technicianing the interim - 'Tourist'

back in march last year me and will kendrick went over to oxford to help out a friend of ours and fellow bath spa graduate lewk wilmshurst with the installation of his first solo show.. the show took place at Freud on walton street. a rather challenging install not only due to the dsetinct lack of manpower but Freud is beautiful and interesting but also structurally quite awkward to hang work in effectively. we rose to the challenge and learned a great deal in the process, lessons which have proved useful in subsequent installations.

poster design by Garry Edison Cook

the main piece (from which the show took its title) is a triptych of the three works, ‘Mutual’, ‘Coordinate’ and ‘Science’ and as a piece discuss’ our relationship with the natural world.

‘Mutual‘

 Mutual is a light box with an image of an orang-utan routed into the Perspex.
As you inspect the work, The Orang-utan reciprocates your interest.
It’s scale, it’s light, and the shrine in front of it, suggests a synthetic alter.

The sound is a recording of an anonymous rainforest, the plants are of tropical origin but are broadly utilised in office and domestic spaces. The Ambi Pur plug ins are intended to create the atmosphere of a rain forest in a domestic environment on the understanding that the consumer doesn’t know what a rainforest smells like.  These elements together form a simulated sensory experience, akin to that of a visitor.

Tourist infers that we are visitors to the natural world, whilst Mutual questions our dislocation with it.

‘Coordinate‘

Is a synthesised shrine. Though seemingly Hindu, it is of dubious religious origin and authenticity.

The title is intended as a reference to both cooperation and location. In extension, globalisation, cultural friction, and compatibility. This is reflected in the symmetrical mandala imagery, and the assortment of ‘foreign’ paraphernalia.

‘Animals occupy and important place in Hinduism. They are frequently mentioned in Hindu myths and legends and enjoy a place of their own in Hindu pantheon as vehicles of many Gods and Goddesses’.*

We make this connection with the Orangutan through our sporadic knowledge of global culture provided by the Internet, T.V. documentaries, newspapers and travel as a tourist.

 The Orangutan however, is not one of these sacred animals. This implanted misconception is a musing on preconception itself, and our formulation of it.

The apparently symmetrical drawings are an expansion on this. We view the orangutan through the prism of our beliefs, culture and geography.

‘Science’

Science is an arrangement of a walking stick, a belt, a compass, prayer beads, a worn pair of walking boots and a briefcase.

The stick is a walking aid, and also a Hindu monkey stick used to fend off the monkeys when making an offering to them at one of their temples. The compass is a symbol of directional science and the prayer beads are a symbol of directional faith. The compass and prayer beads are there to suggest that this nomadic science is based just as much on faith as religion. The briefcase represents the gathering of information but also the preparation and finding that has gone into the expedition. This amalgamation conjures the impression of science as a de-centered, nomadic faith. Presenting the idea of science being a historical programme that goes somewhere, looks at something, and then returns to explain it to the people.

The space where the scientist would stand is left void, to invite you to step into his or her shoes.

The staging of the three pieces ‘ Mutual ‘, ‘ Coordinate ‘ and ‘ Science ‘,  proposes a momentous and pivotal moment, which we are witness to. The pieces speak of our relationship with each other and the natural world.

Tourist infers that we are visitors to the natural world, whilst Mutual questions our dislocation with it.

'Primates'

The ‘Primates’ are a series of minimal line drawings, which upon closer inspection, reveal a history of imagery. Inside the lines that make up the image of a primate, are intricate illustrations of the symbols shared with the ‘Forever’ series.

'Forevers'

The six Forevers represent growth through perpetual mutation, and cast the illusion of an undulating surface. Images such as mothers with their offspring and couples dancing and kissing symbolise reproductive human behaviour and thus its continuous cycle.

for further information on any of the work in this post:

http://lewkwilmshurstart.tumblr.com/