The Self-Isolation Residency 5th June 2020: Day 68

Exploring Installation No. 9.1: 'Composition in White (Sculpture),
501 Artist Residency, China 2011, Antony Clarkson

Having already spoken about one of my major installation pieces from my artist residency in China, tonight I would like to start a dialogue about another. 'Composition in White (Painting) had a companion piece based, at the same time, in another art gallery in China. You may not be entirely surprised to learn that this piece was called Composition in White (Sculpture). As I did previously I intend to talk about this piece in sections over several nights, tonight I will be approaching the piece as the idea for it was introduced to me and the beginnings of how it evolved in my mind.

As I've mentioned, during my time in China as well as making new work I was also presenting a lecture program at various institutions. I lectured to students at the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute (SFAI) on a couple of occasions and was invited back as a guest for their Sculpture Degree Show. The  scale of SFAI is really impressive, at their new campus they have various 'schools', painting, sculpture, video etc, all based within their own purpose built structures. The directors and students at the Sculpture School were particularly interested in my installation work and I was treated to a very in depth tour of their very impressive facility. This relationship was firmly cemented when the directors of the Sculpture School approached me with an unexpected commission to create for them a brand new situation specific installation for their main sculpture gallery. As I've mentioned at the time of this invitation this imposing three storey,  open space was home to the Sculpture Degree Show, which mainly consisted of beautifully crafted, but small, sculptures on white cubic plinths, delightful, but hardly anthing that reflected or conversed with the spoace in which they were exhibited.


Although the commission was unexpected I happily accepted it and determined to create something unique for the gallery, Something which followed my theories of the situation specific in such a way as to  which reflect both the gallery's  usage and scale. These were therefore my starting points and my inspirations.