Well, my Monday meeting with Phippe and Pascal turned out to be today but that was fine. I explained many ideas waving my arms around while Adeline Michel (Médiatrice culturelle & chargée de communication & webmaster at L’H du Siege) translated, wonderfully. All in all, a good meeting I feel at home here. I just need to speak French then all will be perfect.
The biggest news since I last wrote is probably moving into studio space #2. This space is bigger and has a concrete floor. It is ideal for building and making a mess in. I am trying to resist the urge to fill the space with wood and cardboard (my usual materials)… although if I am honest, I have already scavenged some cardboard from the streets of Valenciennes.
I have been on many walks around Valenciennes and now feel like I can’t get lost. I have found my favourite place; a massive lake, my favourite building; a disused water tower, and my favourite vending machine that dispenses baguettes at anytime of day! I think these will inevitably influence my work.
I have had many ideas but frustratingly little materials to make things with. So far most of my materials have come from a stationary shop in the centre that is closing down. It has 70% discounts (!) and I have been making many tiny houses and playing around with natural structures. Now I have no more need for paper, card and ink. A slightly distressing realisation that charity and pound shops don’t exist here and the stuff that I ordered from the catalogue still hasn’t arrived and the difficulty that everything that I buy I need an invoice for, means that my new studio space has been quite empty.
But change is upon me. Yesterday, I walked out of Valenciennes and stumbled upon the great and surreal world of Lidl. So today, Sylvie Houriez (Médiatrice culturelle at L’H du Siege) very kindly gave me a lift to the out-of-the-ordinary supermarket where I managed to get 90m of foil, 30m of clingfilm, a 7kg vice, 2 amazing fishing rods, and lots of fishing weights and hooks. The list of peculiar objects I want is ever growing but at least now I am acquiring some things. Fingers crossed tomorrow will bring the arrival of my catalogue order.
The beginning…
I arrived in my humble and beautiful new abode only a matter of days ago, on the 31st of March. My journey across the sea was easy but made difficult by the weight of all of my luggage. The decision to carry all 57kg of tools, materials and general necessities was quickly reassessed as I attempted a five minute walk between two stations in Lille. At my final destination at Valenciennes train station I was greeted by Bernard Draux (technician at L'H du Siege) in a white van, who helpfully took all my stuff and drove me to the studio/exhibition space.
Greeted by two huge wooden doors opening out into wonderfully patterned brick courtyard, I am quickly introduced to all of the staff. The realisation of language barriers dawns but is not a big problem. A saviour in the form of Elodie Boutry, the previous artist in residence at L’H du Siege, who speaks good English, helped and befriended me quickly.
The last couple of days have been filled with activity from the arrival, and now departure, of 15 people from many different artistic establishments across the UK. The three day trip discussed artist run space on both side of the channel and was an enlightening and invaluable opportunity. I have witnessed many artists’ different practices as well as visiting some amazing spaces and meeting some lovely people. The trip was funded by NAN and organised by Fabrica, a visual arts organisation based in a former Regency church in Brighton. (Please check www.fabrica.org.uk for more information).
Now it is all over I am looking forward to some calm time and producing some new work. I have managed to order some strange and excitement materials from a catalogue. I don’t think it is ever wise to give an artist an 1138pg catalogue followed by the statement “you can order what you like from this”.
My initial and current feeling is an overwhelming sense of excitement. I feel so fortunate to be given this opportunity and can not wait to start making work. I have a meeting with Philippe Bétrancourt (Président de l'Association) and Pascal Pesez (Administrateur & Chargé de la programmation) on Monday to discuss my time at L’H du Siege.
L’H du Siege is founded by Acte de Naissance in 1996 and is housed in a former joinery in Valenciennes. The space comprises a gallery, artist’s workshops and a livework studio for artists in residency. They are dedicated to the development and promotion of contemporary art and the support of artist through a programme of exhibitions and residencies. Please check www.hdusiege.org for more information.
