The Work of Work 2007
To view The Work of Work
edited video footage go to:
www.youtube.com/ainephillips
Sat 21st July, 12.30 – 2 pm
Artspace 21, GTI,
Fr. Griffin Rd.
Galway Arts Festival 2007
Description:
For the duration of the opening ceremony of Artspace 21, located in a class room space, I delivered a live performance exploring the meaning of work…
A pre-recorded script describes the various jobs and employments I had in my life, from waitressing to 'girl friday' on a building site, to mother, to lecturer in an Art College. But the descriptions show the emotional and existential meaning behind the reality of earning a living, exposing exploitations along with joyful experiences and the often passionate reasons for doing these jobs. I use the performance and the telling of these stories to find a sublime purpose or motivation for work (other than sublime economics).
I am dressed in an elegant outfit and present a strong 'teacher-like' presence while I write (alternatively) with white chalk on a blackboard and black marker on a whiteboard. The text I copy is "The Art of Love(war)" is a re-writing of Sun Tzu's 6th Century BC treatise "The Art of War". I use this text as an example, an answer to the question "why do we work?"
My answer is… for Love.
I discuss these ideas with audience members in a relaxed way during the performance, but continuing on with my tasks, writing on the boards and wiping off to begin again, repeatedly.
This piece incorporates a video piece of a car driving along a stretch of newly constructed motorway near where I live in County Clare. The signs I drive by are blanked out, the place names and directions painted over . The effect is of a 'road to nowhere' or the idea of never really knowing where you are going in life, but going there anyway...
The Work of work is the Art of love…
the work of work is the work of art is the art of work is the work of love is the love of art…is the art of love
Duration of piece
Hours, variable
edited video footage go to:
www.youtube.com/ainephillips
Sat 21st July, 12.30 – 2 pm
Artspace 21, GTI,
Fr. Griffin Rd.
Galway Arts Festival 2007
Description:
For the duration of the opening ceremony of Artspace 21, located in a class room space, I delivered a live performance exploring the meaning of work…
A pre-recorded script describes the various jobs and employments I had in my life, from waitressing to 'girl friday' on a building site, to mother, to lecturer in an Art College. But the descriptions show the emotional and existential meaning behind the reality of earning a living, exposing exploitations along with joyful experiences and the often passionate reasons for doing these jobs. I use the performance and the telling of these stories to find a sublime purpose or motivation for work (other than sublime economics).
I am dressed in an elegant outfit and present a strong 'teacher-like' presence while I write (alternatively) with white chalk on a blackboard and black marker on a whiteboard. The text I copy is "The Art of Love(war)" is a re-writing of Sun Tzu's 6th Century BC treatise "The Art of War". I use this text as an example, an answer to the question "why do we work?"
My answer is… for Love.
I discuss these ideas with audience members in a relaxed way during the performance, but continuing on with my tasks, writing on the boards and wiping off to begin again, repeatedly.
This piece incorporates a video piece of a car driving along a stretch of newly constructed motorway near where I live in County Clare. The signs I drive by are blanked out, the place names and directions painted over . The effect is of a 'road to nowhere' or the idea of never really knowing where you are going in life, but going there anyway...
The Work of work is the Art of love…
the work of work is the work of art is the art of work is the work of love is the love of art…is the art of love
Duration of piece
Hours, variable
