Constellations
...and so into the unknown...
Following Anima, that book what you all got invested in, there will be a sister project. But, I don’t want to reveal any of that yet.
I am wanting to shift this space [the monologue] into a place for encounters… dialogue… constellations… the unknown! I’m seeking a physical space(s) to work on making a bit more. Painting. Choreographing dance. Paper-works, always. This monologue is kinda like my diary. I’d like to be held accountable, so prod me if you’ve not heard from me. Or if you have questions. Or if you know of studios…
“You like yourself a bit of the unknown, do you?”
This question, posed to me by the freest of spirits, got me thinking. Yeah, I do. That feeling when making new paths, walking unofficial territory, leaving the house without commitment to a particular thing. Just drifting. Just roaming.
“How do you got about finding that thing, the nature of which is unknown to you?” - PLATO’S MENO
I’ve been reading a lot about Black holes recently. Well, actually, white holes. Carlo Rovelli, being my new favourite author, has been opening up the universe to me; his angle is poetic & visual, which helps, but ultimately rooted in science. I have zero scientific background, save for a vague memory of the Bunsen burner and dropping eggs out the science block window at school. Lots left to learn, and somehow contribute towards.
When the Northern Lights were seen across the UK back in May, being fascinated by stars, it would make sense that I would have seen them. Little did my sleepy self realise this event was happening, as I took myself to bed for a nice early night. You can only imagine my frustration when all you lot posted beautiful imagery of this rare sighting of the Aurora Borealis. Balls.
My response at missing out has been quite entertaining (for me), as it has led me to read a lot about stars and space and things. Like Alice, I have gone down the rabbit hole…
… and I’m just now beginning to formulate some ideas to relate to my art practice. My work has invariably been interested in a social aspect - that is, how people relate to one another, their environment, or themselves. As I’ve been absorbing constellations, understanding gravitational fields and (the big one) getting to grips with general relativity, I’ve recognised distinct patterns going on. There are echoes in the formation of the universe with the formation of people, social groups, relations with each other and with local space. Cool, right?
Let me kinda show you what I mean…
So, playing around with threads here, I punctuated the paper with an awl. I then selected four different threads, who ran their own paths. At certain points they met, sometimes all together, sometimes just with one other; sometimes they met more than once.
This is of course, looking at the paper from one side only. Turn it over, and the same threads have passed through the same holes, had the same meetings; yet their individual trajectories appear different.
Taking a sociological stance, each thread can be seen to represent a person. The person is moving, in their own trajectory, an individual path. At times, they meet an other(s). Maybe for a pint, in the park, at a gig… The yellow thread is strong and fierce in its own isolation; it never meets with an other. Take that as you will.
The point is, these are only two angles of seeing it. This is a 2 dimensional, concrete piece. Socially, things get a bit more abstract. Imagine this piece occurring, but with multiple sides, multiple perspectives… I’m not yet sure how it could be realised as a huge threaded piece/sculpture: each punctuated mark showing a meeting, but each proceeding trajectory of thread showing an alternative path for the individual… These webs we weave and dance round one another are so complex; and this is before we even consider the tensions involved - between each meeting, between each place, between each shift in time and space… it’s kinda huge and blows my mind a little, but I want to understand it.
I hope all this makes sense? Trying to verbalise this all is quite tricky. I’d love to know what you think. It’s just like constellations in the night sky. Each star travels its own path, each planet has its own route, all is held together by some intangible thing called gravity.
As a side note, the thread piece was made just before the solstice, the longest day for many reasons.. ! I met so many people I knew1, with impromptu coffees going into impromptu pints and at some stage a tin of gin with my best friend as we watched the moon rise. and the sun set. I think I harped on about how the rings of Saturn work. I’ll save that gem for next time.
That’s all for now. Tune in next time where I might progress to the stage where I ask you to get involved. Or, just involve yourself at any point. Make some noise. Reveal your ideas!
(the strangest one was in a supermarket loo. From the cubicle next to mine, upon hearing the person say in irratation, ‘fuck’, I realised she needed bog roll. Naturally, I did the good thing and passed a wad of loo paper to her under the cubicle wall. When she came out I was sure I knew her, but, on the basis that i’d already met far too many people by coincidence that day, I thought “Ellen, stop, enough”. Turns out it was actually the childhood best friend of my best friend from my MA course. Crazy world innit.)