Moments of Greatness

PART OF OUR EXHIBITION AT GLASGOW INTERNATIONAL 2012

Saturday was the first night of our performance/ science lecture / meal extravaganza collaboration with theatre maker Gary McNair. It was a rather fun relaxed event, with the happy audience tucking into a rather delicious 3 course meal while various concepts of time were explored.

I don't want to give away too much of what the evening entails, as there are still two further events to come and I don't want to spoil it for future diners, but I've put a copy of the event place mats below so you can get an idea of the menu.

All the dishes are time/ cosmology themed with such treats as 'Cosmology Carbonara' and 'E=MC peared'. The evening is structured into three short humorous lecture blocks with small one on one interactions happening at the tables in between. (Don't worry these are very harmless so those terrified by audience interaction need not fear. Though one Audience member does get to change the entire path of the Universe.)

Tickets are on a first come, first served basis so if this sounds like your cup of tea then ask for more info at the Arches Box Office 0141 565 1000. Next event is 5:30pm Thursday 26 April with the last event taking place either on 9/10 May tbc. (You can see more about the accompanying exhibition here.)

Gary McNair in full Brian Cox mode.

 A copy of the event place mat with the menu and short description of the event.

The mysterious red and white box that lies on every table and affects how things proceed.

The Last Question

The Last Question, digital projection, 2012

In the foyer our digital projection piece was made in collaboration with Internet whizz kid and all round web-genius Lizzie Malcolm who took our idea and made it real.

This projection focuses on a micro view of Time, trying to capture the fleeting experience of thought, the momentary pulse of choices/ action being decided. The work constantly lifts questions from websites around the world in 'real time' and posts them as abstract ideas on a ever alternating yellow and black backdrop. It is very hypnotic and often humorous piece which resonates with an audience. Some of the questions being asked feel like the opening line to a joke and yet some are filled with obvious pain and sadness. It is also interesting to see how we as a species turn to the Internet for guidance in all areas of life. Some of the Questions treat the Internet as an all knowing, almost omni-present being which can solve everything; from engineering problem and history homework to health matters and emotional trauma.

The viewer finds himself trying to imagine not only who the person asking the question might be, but also pondering the story that lies behind their question. They find themselves wanting to know the answers to the questions or attempt to answer the questions themselves which creates a tension in the viewer and makes the experience start to feel pretty intense.

The title of the work is taken from a short story by Isaac Asimov in 1956.

The below animation is a small sample record of actual questions being asked to demonstrate how the screen works. The actual piece looks quite different and we will link to an on line version of that piece, once a digital home is ready for it.

Your Move

American physicist Hugh Everett III (The father of the frontman of the band Eels.) proposed in 1952 his "Many Worlds" theory, stating that many universes exist parallel to our own. The physicist theorised that each time a situation exists with more than one possible outcome, a new Universe is created to accommodate that situation. In that way, all potential outcomes are accounted for, and happening elsewhere.

Therefore, each time we make a choice, the Universe splits into parallel Universes. We make all of the possible choices we could have made but each in a different world. We however are aware of our choice only in our own world.
The 'Present'/ the 'Moment', as we experience it, is the freeze frame of these Choices as they are made, at the meeting point of Past and the splitting of possible Futures.

Everything that has occurred up until and while forming our choice is the Past and all action resulting from that choice is the Future. The act of choosing is the only Present that exists, a moment of time so small that it cannot be measured. It is less than the firing of a synapse, less than the formation of thought, it is the fractional inertial moment between something having the potential to occur and for it to happen and each time alternative Universes divide like cells in a culture.

 In this way all choices that we make, alter the Universe. 

 When presented with two options, if we choose option A instead of option B we send the Universe down a particular path. The consequences of this are unknown. who knows what life might have been like should Option B have been picked instead of Option A."

We have explored this theory in our installation 'Your Move' which is housed in a secret room in the bowels of the Arches and which can only be accessed by prior appointment through the box office.

Its a room in which choices are made and futures are formed.

Time diagrams and installation snippets

 Time diagram

 Universe diagram

Waiting for no man, LED and timber installation
Like the Universe is currently busy, processing your action. An ever moving, ever turning count of the moments of our lives until the end of time.

Timeline - Tape installation
This is the entire history of the Universe from the big band to a theorised end in 1000billion years at a scale of 1m = 10million years. It starts in the southside of Glasgow, the present falls onto a table in the Arches and then it continues all the way to the Northen outskirts of Bergen in Norway.

Theory of Time to Speed transit

Another little image from our new Glasgow International exhibition on at the Arches 2 April - 31 May.

Uppercase Magazine

Got my first issue of the wonderful Uppercase magazine today in which an illustration of my little bean man makes an appearance, where he is enjoying some typical Scottish weather. (see extract above.)

I've been meaning to subscribe to the magazine for ages, having been an avid reader online and I'm glad I finally made the purchase as the real object is very nice. Strangely my first issue to arrive was No 13 and it arrived on Friday the 13th, seems a bit serendipitous. I shall take it as a good sign and fingers crossed Friday the 13ths unlucky effects are cancelled out.

After having super glued my fingers to a hook earlier on while making something for the Arches exhibition and knocking over a neatly sorted pile of paperwork I'll take all the bonus luck I can get.

Want your very own little Bean man dancing in the rain then why not visit my Etsy page here.

Timber

Bank Holiday Blues

I've been feeling like this little pig all morning. Gazing out the work window at the lovely park, the blossom filled trees and the sprinkling of sunshine. Though in my case its a plastic bag and not a bright red bird that is fluttering around the tree top.

Arches 96% complete

Well i think a week after starting the install the Arches exhibition is almost complete. Couple of little bits to add/ change and the secret room to finish and then its all done. Woo hoo. Big thanks to Joshua for his install expertise. Without his help I'd still be laying down the timeliness through the building. If you are looking for some semi-scientific art to view this bank holiday then why not pop along and let us know what you think.
Ps - applying vinyl is a nightmare

Arches in Progress

Good first day of installation in the Arches. Roll on tomorrow.

GI 2012: In progress

Here's a little sneak peak of some of the ideas we're playing around with for the GI2012 show we've designed for the Arches.

The above is a diagram which tries to expain the concept that should the sun explode it would take around 8.5 minutes before we noticed any change (due to the speed of light) but the actual physical effects of the explosion reaching us would take around 18 months.

This complicated little diagram is looking at the slingshot affect on time by gravity.

They make my head hurt a little and I drew them!! But they got pretty colours.

On the desk today

On the desk today I shall be completeing a set of Ship's Crew Russian dolls and using the Usborne Book of World History to create a piece for our exhibition at The Glasgow International.

I love Usborne books, I have a large pile of them that I've been collecting since I was a kid. This World History one is pretty ace but it pales against the wonder that is the Usborne Detectives Handbook, quite simply the bestest book of all time. Has come in extremely handy in some very tricky circumstances, I owe a lot to that book.

Designing an Usborne books would be a dream project for me. That and Kinder Surprise toy designer would be the ultimate combo.

The (w)hole history of the universe

Liking the little mention we got on the Arches poster for the Behaviour Festival and the sneeky way they've done it. "The (w)hole history of the universe". Clever pun making clogs that they are, Richard Whitely would be proud.

The Behaviour Festival that the poster is promoting is on now and runs until 29 April at various venues throughout the City. There are loads of great things on, including work by the wonderful Fish and Game and by the talented Kieran Hurley. Check out The Arches site and get yourselves some tickets.

Our show begins install on 2nd April and runs until the end of May. We are putting on a few performances as part of the exhibition with Mr G. McNair (Who acted as the minister during our Himptology exhibiton in 2010.) I'll post more info about those in the next few weeks and will post a sneak preview of some images from the new show tomorrow. 

Where the meat comes from

I'm going to punch you

Just can't get the Jaguar Shark out my head. Think I'll have to go watch the film again.

Ned Plimpton from "A Life Aqautic" by Wes Anderson. (I've not shown his moustache as it looked less like him and a bit silly.)

Do you think he'll remember me?

Really need to get on with some work but started thinking about Jaguar sharks.

Steve Zizzou from "A Life Aqautic" by Wes Anderson.

Mother's Day Card

New card in the shops as of today, just in time to say thanks to all our mums for all the brilliant things they do for us and all the great food they served when we were little. Fishfingers, sausages, beans and waffles, washed down with some orange squash and followed by jelly and icecream. Yum.

Etsy / Folksy / Noths

Paper Clip Breakfast Cereal

A new paper clip style breakfast cereal for the design conscious stationary addict, invented by the good folks at Present & Correct. They mentioned the idea in a tweet last week and I took them up on the business proposal with £23 for 40% of the company. I think even the sharp tongued Dragon Theodopolio Paphitis* would agree it was a good deal.

I just remember thought that as part of the agreement I'd promised them a flavours mood board today start the ball rolling. I've quickly put together three of my favourite flavours into a multicoloured combo. Though we still need a name for this delicious and hearty meal, any suggestions?

EDIT: Need to update the below with some new more fitting flavours, Chewed pencil, blutac syrup and envelope gum. Yummy.

*Paphitis is an allergic reaction to pamphlets.

Moonface

A long time ago I set out to create some illustrations for the Enid Blyton book the Enchanted Forest. I wanted to make them starkly different to the way the books have previously been illustrated and was drawn to geometric shapes as a simple, childlike way to create the images. A year and a half later I've managed to draw the first image.

Here's a link to the book plate I designed.

And here's a link to more information about the Enchanted Wood and about Moonface.

Rate of Expansion

We are currently putting together a show for The Glasgow International at the Arches on the small subject matter of Time. It is a rabbit hole of a puzzling subject that once you start down you end up with a sore head and saying wow quite a lot.

For example the above diagram shows the time that has passed so far in the universe as a blue circle with the theorised potential universe's future time shown in red. The period that life in any form has existed on our planet is so small as to be invisible at this scale.

The Slient P

I couldn't sleep last night and as I lay there I started thinking about Pterodactyls. Specifically I was thinking about their silent P and what was the point of it. This got me thinking about other pointless P's which are being wasted all other the place like my number one hate Psalm, which really is a mess of a word.

The man who would probably know the purpose of all these abandoned letters is Stephen Fry but problematically he is probably biased as he is the proud owner of one himself.

Anyone know why we have these guys?

IF: Capable

Bonjour Madam

I like this little character. He seems a very respectable sort of a fellow.

The Owl and the Pussycat Salon

My Cousin and his wife are currently opening a hair salon in Brooklyn called The Owl and the Pussycat Salon. Its a pretty cool name and they are going for a really laid back trendy West Coast (US not UK) feel. I've been helping out with some ideas for the graphics etc and above is the first sketch for their logo. I'll post some more images and update the weblink once they are fully up and running.

EDIT: Monday 19/03/12 was their "soft" opening, so if you are in the Brooklyn area and in need of a timely trim then you know where to go.

Here's some info from estimed Brooklyn website the Brownstoner.

Know the Difference - Georges

On the train back from Birmingham the other week I started doodling up my ideas for new "Know the Difference" prints like my Moomins Mormons image. The first one I thought of that I sometimes get muddled up is George Formby (1930 banjo playing musical hall star) and George Foreman (Boxer and face of the lean mean grilling machine).

In the two hour train journey I managed to draw up sketches of about 15 pairs. They shall be appearing soon.

In Vogue

The Ship's Crew Russian Dolls feature in a little piece in Vogue magazine this month called Maison Chic. Our copy arrived in the post this morning and we've just had fun flicking through the hundreds of photos of intense looking pretty people. As you can see from the photo below the Ship's Crew have tried their best to put on a cool trendy expression and I think they've almost pulled it off. There is talk of them maybe modelling for Gucci's summer selection, hope it doesn't go to their heads. 

Scottish Trade Fair @ The SECC

 

Here are some photos of my stall at the Scottish Trade Fair at the SECC. Considering we only signed up 24hours before the opening I think we pulled it together really well. Big thanks to Ann and my folks for their ever willing time and skills to get it all set up and also thanks to Joshua who agreed to man the stall when I was stuck in the office.

We met quite a lot of interesting folks and it was good to see a trade fair in action. Will be heading down to the big Spring Fair at the NEC in Birmingham this coming weekend. If anyone has any suggestions for things to see then let me know.