How do you follow-up an Opening Night Performance? Do you need to? Well, yes, especially if the artist had intended to continue working on the movement from the start. So today Raf explained his aim to explore movement around his installation that would be effective when viewed from above on the fisheye camera. It was to be a work of co-creation, with all suggestions welcome as we tried out various positions on or between Raf’s ceramic pieces.
While some of us watched the screen displaying the images from the fisheye camera, others started to experiment. Standing beside the ceramic benches they extended their arms out to the side and back. Then they lifted their arms to the front before dropping them back down. Such simple actions but very effective when viewed from above.

Raf and two volunteers donned the ‘helmet and tabard’ outfits that he had commissioned for the event. Viewed from above the wearers looked like alien creatures. During a lull in proceedings, Kim – still in her outfit – performed a series of stilted, robotic movements while Sue provided vocal accompaniment. A moment of light relief, and, no, I did not video it because I was too slow. And, anyhow, not everything needs to be recorded, it just needs to be enjoyed!
All ten of us then positioned ourselves between the ceramic benches to work together. To start with our movements were definitely out of sync, so Raf called out directions to help us keep together.
After a quick look at the video, Raf decided that our movement should include physically sliding the ceramic pieces to new positions. By the end of the morning Raf had plenty of ideas to go away with and work out a score.
In a couple of weeks it is the Dress Rehearsal. A week later the performance will be filmed then the Closing Ceremony of ‘The Spin Off’ is on Saturday 7th June. After that all the ceramic pieces will be dismantled and shipped to Poland. We have been working with Raf for several months now. Life is going to seem very quiet when his exhibition closes. What next for this group of Contemporary Elders and the Focal Point Gallery?

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