Applauding the Dawn

Here are some video clips from YouTube of a localised tradition, a spontaneous action that happens sometimes on Ipanema beach at sunset:






I'm interested in instigating a gathering to see the dawn, and to welcome it with applause.

What is the experience of rising to watch the daybreak? Of welcoming it - joining with others to give it applause even? I'm interested in the experience of stepping out of one's daily routine to contemplate a natural event in an urban setting, making a link to Romanticism and its focus on a sense of wonder at nature, but also - influenced by the applause on Ipanema beach - on a group action.

I'm now planning a publicly advertised gathering to watch the dawn through to sunrise - to take place in London.

Flowers for the Sea at ARTSIDE 2010

Photo credit: Priya Saujani



Flowers for the Sea was a public intervention on the beach at Southend-on-Sea.

The work:
Passers-by that approach an impromptu flower stall are invited to select a flower that they can take to the water's edge and - looking silently out to sea - think of their wish and simultaneously throw the flower into the waves. The work displaces a tradition from Brazil of offering flowers to the sea.

At ARTSIDE:
During the afternoon of 17 July 2010 over 100 participants received flowers which they individually threw into the waves. During it's progress, interest in the action spread around the area by word of mouth and attracted more participants.

The flowers washed up gradually along one stretch of beach.


Thanks:
To Derek's Florist for support and donation of flowers.
And Coexist Arts for organising the ARTSIDE programme, supported by Southend-on-Sea Town Centre Partnership.
And Priya Saujani for working with me on the stall.

Video montage produced by Michaela Freeman at Coexist Arts.
Archive of ARTSIDE 2010 programme

snap - a conceptual photography relay race

snap is a work in development

Responding the work of Doug Huebler, and the use of the camera by artists to automate image-making and bring in elements of chance.

Two competitors each receive a disposable camera and - within 24 minutes - take a set of 24 photos to most exactly replicate my photos of 24 arbitrarily selected buildings taken nearby. I immediately develop/print the films. The most accurate photographer of the pair wins; the new photos form the starting point for the next competitors.

‘snap’ functions on various levels. It emphasises lack of authorship – I do not make an aesthetic decision but randomly photograph 24 buildings in the surrounding area. The subject matter of buildings is arbitrary. Participants are more ‘camera operators’ than photographers; asked to re-enact the taking of photographs I started, which may mean copying those of another participant. In effect, the participants are asked to act out a live version of a reprint, with inevitable approximations.

The images produced in each round could be used to fabricate sets of 'snap' card games, where the pairs in the game are each a 'not quite' match due to the process used to create the duplicates.

Found Objects, London - research

Research project - objects found on street in London

Further research

Full series here

Selected images:

Ropery Street

Bow Common Lane

Cockspur Court

High Road, East Finchley

Exploring collecting / hoarding

A sketch: 169 similar sized objects from my collection.
Initial exploration to develop a further live event continuing from Kept Objects pilot at Arnolfini.
Background research

My paintings - Re:Orientation series

I've just completed a new painting in the series, which I'm showing at Chilterns MS centre fund-raising exhibition this weekend. I have created a blog with some images of older works...and with a more low-res image of part of the new work.

Re:Orientation painting series

Side by Side Show at Fete Encounter

Images of Side by Side Show from LIFT Molten, August 2009

Thanks to Jen Walke for inviting me to take part and to Adi Lerer for performing with me.