update we all had the opportunity to extend our copy and images on show. I had intentionally only shown my chair and initial thinking as part of the first show, even though I knew that I would be developing the flags, t-shirts and thinking loops. I wanted to hold that back on what I was prepared to reveal. For this iteration I released different images and explained a little more about my practice and approach.

Curating.

Although we had a larger space for this show we also had a lot more work. As before everyone discussed what they were intending to have finished and how they would want to hang the work. There was more to consider for this show as there were more three dimensional pieces and considerations for access to studios and around the university had to thought through. Plans were drawn up and agreed in principal on the basis that space may have to be negotiated when the work would actually be hung. Although this did happen to a degree and if there was an issue there was quite a bit of peer to peer discussion on how certain works should be hung and the relation between each piece along with the viewers journey through the work. In comparison had there of been a dedicated curation team, as there would be in many shows, certain decisions would have been made by those who had a neutral overview of all the work.

Finishing the flags.

Although I had created and printed them via the sublimation process (as shown on page 29 of this document), I had yet to finish making them. This entailed cutting them all out and hemming three of the four edges and making a tube on the hanging side to allow space for the rope to be inserted. For this I had to learn how to use a sewing machine, the preparation required and the technical issues with corners, starting and finishing.

Installing.

I knew how I wanted to show my work with regards the chair, thinking loops sculpture but the t-shirts and flags I was more unsure of not only how to physically hang them but also how they would work with the space available. 

For the t-shirts I had a space that was too small and had to move some lockers to extend the space. It was probably my fault for not knowing exactly how I was intending to hang them at the time of the decisions about the curation space allocation. I had other ideas to hang and needed to work out the best way. I had considered coat hangers with a clothing rail and the idea of folding them and putting them on a shelf I would have constructed to display them as if they were on sale in a shop. This would have potentially linked them back to their retail link of the original ‘Choose Life’ t-shirts created by Katharine Hamnett. However, because of the size of the graphic wording to fold them would obscure too much and make the shelf too deep. So, I experimented with a piece of dowel and fishing wire that I was originally going to hang on a screw but had the idea of using a clothes peg, that I drilled a hole in and put a screw through. 

I have also considered the idea of the t-shirts being worn and maybe creating more and then getting people to walk around the exhibition (or future exhibitions) with black jeans and the t-shirts clearly displaying the messages as a performance piece and not hung in a traditional way.

For the flags I wanted to hang them as if displayed on a ship and considered putting them at an angle from either the ceiling or an installed mast to a space on the floor, as if they were rigged on a boat. 

However, there wasn’t the space in this environment and I decided to hang them across the corridor, which again was discussed peer to peer, as to where it would look best and not only break up part of the show but also work as a gateway to other work. For the loose ends of the rope I bought a couple of brass cleats to mimic the way ropes are tied up on boats, then tied the rope off in the traditional figure of eight way.

The actual show.

Below are a few images of my work as it was displayed.

On reflection I believe the exhibition worked well and came across as a polished presentation with work of high standard. The care and attention of the way work was hung, described and promoted added to the professional finish. By having the previous week where we could experiment and create work that gave a hint of the finished pieces was very beneficial. The work was varied as each individual not only had a different approach but was also looking at different media, as shown in the show descriptor poster.

If I had any thoughts for improvement I would question the location. It meant viewing was limited to a select few, even with a Private View, which is shown on the next page. Had we been able to secure a space outside of the university we could have exposed the work to a wider audience, it might have meant a slight loss of control and brought with it new challenges but we would also have had larger spaces and there would have been more breathing spaces between work. The decision to show within the university was led by timing and availability. 

The other area I would have preferred would have been a dedicated curation team that would be responsible for the positioning, hanging and consistency of how the descriptors were placed. This is a minor point but a dedicated team would have been slightly more impartial and would have a greater degree of autonomy over how the show was displayed. Although we had all met and discussed what space we wanted for our work, I felt there were ten individuals hanging and positioning their work, sometimes you can be too close to the work. Overall though I believe it came across as a positive example of the type of work being created by those approaching their Masters Project. The actual show should have come down on the Friday but it was requested to be left up as there was an Undergraduate Open Day on and too good an opportunity to not let it be seen as examples of the type of work being created by current students.

Private View.

Through a lot of investigations and emails by certain members of the group the possibility of a Private View was arranged. This was a great way to celebrate the work on show and output from the group. Everyone managed to make it, considering it was an afternoon rather than the traditional evening event. Refreshments were provided and much discussion was had. It was good to see several of the teaching staff and students who were invited to come along as well as various friends and family members.

Now it is time to reflect, await feedback and take forward everything into the Final Major Project. The last big push.