Water Sprite by Claire Neslon
7
Heart of Oak by Friedel Buecking
In a blink of an eye the day of the set-up came. I walked through the doors and there, waiting just for me, a crowd of anxious artists wanting to know where I had decided to place their artworks.
From that moment the final chapter of the saga began: I was running up and down the venue, answering all sort of questions, trying to stay calm and positive while people were placing artworks in the wrong places; desperate to find a way to make everyone happy whilst remaining loyal to my design.
The positive side of the picture I am painting for you is that there is always someone ready to take your hand and help you go through the challenges of the set-up day! In my case the heroes were Nick Baker and Juliette Derwent. My beginner’s nerves were soon under control.
She looked at me with so much enthusiasm and started talking about the meaning of her artwork: life, something that is reborn. In the past years that so-hated pulpit has been hidden during the exhibitions but Jo’s work proved that even the most ruined, aged or neglected thing can be brought back to life!
After talking to that very talented young woman and carefully studying the history of the venue, I realised that I wanted to design this Exhibition following the steps of The Creation - drawing from the religiosity of the Landmark Art Centre’s past to the way that an old building like that can be built into something new. This was my starting point.
I divided the artworks into groups: the ‘Nothing’ - abstract and non-figurative artworks. Then the plants and flower themed pieces, followed by the marine creatures and the sea flora. Then the animals and those artworks portraying the human figure, and finally the contemporary corner, featuring all the pieces that involved the use of technology.
Some artworks are just obviously made to be sitting in a specific corner. Others will not know their place until the very last moment!