Solo Show Install (Self Made at ADSpace)

I've been preparing for this show ever since I found out my proposal was accepted. Initially I only proposed 6 works but after I initially met with the co-ordination of ADSpace and got a better look at the space, I saw that to be able to fill the space well I needed to propose at least 4 new works. So I was creating and recreating works for several weeks before this exhibition and my creative muscles were flexed quite a lot. I created a few additional performance experiments on my YouTube channel and wrote a few more ideas down to develop further later on.

Yesterday was the first day for install and luckily it went very smoothly. Something I learnt from my last exhibition (IN THE WAKE) was that technology should be the first thing you sort out. So while I was preparing works beforehand, I focused on the video works first. During install I set up the majority of the video works first and because it was so early, whenever there were technical issues we could focus on something else and the come back to the technical errors with fresh eyes.

Secondly I learnt a lot from watching Anna May Kirk (the co-ordination of ADSpace) on how to install certain works as to not ruin the structure of the space. In some gallery spaces you can't hammer or drill into some walls. Some walls with holes can be easily put tied over. (I'm not sure if you can call it putty but it's white stuff that gets smoothed over and sometimes sanded over.) So we put the fabric works on one wall with foam and sticky dots. The fabric was nailed into the foam and the foam was stuck to the wall.

I set up the masks on plinths but set it up in a way that looks interesting. I used a lower plinth in the middle and the two outside plinths were taller. I thought playing with the height of the work made it more aesthetically pleasing.

I watched Anna May set up the wall mounts for the TVs and that's something I could learn more about. It's very fiddly. You first have to draw a pencil line on the wall to set it up straight and there's screws you have to use to secure the mount on the wall and then you have to carefully place the tvs onto the mounts. Setting up the usb's in the tv was relatively easy as I've set up my own video works in exhibitions before. I also play around with our smart tv at home in that respect.

The projector was a bit more tricky as I couldn't plug my USB directly in. The It department wouldn't allow me to borrow a raspberry pi for the duration of the exhibition so I am bringing one in today. The work was slightly cut off at the bottom and didn't have sound. After talking with the 4D hub we found out the issue was easily solved by turning the device off and on again.

In the hallway we were able to nail into the wall, so Anna May drew straight pencil lines on the wall and then we lines up the letter painting works and hammered two nails into each painting.

Today is our last install day and we also have a small opening where I am doing a performance piece with a textile Sculpural jacket which I will later hang in the space.

Stay Tuned for more behind the scenes info on this exhibition.

Aria-Joshes.