Monster Field


 

 

I read through some of this blog today and wondered why we had stopped posting on it.  I think its was probably doing my PhD but also I got frustrated with the trees project and how to position myself as artist in residence.  I think I intuitively felt I needed to fade in to the background.  Looking at some of the later post it also felt like we were both going through the motions a bit. I wonder now though if it would be a good idea to pick this up again and create our 'little thinking space".  It certainly feels like something an artist in residence should be doing.

In some way been artist in residence on a project like this is more complex than other projects I've done. The cross disciplinary nature of the work structures spaces of difference.  On other projects it feels like we are building new spaces or Barthes "new objects" yet on trees with its science not science schism its more exploring what an alternative established position, approach, set of working practices can bring to the table.  Its more cross- fertilization and this is fine if a little less exciting. 

I bought a copy of Monster Field only 1000 were printed so it cost £120 its only 9 pages.  It has 2 water colour sketches then  6 pages of photographs of a hand written description of Paul Nash's visit with a friend to Monster field.   I couldn't really read the handwriting so Kim read it to me when we were in bed.  In many ways the story was a little mundane yet the fact it was written in 1937 and talks of monsters on a sunny day in the lush Devon countryside brings with it a certain power. I bought Monster Field as part of the trees project and intend to visit the geographical location of the in October.  There is something growing around trees and pilgrimage- the  space of the journey with an end point and a destination.  

I'm working with Abie again next week which has been nice,  I like the bits of work that are extra and not part of being artist in residence I think they are helpful to think about the bits where I am being artist in residence.  I am not sure what this bit is though and although I am not worried about this in particular I do feel like we should start to pull something from the amorphous mist.  Perhaps not though, perhaps the idea of blogging together again and planning a pilgrimage to visit Monster field is enough for now.

Comments

  1. Kate PahlAugust 11, 2023 at 3:47 AM

    I think when we did the fieldnotes work that was exciting. I felt something was happening when we looked at the pieces of film and snatches and you talked about snippets. I would be interested in snippets and also the ways in which the monsters and the hand writing and the images come together. I am in Edinburgh for the fringe there are no trees only people.

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