Last week the objects and the maps we made from the studio hanging got picked up and taken to the gallery. It was so satisfying to have it all locked into boxes, knowing that this time round the installing will be a lot easier after what I learned in Bristol. Two days later, I delivered the final drafts of all the texts to be used in the show, they are now with Nicky the designer. We got permission at the last minute to include one of the persian rooftop poems from the uprising last year in Iran which I am relieved about. The whole text editing process was like weaving, so many languages, levels of meaning, interconnections..I wonder how it will all work with the objects and whether too much or enough has been said. It felt complete when I sent it off so I am trusting that it was right.
I have been at home/in the studio in lewes this last week, taking a long in-breath in preparation for this coming week, which I will spend mainly at the gallery hanging objects in one gallery with the assistance of the brilliant Benoit Bennett who was a real godsend during the installing of The Gifts . Work on the installing already started on a week ago, it has been painted and the discs have been hung. Nicky will be there and they will be fixing on the mirrored names and texts on the first gallery. I really enjoy the idea of activity in my absence, a real step on from 5 years ago when I had to be in control of everything and almost collapsed during projects from the weight of it all.
It all feels very fluid and under control, I am fixing my mind on it unfolding with ease this week and not getting too stressed – the major work has been done with the groups and in the studio. Of course there are always unknowns, (like, will it actually work visually when its physically all up and have the impact I hope for?) but I feel with every project I am more and more supported and its certainly a real luxury to be working with an institution like the NPG, where things seem to move quickly, get communicated properly and responded to with lightness and ease. I like it.
