shed-and-a-half gallery ideas and proposal

ok- so this was a mega quick turn around to get a proposal together for the Photomonth 2008 deadline of 30th june, so links lots to previous work rather than a fresh idea from scratch. i was taken by the fact that the site used to be a haberdashery factory and that there are traces of the past- of industry around- hooks, railings, etc. the site also has a lot of traces of current occupation- washing line, roof garden plants, climbing frame, hammock, bbq, tables and chairs- so a social, relaxing, functional space as well as a site of a gallery. the gallery is also in the art/fashion hub of east london, shoreditch.

this all taken on board- here's the proposal;

Proposal

"A two-phase photo-performance which will involve a live photographic exchange exploring the sheds as darkrooms, and traditional and digital photography. Through a context-specific response to the site of a redundant haberdashery factory in Shoreditch, processes will be explored exploiting factory processes and the clothes we no longer wear. People attending the Private view are required to bring any photographs of them wearing clothing they wish they hadn’t worn, and now want to surrender (photos to remain secret until required.) Participants to the one-to one performances are required to bring a soft item of clothing they no longer require, to surrender."

More about the proposed event:

The proposed event, what not to wear? explores the relationship between the redundant and the nostalgic through the dual narrative of past-industrial site of a haberdashery factory and redundant items of clothing we no longer wear. The two sheds of the Shed-and-a-half gallery are also important as both a site of secrecy, and where forgotten or discarded items end up.

This proposal is for a three phase event from 22nd to 26th October 2008:
Firstly, on evening of 22nd October, a collective experience sharing photos of audience members in our forgotten/embarrassing/lost items of clothing, mediated through photographic manipulation of the live projected destruction of the clothing’s image contained in photographs within the sheds. This would be followed by intimate performances for one at a time from 23rd- 26th October in a staged darkroom exploring photograms; it is envisaged that performances will tell the story of an unwanted item of clothing, then deconstruct it, laid out on photopaper and exposed as a photogram trace, all imagery and remnants of clothing to pile up in the half shed as an installation.
The Final event, on 26th October will be a short viewing of the installation relics in the half shed, as a single group that would have met off site collectively (6.30- 7pm max) and then go to a pub nearby for an informal talk about the work, feedback, til around 9pm, or whenever we've had enough.

NB All events strictly by appointment only and participants must agree to bring items required which will be clarified upon booking a place- details of booking procedures to be confirmed.

Background to the idea:
Central to the work is theories in the work of Roland Barthes and Tino Sehgal, the first for his theories of the ‘mortality’ of the paper based photograph as an ‘impossible’ record of ‘now,’ and the latter for the fleeting materiality of his art works. I am currently researching principles of non-matrixed theatre and audience participation through the subversion of time based media practices. I am experimenting with pushing the temporal nature of performance through marrying with the temporal nature of photography, placing the process of image making intrinsically at the heart of an intimate and participatory, performative experience.

NB DATES SUBJECT TO CHANGE/CONFIRMATION