In the Autumn of 2013 I entered a curated group exhibition at Studio19, a small local art gallery (since closed). There was a 'best in show' judged by Susi Hodge, artist and best-selling author of art books. The prize was a solo exhibition at the gallery. And my piece 'Miss Universe', an assemblage made of weathered wood and metal, won.
I had been given a cut out piece of text, which I knew I would use for art when the 'right' moment came. This was it, and the title of my exhibition was born.
The gallery space lent itself to grandeur with an industrial edge, it being old factory space.
I started brain-dumping ideas and thoughts, initially exploring the concept of avenging angels looking down on mankind from above. Eventually, I narrowed it down to the Archangels, built a small model of the space using a cardboard box and made models of each of the angels; Gabriel, Uriel, Michael, Lucifer and Rafael.
I met with the owners of the gallery to go through my concept, it was going to be an installation, using light and shadows, mirrors and writing on the walls (I wasn't sure they would let me do that, it would have posed a challenge if they didn't). But they did, and I got to work building the angels in my backroom. Several of them were over 6 ft tall, I had to build them in sections which I then assembled on site.
I am an avid fan of classical music, Beethoven being my all-time favourite composer. I knew I wanted him to accompany my angels. I enlisted the help of my son, who helped mix the adagio from his seventh symphony with me whispering the lyrics from a John Mayer song called War of my Life and bouts of thunder as overlay.
The exhibition was a success and I received great feedback from the visitors. I lived with the angels in my garden for some time following the exhibition, and eventually I repurposed parts of them for new artworks.
Comentários