Throughout March 2019 KARST gallery has been hosting 1 week exhibitions under the title ‘fig-futures’. Week 2 showcased the work ‘Untitled (fender)’ by artist Eva Grubinger. The large gallery which has 2 sets of columns running through the space, breaking it up was further divided by this large installation. The work was sitting in the centre between the rows of columns, a large rubber fender, originally used to protect ships from damage it was now in Karst. The rubber fills the gallery with a strong scent, a smell that hits you at the entrance. The 7 metre long inflatable looms in the space. It doesn’t have a heavy presence, nor does it feel light, two properties one might expect from such a large air filled object. However both rubber & air are at an equal in this form. There was an element of this work that does have more of an impact in the space, it is the blackness of the rubber. The scarred matte surface doesn’t reflect any light & so it seems to have an absorbent quality in the space. The interruption of the pillars somehow helps to contain it, restricting it from absorbing the whole room but still the form has an unknown quality.

OHNT- Old Homes New Tech.

I attended a symposium at Port Eliot in Cornwall. The focus of the day was to experience ways in which modern technology could be used to add to the experience of visitors to a Manor house or Country estate. The day brought together land owners/home owners/estate managers, artists, technology developers, curators & other creative industries to discuss in 4 groups how technology could be used at 4 different sites in Cornwall. Initially starting with a general brainstorm & narrowing down ideas as the day went on. By the end of the session each group pitched their final idea for further development.

The scope in which to bring New Tech to Old Homes was varied with ideas around the room of digital games within the properties, a podcast & artist residency, simulated tour guides, apps & digital timelines triggering trails through estate grounds. Before the discussion session & during the breaks, attendees were invited to explore a selection of tech that may already be a start in how visitors might experience places. One development was a programme on a tablet that when held up to a painting would select certain sections & animate it, triggering a sound piece about the artist & the work. The scope of development for this is great as it could easily be used on a tablet or mobile device once a user downloads an app.

The day allowed a variety of creative thinkers to put ideas out for further development. For myself, an artist who doesn’t have a collaborative practice (Or so I thought) it was refreshing to work with others on ideas for development. It allowed me to work through others input & help mould an idea. What was also striking about the discussion at ‘Antony House’ table was that we were working to the needs of someone who lives in the house we were developing the idea for. We weren’t working so much to a brief but our ideas could be tailored as we went due to the knowledge & information brought to the table.