Reading between the lines
CJ Mahony in the window room
I asked CJ to take part as the next artist for the window room exhibition. Since I saw her sculptures for the first time some seven years ago, CJ has been producing many powerful pieces and installations. Although, as she moves on from one project to another, some dramatic changes take place in her work, the common emotional elements runs through all her creative output like an unbreakable thread. CJ’s visuals, on a smaller scale, in the window room are no exception, and this time she uses words to express what has been simmering in her mind.
Once you notice where the lines are, you cannot stop yourself reading them and by the time you reach the end, you might find yourself still staring at them, perhaps staring at between the lines.
Each week when I enter the window room I feel this project is growing. CJ’s intervention reveal a whole different side to her practice. There is a subtlety to the placement and treatment of each piece of text that utilise the space so appropriately. The collaboration between artists, as selector and selected, shows a sensitivity in the relationship that can draw out thoughtful, emotional and at times almost vulnerable aspects of peoples practice. I’m also enjoying the dialogues that are initiated by this process; by bringing a piece of work into this communal space it serves as a catalyst for discussions. Katherine, CJ and myself spoke for sometime on Friday about CJ’s piece and I felt this was a really honest and useful exchange. I would really encourage all studio artists to come to lunch in the window room (particularly on Thursday and Fridays) and take part.
great photos as always Abbas.
Comment by sarah — April 7, 2008 @ 8:05 pm
CJ thank you , sorry it took me a bit to find it , is weird , how with out realising we have this picture or idea of people or what they do , after you left the room i was looking and thinking where is the work ? and then it became so obvies , is great work and contribuition , i love your intervention , in the window room /canteen , i think is brilliant how every body are contribuiting to this space and i love the plyafulness of it mostly but also how is very serious at the same time , thank you , im sad that i will be not around in the next few weeks , but i will keep an eye via the blog , x x franko
Comment by franko — April 9, 2008 @ 3:36 am
A great combination of language and resonance in the space. Sorry CJ ive been away all week, what is the text from by the way? Is it a found piece of text?
Simon x
Comment by simonwoolham — April 9, 2008 @ 9:44 am
It was surprising to see another departure in CJ’s work for her collaborative project with Abbas in the Window Room - not what I was expecting (but in a good way!). Once again it shows how necessary this project space is becoming for the WAC studio artists to test new ideas and try out new things within the critically supportive community atmosphere. I look forward to seeing who’s up next with anticipation……….
Comment by davidk — April 10, 2008 @ 8:44 am
When Abbas asked me to be the next artist to work within the window room I knew intuitively that I wanted it to be a
collaborative experience, with no set idea but with some set parameters.
It quickly became clear that deciding to use text was an exciting opportunity as it is another aspect of what I do
but not work that had ever left the confines of my laptop. Therefore it was an experience that did bring with it a feeling of vulnerability but through the feedback and conversation the work has fuelled I have found it overwhelmingly valuable.
We were slightly clandestine in our installation of the work, which was also interesting- as artists and staff at Wysing started to stumble across the text there was a slight element of confusion as to who the work had come from.
CJ
Comment by CJ — April 14, 2008 @ 9:13 am