Yesterday evening I attended the my friend Mireia Rocher’s opening at Galleri Duerr, Stockholm. I am of course biased but the show is great. It was also great for me to be reminded how much work goes in to producing a good show … seeing and hearing Mireia down the corridor from my studio has kept me focused these past few months. Next Saturday I have the opening of a two-person show with Klas Hällerstrand so a not quite last minute reminder was very much appreciated.
Our show is somewhat different – not only is it a double-header rather than a solo exhibition, it is also at an art association’s gallery* rather than a commercial gallery … and it is in Enköping rather than Stockholm. Nonetheless it is a big occasion for me as I previously was on the associations committee and it is where I do the majority of my art workshops for children and families (part of my job at the local council). Even without these two factors it would be a big deal and a significant show for a number of reasons.
Many of the pieces that I am showing are new, and they seem to be taking my work in a new direction. This is exciting and maybe even a little daunting! Alongside pieces fashioned from second-hand clothes and vintage fabric are three large works made in new material: two single flags and a pair of flags. I have thoroughly enjoyed making these new pieces (all of which are currently untitled, and which may well still be so come the show). New materials and new processes – the flags were made on my new (new to me) sewing machine. Previously hand sewing things has been an integral and time consuming part of my process. Did that though give me too much time to think? There is very different energy around these most recent pieces, and I am enjoying their lightness.
On holiday my friend from art-school and I asked ourselves two questions when looking at other artists’ work: 1, did they play with the material(s)? and 2, did they have fun? We acknowledged that these questions might not always be relevant however they opened up space for the two of us, both of whom are prone to over analysis, to start looking at things from a different (unusual for us) perspective. I think that despite my starting point for the works they would receive a yes/yes.
Klas and I have three days to install the show and have decided that we will both arrive with between eight and ten pieces from which we will curate ’the best possible show’. I much prefer this idea of working together with the pieces in the space, to having a predetermined vision of where particular things will be. Both of us work on quite large scales with very particular materials and it is important to us that the show works as a whole as well as allowing individual pieces to shine. If the success of the image for the exhibition is anything to go by then this way of working should be good for us.
The image – a diagonal composite of a work by each of us – is a thing in itself. We hope to achieve something similar with the show. I was a little nervous when I suggested the collage image to Klas; it is not every artist who immediately accepts someone (especially another artist) cutting their work in half. I am very grateful that he not only liked the idea but actually produced the image – photoshop and such packages not being my forte. And it amuses me that I wrote the short text for the association’s autumn brochure. With a few minor grammatical corrections my text, written in Swedish, was approved by both Klas and the association. Interestingly I found it tricky to translate the text into English for my bilingual mail-out. I wanted the texts not only to say similar things but to be similar lengths so that they looked neat side-by-side. Hopefully I achieved this.
Tomorrow I will pack up the pieces that are here at the studio in Uppsala, and drive them and some tools over to Enköping. There are a few things that I need to finish and fine tune once I know where they will be placed. It feels as though we have a good amount of time to make a good show. It really helps that we know each other well and in addition that we are both calm and considerate people. This evening I will think about prices … and perhaps while sitting quietly with them some titles for the new works will come.
Rest, Stuart Mayes & Klas Hällerstrand
Opening 27 August, 12 – 3pm
Exhibition continues to 18 September
Enköping’s Art Association, Tullgatan 18, Enköping, Sweden
Saturday & Sunday 12 – 3pm, Wednesday 5 – 7pm
*I feel the need to apologise for, or explain, the website; it was made by and is maintained by an elderly member of the association who also designs all of the publicity material. Unfortunately the website is not a reflection of the rather elegant brochures, posters, and invitation cards that he designs. Please do not judge the gallery by its website!
