Brian Connolly - Laura Keogh - Tracy O'Brien
performance text photos
6.00: It begins with the table
That holds a silver tray and ball
And photos under square stones placed up on high.
6.05: Using clamps to raise the table legs
Chair under the table and burned atlas.
6.07: “Right Here Right Now” stapled to the legs
Noise of the rolling ball - metal on metal
And the clamp.
6.12: Aware of my own body in this small space
Feel intrusive when writing.
6.17: The impossible task
Leading towards one unavoidable endpoint.
Overwhelming atmosphere in the main space
People afraid to go close.
6.20: You are in a suit
Glasses around your neck
You do not engage with the audience
Private task that we are intruding on
Your ultimate attention is on this task.
6.24: Scissors and signs saying “Right Here Right Now” and “Back There Back Then”
On the floor
High table just below your shoulders
This rising table
The main area of focus.
That holds a silver tray and ball
And photos under square stones placed up on high.
6.05: Using clamps to raise the table legs
Chair under the table and burned atlas.
6.07: “Right Here Right Now” stapled to the legs
Noise of the rolling ball - metal on metal
And the clamp.
6.12: Aware of my own body in this small space
Feel intrusive when writing.
6.17: The impossible task
Leading towards one unavoidable endpoint.
Overwhelming atmosphere in the main space
People afraid to go close.
6.20: You are in a suit
Glasses around your neck
You do not engage with the audience
Private task that we are intruding on
Your ultimate attention is on this task.
6.24: Scissors and signs saying “Right Here Right Now” and “Back There Back Then”
On the floor
High table just below your shoulders
This rising table
The main area of focus.
.....
6.25: Timber lengths piled behind the door
Clamped to each table leg
To make it higher.
6.28: Three people enter the room
Free to wander and investigate
Several hover by the door
Unsteady.
Dark empty cell to the right
Space is alive
Sounds of the different performances mingle in the air.
6.30: Table is getting higher
Above your shoulder
Slowly extending the legs
Calculated moves coupled with the element of risk.
6.33: Table completely at an angle
Busy at work
Unaware of the crowd that gathers.
6.35: Back There Back Then -v- Right Here Right Now
Dangerously tilting to the right
Anti-clockwise ritual
Round and round.
6.40: Impossible task of balance between back there back then and right here right now
Photos of modern war
Kept safe under miniature stone monuments
On the table out of reach
Out of harm’s way.
6.45: Alternating between stapling back there back then and right here right now
To the timber legs
Table at head height
Process increasingly difficult.
6.46: Under the table
Clamped to each table leg
To make it higher.
6.28: Three people enter the room
Free to wander and investigate
Several hover by the door
Unsteady.
Dark empty cell to the right
Space is alive
Sounds of the different performances mingle in the air.
6.30: Table is getting higher
Above your shoulder
Slowly extending the legs
Calculated moves coupled with the element of risk.
6.33: Table completely at an angle
Busy at work
Unaware of the crowd that gathers.
6.35: Back There Back Then -v- Right Here Right Now
Dangerously tilting to the right
Anti-clockwise ritual
Round and round.
6.40: Impossible task of balance between back there back then and right here right now
Photos of modern war
Kept safe under miniature stone monuments
On the table out of reach
Out of harm’s way.
6.45: Alternating between stapling back there back then and right here right now
To the timber legs
Table at head height
Process increasingly difficult.
6.46: Under the table
...
6.49: Seeing at intervals and noticing what has changed like a spot the difference
Length, breath, height, shape of the walls and cells, smell, sound, temperature, scale, light
To be experienced in the here and now
Right Here Right Now
Performances are punctuated with the dark unused cells
Acting as a full stop between the live action.
6.57: People afraid to go in because you are busy at work
The space belongs to you.
Aware of the sound of skipping and water splashing
Performances compete for the audience’s attention.
Main Space is full
Duration viewing each performance depends on the space that they are in
Under pressure to move on where there are peepholes.
7.10: Balancing act
Table above the head
You look unsure of the task
Rolling silver ball amplifies the tension.
7.12: Eyes closed as if wishing it to stay up
Confidence gone or fading
Dangerous position.
7.15: Suit with black t-shirt
Glasses on a chain around your neck
Hoping it will stay up.
7.16: Like a child under the table.
7.18: How each experience is framed depends on time
Ever Changing
Each second is a possible different experience.
The viewer want to see what they can’t see
Queues form at cells with peepholes.
7.20: Standing on the chair in order to raise the table
Comedic value
Waiting for the punch line.
7.25: Reaching
Stretching
Slow and steady.
7.28: Impossible task becomes even more impossible.
Length, breath, height, shape of the walls and cells, smell, sound, temperature, scale, light
To be experienced in the here and now
Right Here Right Now
Performances are punctuated with the dark unused cells
Acting as a full stop between the live action.
6.57: People afraid to go in because you are busy at work
The space belongs to you.
Aware of the sound of skipping and water splashing
Performances compete for the audience’s attention.
Main Space is full
Duration viewing each performance depends on the space that they are in
Under pressure to move on where there are peepholes.
7.10: Balancing act
Table above the head
You look unsure of the task
Rolling silver ball amplifies the tension.
7.12: Eyes closed as if wishing it to stay up
Confidence gone or fading
Dangerous position.
7.15: Suit with black t-shirt
Glasses on a chain around your neck
Hoping it will stay up.
7.16: Like a child under the table.
7.18: How each experience is framed depends on time
Ever Changing
Each second is a possible different experience.
The viewer want to see what they can’t see
Queues form at cells with peepholes.
7.20: Standing on the chair in order to raise the table
Comedic value
Waiting for the punch line.
7.25: Reaching
Stretching
Slow and steady.
7.28: Impossible task becomes even more impossible.
...
7.35: We are right here right now
What is up on the table is back there back then
Gap between you and the table widens
Gap between you and them.
Performances merge and spill into one another
Gestures become one
Action verbs inhabit the space
Bring it to life.
7.50: Balancing table on your head to fix the legs
Fix legs then put up a photo
Rhythm and routine
Multi-layered experience.
8.00: While the leg is attached to the table it is right here right now,
when it has no function it becomes back there back then
Redundant timber legs stand at the back of the cell and watch on.
8.06: Red face – Sweating
Introspective
Methodically working away
Working through memories
Actions in time.
8.15: Weight of the table on your head
Adding to the sense of seriousness.
Better to go away and come back
In order to really see
8.20: How are you going to do it?
Arriving now, the viewer wouldn’t know there was anything on the table
They wouldn’t know how you got to this
Meaning is tied up with the journey to this point
But has the potential to continue in various different ways.
What is up on the table is back there back then
Gap between you and the table widens
Gap between you and them.
Performances merge and spill into one another
Gestures become one
Action verbs inhabit the space
Bring it to life.
7.50: Balancing table on your head to fix the legs
Fix legs then put up a photo
Rhythm and routine
Multi-layered experience.
8.00: While the leg is attached to the table it is right here right now,
when it has no function it becomes back there back then
Redundant timber legs stand at the back of the cell and watch on.
8.06: Red face – Sweating
Introspective
Methodically working away
Working through memories
Actions in time.
8.15: Weight of the table on your head
Adding to the sense of seriousness.
Better to go away and come back
In order to really see
8.20: How are you going to do it?
Arriving now, the viewer wouldn’t know there was anything on the table
They wouldn’t know how you got to this
Meaning is tied up with the journey to this point
But has the potential to continue in various different ways.
...
8.30: Physical struggle with the task
Moves to a more physical piece
Have to stop putting the photos up – all about the structure.
Challenge of the physical and the historical rests on your shoulders.
8.33: Time slows down as things become more difficult
Progress is slower but more measured.
Crowds are controlled by the invigilators
And move respectfully around the performances.
8.40: Scrunched up paper on the floor
Tension and anticipation grows as the last hour approaches.
8.45: Framed within the cell
Door is always wide open
Inviting the viewer in.
Sound ignites the main space
And demands the physical presence of the viewer at certain times.
9.00: Structure collapsed
Ball still on top
Photos everywhere.
9.03: Wood snapped
Everyone ran down
You become the table leg
More dependable than the timber.
Moves to a more physical piece
Have to stop putting the photos up – all about the structure.
Challenge of the physical and the historical rests on your shoulders.
8.33: Time slows down as things become more difficult
Progress is slower but more measured.
Crowds are controlled by the invigilators
And move respectfully around the performances.
8.40: Scrunched up paper on the floor
Tension and anticipation grows as the last hour approaches.
8.45: Framed within the cell
Door is always wide open
Inviting the viewer in.
Sound ignites the main space
And demands the physical presence of the viewer at certain times.
9.00: Structure collapsed
Ball still on top
Photos everywhere.
9.03: Wood snapped
Everyone ran down
You become the table leg
More dependable than the timber.
...
9.06: Pick up stones
Hand out stones and images to the audience
Take away my power to write by handing me one of the stones.
9.10: Adapting to new circumstances
You remove the clamps
And prop up table with remaining planks of wood
Nobody helps you
You carry on
Vulnerable yet strong.
9.12: The space changes
All heights
All distances.
9.16: Sitting under the table with glasses on and eyes closed
Map in your hands burned through
Engagement with a scorched atlas.
9.18: Two people sit down with you in the space
Meditation on the world
Space of destruction.
9.20: Juggler
Supporter
You performed your role.
9.25: Sit in.
Hand out stones and images to the audience
Take away my power to write by handing me one of the stones.
9.10: Adapting to new circumstances
You remove the clamps
And prop up table with remaining planks of wood
Nobody helps you
You carry on
Vulnerable yet strong.
9.12: The space changes
All heights
All distances.
9.16: Sitting under the table with glasses on and eyes closed
Map in your hands burned through
Engagement with a scorched atlas.
9.18: Two people sit down with you in the space
Meditation on the world
Space of destruction.
9.20: Juggler
Supporter
You performed your role.
9.25: Sit in.
...
9.30: Creating something which will not last
Gave up
Contemplation.
9.33: Table suspended
In the air
Evidence of the relationship between action and matter.
9.34: Does it all become a political statement?
9.36: Calm in the aftermath.
9.45: Missed the end
Chair is attached to a length of timber with a clamp
Atlas attached to the chair
That has been raised to the ceiling
Restricted.
9.47: Imprint of the action has been left on the space
Trace of human gesture
Lingers on.
9.50: You completed your struggle
And left the cell before the end.
Laura Keogh, November 2010
Gave up
Contemplation.
9.33: Table suspended
In the air
Evidence of the relationship between action and matter.
9.34: Does it all become a political statement?
9.36: Calm in the aftermath.
9.45: Missed the end
Chair is attached to a length of timber with a clamp
Atlas attached to the chair
That has been raised to the ceiling
Restricted.
9.47: Imprint of the action has been left on the space
Trace of human gesture
Lingers on.
9.50: You completed your struggle
And left the cell before the end.
Laura Keogh, November 2010