When the Work is Done
…and when there’s still more to do.
This post is a follow-up to the first showing of my art installation,
Work in Progress. You can learn more about it here.
Work in Progress had its first brush with the public in The Evelyn Hotel’s Bandroom one week ago, running for three hours on the evening of May 17th. Without going into detail, this was an audio art installation that utilised generative music and blurred the lines between viewer and performer by allowing viewers to make changes to the composition/playback with a customised “controller” in the centre of the space.
The controller as customised for the installation.
The lead-up to the installation was a strong source of personal and professional development, as well as a test of my abilities - in many ways, committing to this project forced my hand in establishing a social media presence, building this very website, tailoring my aesthetic, presenting myself as the artist I would like to be, and finally following through on making something that would be shown to the public. Hence, this project existed at a crossroads of personal interests, being assessed as the final component of my university degree, a debut as an artist eager to contribute to my city’s vibrant culture, and the establishment of my future professional life.
On the evening itself, I got to see what others made of my creation, and though attendance was light, I will paraphrase a friend in telling myself that having people come out for experimental art on a Wednesday night is a victory on its own. It also came at a great relief, alleviating innumerable anxieties about the viability and worth of this project - it was simple to set up, did not malfunction once, and was well-received by attendees. The ease of set up gestures towards adaptability and portability, making me confident that this artwork can be suited to many spaces and contexts. Additionally, this first event now exists in the near-three hour recording of the composition as generated and altered by viewers, as well as photography from the night.
In personal writings and in the blog post linked above, this event was subtitled as “Iteration 01”, as it had always been intended as a proof-of-concept before further experimentation and development of the project. Having seen its potential in how others have enjoyed engaging with it and expressions of interest from those who could not attend, it is absolutely my intention to continue developing this project. Now outside of the framework of university assessment, my aim is to come into contact with arts institutions, festivals/events, and grant authorities, and with sufficient backing once again present this work to the public. With luck, I will be discussing “Iteration 02” in due time.
