This Thursday I’m giving a talk about my work at MAO for the launch of olololo. I gave another artist talk there back in February, so I want to avoid repeating too much of the same information this time round. It’s a good challenge because the olololo book and the Keeping Time exhibition I last spoke about are very closely connected.
I remember writing on this blog about the process of preparing the February talk. I think I described my practice as a kind of cloud of ideas and artworks, and wrote about my various attempts to find a clear thread or trajectory through the cloud that would be sufficiently interesting and self-contained to present through an hour-long artist talk. I remember noticing that each time I plan a presentation about my work I have to start from scratch because my perspective keeps shifting and different works and ideas from over the years move into view.
Watching the slideshow recording I made of my February talk, I think I want to do less talking this time and let the work speak more for itself. I had been toying with the idea of making the talk much more performative, not showing any slides or videos of work and instead using a pair of OHPs to project images and silhouettes of things I’m holding and drawing. I like the idea very much but I don’t think now’s the time: I’d rather plan and advertise it properly rather than sneak a performance into what’s billed as a straightforward artist talk. Plus I don’t have any OHPs and neither does MAO.
So: less talking and a new trajectory through the cloud. I’m sure the records I’ve collected on this blog will be useful – perhaps I’ll start by reading through it post by post.
