The main project that is running through the residency looks at how the participants see themselves, and again utilises methods that that involve a loss of control. By feeding instructions to the participants on a limited basis, and confounding their normal working methods, I’m hoping to restrict them, forcing them to respond to situations as they arise. The eventual aim is to get them to turn this lack of control and restrictive working method in to a positive and beneficial outcome.
So I’m cutting up doors. Got four done now, and they’re looking pretty good. The ladies certainly seem to like them. We’ve got them to take distorted silhouetted images of themselves, and transpose these bizarre outlines onto reclaimed doors. The doors then get jig-sawed, cropping the too-large silhouettes even further. Final stage is when the doors get personalised in a way that springs from the individual.
The results this week, as they began to decorate their alter-ego’s, are hinting of great things to follow. I’ve only got three ladies in my community centre group, but when their sculptures get added to the work done by the youth group that is also involved , I think we’re going to have a successfully misshapen theatre of obstacles.
