So the exhibition opened last Friday and it’s been quite an exciting and nerve wracking time, anticipating peoples responses. I’ve decided to set up camp in the space so that I can be around to talk to visitors (and earwig their responses) as much as I can. This has been fascinating and I am largely delighted with peoples engagement to the project so far. Showing the work in the town it is about is a brilliant experience and the stories and discussions that have emerged already, through recollections and memories of the sites has been intriguing. These sites are mostly known, even if temporarily forgotten.
Getting to this point of the project is a bit of a roller coaster. A years hard work, its progression and development all coming to a head and opened up for general scrutiny. It feels very exposing. But by far the worst of all responses is apathy, but I know I cannot expect everyone to want to engage with it. The nature of the project and the presentation of the exhibition requires work from the viewer, there are many elements to the presentation and as a viewer you have the opportunity to draw out a many number of interpretations. On first viewing I can imagine it is quite puzzling and I never know what expectations people are walking through the doors with.
I am hoping that my talk this evening will add to the whole experience of the project and give an opportunity for a further level of engagement and more unexpected conversations.
