I want to make mention of an exhibit I went to see at Dilston Grove at Southwark Park. Up until the exhibit changes, you can scroll down to the bottom of this page to read the formal description. I initially think I saw something about the exhibit on boing boing and I just thought it looked really cool and wanted to go see it. So seeing as how I was up and out of my house by 8:40 on Sunday, I thought that it would be good to head over there and see it while I had the chance.
I didn't know what to expect in any way. From reading the description, it was clear that only one person could go at a time. I wasn't sure about any of the detail or how it would work. I sort of expected a queue of some sort, or that you had to get an advance ticket, though none of this was the case. When I arrived there was a waiver you had to sign which I did, and then I was into the church shell itself with the piece before me.
To be completely fair I was at first maybe slightly disappointed. There was a bridge you walked across to reach the first step of the pool. But the construction of the pool was visible, so you could clearly see a pool had been constructed 'into' the space of the church. With additional funding (I'm sure it all comes down to funding) I would have suggested 'finishing' the edges of the piece so that it was more integrated with the building. The second thing I noticed was that the steps were somewhat small, and that you had to wear a life jacket and that the designer himself (Michael Cross) was walking along in the pool with the person to make sure that the steps functioned properly and to be a shoulder to lean on when needed. This of course obscures slightly the idea that it's a solo meditative journey. Oh, and third, because I was afraid of either possibly falling in or dropping anything I was holding, I didn't take my camera out with me, though that had been my original intent. And because I came to the exhibit on my own, there was no one to photograph me out in the pool, so that was unfortunate. However, I found someone else's good photograph here so that you get the idea.
Now, that was what was wrong with the piece. But let me tell you what was right about it. It was really fucking cool. I was lucky in that when I arrived there were two couples ahead of me. One was just finishing and then in the next pair, only the woman went- the man didn't want to try. So when it was my turn, there was no one else. This was good because it allowed me to focus on myself in the space with the water and not be bothered about someone waiting for me to hurry up, or as a comment on the link above suggests, there was no one 'clapping' when I reached the middle. Plus, I could stand and appreciate the final step for as long as I wanted.
The motion of the steps, how there was a slight bubble before they emerged from the inky water and then slowly moved crossways in front of you to their final stepping position was also an impressive and serene detail. There was a little bit of dye added to the water to increase it's 'blackness'. Being about 60cm deep, I couldn't see the mechanisms below, all I could see looking down was the reflection of the church above, and the steps just as they appeared. Very nice.
Having a brief chat with the designer after, I learned that they have had double the expected turnout so far, and there are still three weeks left to the exhibit. I think he was overwhelmed with the interest and popularity which was sort of charming, as he wasn't at all insincere. Unfortunately this meant the mechanisms were a little more worn than expected as well, but having done the walk myself, I don't think it at all matters.
I'd love to do the same piece at night, with candles lit in the church or moonlight coming through and the blackness even more exposed. I'd like to try it without someone walking next to me, even if I did fall in. I'd like to have the space completely to myself for a meditative moment just to contemplate the way you feel standing in the middle of the pool.
Well, at least with all this publicity, Michael Cross should get funding to expand the concept and hopefully there will be further applications of the concept that will be open to the public to come and experience.
No comments:
Post a Comment