'Save Yourself' - installation progress & work in development
Francis arrived in Venice on 21 May with her sister and assistant Hannah Upritchard, Martino Gamper and Harry Thaler to begin the installation. The works arrived early on the morning of the 22 May, and were unpacked from their crates. The large tables that Francis had designed with Martino, which were fabricated in Proveis Northern Italy, were shipped to the venue along with the London consignment of figures, lamps and tools. The tables were assembled in a day - this was the first time Francis has seen them completed and was really pleased with how they fitted the space. Heather arrived late on the 23 May when the tables were in situ and the figures had begun to be placed.
As the works arrival was a little less dramatic in scale (as you can see in the great images Judy and Leonhard have provided), we thought we would instead post some images of how the works and furniture have developed. Formal installation views will be taken at the very beginning of the week of the 31 May and we will post these as soon as possible. In the meantime, we hope these behind the scenes shots will be of interest. Francis makes her work in her studio in Hackney, London.
Here you can see the work Rested (without beard) and then the same work Rested (without paint). In these images of Sniffer (above) - you can see he has a wire base, with tin foil around it to form volume, which is then clad in a professional modelling compound called Supersculpy, and baked. Any bits that need to be filled or fixed are done so using Milliput - which hardens like a rock. After this the figures get painted - Kremer pigments are mixed with Lasceaux mediums to make a paste, and then are applied with a wet brush and a dry brush. To try out different layouts of figures, Francis mocked up the table surface sizes in her studio. The figures sit on temporary bases, before they get attached to the exhibition furniture. Francis has customised the exhibition space: "I really didn't want to use heavy plinths in the exhibition space. There is a table in each of the three spaces, extending out from the base of a large antique mirror. We designed the long table based on a table I had at home which I cut down for Japanese style dining. The tables were designed in collaboration with Martino Gamper and Jochem Faudet did the CAD drawings. They have been made so beautifully, these huge pieces of furniture still feel delicate because they have been crafted so well." This is a layout model made in the studio in London to check table sizes in relation to the rooms of the Fondazione Claudio Buziol. A fairly rustic version of an elegant space.
These lamp shades are pre-firing. These were then glazed and fired at Maze Hill Pottery. Because we are not able to hang anything on the walls or from the ceiling Francis decided to make some lamps to illuminate some of the works. 'Psychic Pushing', with light on and light off. Jochen Holz of Stratford blew the glass shade with Francis. It looks a little bit like salami.
The 'Save Yourself' books have arrived from Graphicom in Verona - a great printer. They were designed by Kalee Jackson who is the designer at the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, New Plymouth, who are co-publishing the book. It was press passed by James Goggin, who designed all of the NZ at Venice 2009 printed matter and the 2009 section of the NZ at Venice website. James has previously designed 'Doomed, Doomed All Doomed' and 'Human Problems' for Francis and has a great design company Practise. The book will be available from the official Biennale bookshops in the Giardini and Arsenale, from the venue and soon from the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, New Plymouth - but please be patient as they are coming back to New Zealand by sea.
This new reception desk - also designed by Martino and Francis - is great and will profile Francis' books, including the two new titles 'Every Colour By Itself' and 'Bart Wells Institute' which she produced with Luke Gottelier and Abake. Here is the website where you can find out more about these two titles. The offices of the Fondazione Claudio Buziol are just behind the desk. We have been so warmly welcomed by Simona Casarotto, Renzo diRenzo, Anna Kristina Skaar, Federica Pezzato and Andrea Lissoni. The Fondazione Claudio Buziol is a hive of activity as they are also hosting Arto Lindsay, who is making an amazing project for the Biennale - Multinatural (blackout), which will take the form of a procession Friday June 5, at 6 pm.
This shot was taken at the end of day, shutters closed, work under the light. Look again after the 2 June for installation shots of 'Save Yourself' by Andy Stagg. Installation has taken place during a really hot week in Venice, so lunch picnics in the Palazzo Mangilli-Valmarana garden have been very restorative. Here Harry Thaler and Hannah Upritchard take a well earned break.
Hannah unpacking one of the lamp shades. Francis and Hannah looking at the figure placement on the long table. On 27 June we were able to take a quick break from the heat of Venice and travelled about an hour and a half to a very reasonable B&B with amazing food prepared by great hosts. It was called Al Possetto - Cucina e Alloggio, in Molvena.
Our host Florry cooked us dinner even though the restaurant was closed, hand made pasta with white asparagus, and check out this breakfast! Florry was so excited to hear we were from New Zealand, and said one of the best holidays of his life was in the Coromandel, and he has a dream to move to New Zealand for his retirement. He was such a warm and kind man and an excellent chef - we said he would be very warmly welcome and wouldn't need to wait until he retired!
We went for a walk when we arrived and that morning the area had been hit by a huge hail storm that had decimated crops; vines, cherries, corn, and domestic vegetable gardens. There were residual piles of hail stones all over the place. It looked like it had been snowing. Check out the cabbages - those under cover survived, those not under cover are now coleslaw / kraut salad. It is a serious problem for the area. Francis and I working, just before heading back to Venice to complete the installation.