Today I presented the idea for my installation to the Gallery and discussed the most immediate problems it presented.
The idea is great BUT…
Problem 1: Pitzhanger Manor house is a grade 1 listed building so anything I make must be carefully thought out so as not to damage the architecture. But for the installation to work it must appear to be seamlessly part of the space.
I wanted to raise the entire floor.
The door opens into the space so I cannot raise the floor at the opening.
I am not allowed to remove the door.
Building a fake room is not an option.
Problem 2: I have no experience in making floors.
Problem 3: I am not an engineer.
Problem 4: Maybe this is the biggest issue…It will be a very costly project and I haven’t got funding
Good news
I like a challenge and will have the gallery technicians to help me build the piece and work out some of the structural problems.
They also like the idea
In November I was invited to put together an exhibition for The Studio Gallery at Pitzhanger Manor House and create an installation for the House itself.
The exhibition title – Void
Void ventures into the unknown, exploring the potential of what lies beyond the space, the unexplained, the imagined.
So with the concept and title set before Christmas I spent the winter months working away at trying to develop the visuals for the installation.
I don’t know if anyone else has this problem, but I find visualising things remarkably hard! Probably a bit of a weakness for a so called visual artist!
So these past months have been a bit of a nightmare.
I knew when I picked the space that I wanted to create a floor based installation. Since then I have been making mini floors and trying to manipulate them in various ways.
One test after the next seemed to fail and I felt like I was banging my head against a brick wall!
I began focusing on the paintings for the show in the hope that it would help clear my mind. I think it must’ve helped because the other day on the train home I could suddenly see the installation I wanted to make. A clear image in my head!
Now in many ways the real hard work begins…realising that image and working out how the hell to install it in a grade 1 listed building without damaging the precious walls!
