Ann Hamilton's 'We Will Sing' installation extended into the other two rooms in the roof space at Salts Mill. Here she has assembled large pieces of wool fabric, of various thicknesses and weaves, each embellished with a blurry picture of what was termed a 'fève'. She apparently unearthed these miniature figurines in the antiques shop in Salts Mill. They are ceramic trinkets that used to be baked into cakes for good luck. She has scanned and enlarged them massively, to form 'an audience of listeners' - and invites us, the visitors, to sing or write and read 'letters to the future'.
The neutral back of each of the large woollen pieces was paired with a cloak or coat made in locally produced fine wool cloth in beautiful colours, with metal light fittings that appeared to be original to the mill, and broadsheet newspapers with various photos and articles that were linked to the project. It was all rather odd, yet at the same time immensely evocative and touching.
The adjoining room was simply furnished with six record turntables, each playing in turn songs and music recorded by various local community groups and schools. Ann calls these 'a song for the future'.
The installation is designed, I think, to be an ongoing and evolving project, inviting the participation of its visitors. The artist says that, for her, cloth and choral music are intrinsically tactile and democratic, each formed from individual threads or voices. 'We Will Sing' is a weaving of separate voices creating a chorus.
(In this third room, I was mostly interested in the big doors that overlook the canal, through which, I think, goods would have been winched down to canal boats for transporting.)
It feels like a rather odd exhibit. I wonder what most of the public thinks of it.
ReplyDeleteI really like the exhibit you've shown us. And I really covet that purple and blue cape.
ReplyDelete