At some point the sculpture was complete – it was just prior to the doors opening for the first non-build viewers.
One of the best things about this particular work was that it’s degree of completeness was measurable only in its own terms.
That is, unlike many familiar objects or even finishes, there was no way of telling if it was a convincing replica of one, or even a well made or shoddy bodged attempt.
It was complete and it stood its own ground, all that was left was to partake in it, in what ever way it moved you to.
Unfortunately, the same couldn’t be said for the gallery, which is inescapably measured by gallery-ness. Poor Natasha, who is (along with Tila, who was on Poland duty) responsible for front of house, but had also been in the thick of the build team, still had a lot of work getting that sqeaky(ish) “galleries are clean and crisp and even” look to the place. The volunteers too deserve a good deal of credit.
When the first non-paying customer came through the door they probably had no idea of what had occurred in that space.
Although I sometimes think that the experience would be far richer for them, if the transition from energetic creativity to calm passivity was a little bit less theatrically managed. Perhaps one day I will try to pull that off as a show.
