RADICAL NATURE
I managed to squeeze in a visit to Radical Nature at the Barbican last week before it closed. It was really informative and helpful, enabling me to look afresh at the work I’m developing & generating some new ideas.
I was really interested in the work of Wolf Hilbertz, a German architect & marine scientist. Hilbertz harnessed the process of marine accretion, developing and patenting “Biorock” ®, a sort of extreme limescale it seems to me, which accumulates on a submarine metal framework through which an electric current is passed, to form a concrete-like structure. Work continues to develop artificial coral reefs using this process, but I was particularly interested in Hilbertz’ plans to develop an artificial island in this way.
Amongst others, I also enjoyed Hans Hacke’s work, “Grass Grows”. And a few words from Hans Hacke which seem relevant to me: “…make something which experiences, reacts to its environment, changes, is non-stable… make something inderterminate, which always looks different, the shape of which cannot be predicted precisely…make something which reacts to light and temperature changes, is subject to air currents and depends, in its functioning, on the forces of gravity…articulate something Natural”
STEP ON A CRACK…
What strange sayings. Tracing the cracks in the concrete road with these words at Charleston today made me really wonder about the words. How violent they are.
Step on a crack, break your mother’s back.
Step on a line, break your mother’s spine.
Step on a nail, put your father in jail.
STICKS AND STONES
Back to my “Walking With Words” preparation today. Some of it’s going ok… some is not. But that’s the way it goes. I’ll persevere a little more with the idea which is not working out, but I’ll have to keep an eye on time & if it doesn’t work out, I’ll just have to dump it. Time is short. I’m happy with my text pieces on windfall wood & I’ve started making a sign for the spot where I found a fossil (I think I’ve been reading too much Bob & Roberta Smith!) I’m going to have another trip out to Charleston tomorrow to try out a couple of things on-site.
WEATHER(ING)
A little while ago I put out a lump of clay in a tray of water without any specific purpose except to see what happened to it. The weather here has been very dry for weeks and sea level in my tray continually declined. My lump of clay grew hard and dry.
Then we had a day of heavy rain. To accelerate the processes of nature, I put my lump of clay, in its nearly dry tray under the dripping, gutterless eaves of my shed. The tray was nearly filled in a day, but the impact on the clay was disappointingly minimal.
Days have gone by. Dry weather has prevailed. But the processes of nature in my clay & water microcosm have continued. Gradually the clay has softened, cracked and slipped, forming cliffs and caves and crumbling headlands.
WALKING WITH WORDS
So… variety, as they say, is the spice of life. Islands are on the back burner for a few days while I prepare for my “Walk With Words” at The Small Wonder Festival at Charleston Farmhouse next week.
Yesterday I walked the route and collected materials and ideas. Now I’ve got a few days to finalise what I’m going to make.
http://www.charleston.org.uk/smallwonder/outsider….
