No new work done yet but I continue sorting and throwing.
This afternoon I was at college to hear sculptor Doug White talking about his practice. I have a passion for listening to artists talk about how they work. I will hunt for videos on the internet late at night and watch Anselm Kiefer in a huge brick building or Susan Hiller talking at the Tate late into the night.
I had thought that this was all good, but I am beginning to think I might just be indulging in a form of displacement activity. Watching someone else work!
Interestingly Doug owned up to having bought a rural shed to house all his past work. He said – and it resonated with me – that he had wondered how he would feel if the whole lot went up in flames. Probably ok was the answer. He felt the old work to be a psychological weight on him.
Driving back I toyed with the idea of ditching all mine.
Where? How?
I should have thought about this earlier. Could have had an arty farty bonfire party…………
It is unusual nowadays to listen to a process lead artist. Doug’s recent ceramic work was wonderful. Having discovered how to make wet clay resemble elephant skin while on a residency in the Netherlands he has gone on to produce monumental works with it. Recently exhibiting in a French Palace he had to build scaffolding, armatures and make clay on site in the midst of a fabulous gilded Louis style room. The resultant sculptural installation was enormous but fragile with overtones of Beuys I thought [ sounds like a wine!]
I have such respect for all that research and hard work.
Anyone who wants to see his work – Doug will be exhibiting in Saatchi December 10th NEW ORDER: British Art Today II
see douglaswhite.co.uk
