Zwelethu Mthethwa - studio visit

I showed him video documentation of the fish music piece. He responded well, saying he's not used to looking at work like this (which I took to mean, not flat work on the wall). An iteration of the fish piece was installed in the Pollak lobby display case. It was in the combination of these two pieces that the following critique is in reference to.

The element he mostly thoroughly critiqued was the visual presentation. He felt that that which was shown, and that which was not shown could be balanced more deftly. In the search for balancing what was shown and not show, he even went so far to suggest the hide the installation with a black curtain with sight holes, to highly certain areas, to force/contain what was seen.

Utilizing color to indicate other conniptions (such as red light indicating voyeurism). Practical implementations of this
- hand painted 16mm film running on a loop - heat issue? flammable? physical space can be taken up by threading film around space
- digital projector - colors can be synced or triggered, needs computer, also can burns out projector soon, hook projector up to time-delay motion-sensing power switch

Things can be a little more seductive, more eye-catching, a little more flamboyant. Utilizing mirrors at different angles could also direct the eye. Dress the piece up in visual language- theatrical is good, and can be achieved without being dramatic. Think- what contexts does the language of this piece engage? What arenas can claim to share language with the piece? People expect to see some "magic", give them a little. Allow the repetition of form/design/"message" to be seductive. Don't be afraid to use repetition to make people fall in love with the message.

Notes
- black curtain with sight holes
- change color of light, an example of color referencing things - red light = voyeurism
- a more eye-catching, more flamboyant, presentation
- mirrors behind?
- play with conceal/reveal
- has the indicators of someone doing Tai-Chi
- theatrical is ok, but no need to make it dramatic
- "pretty" fish vs. "ugly" fish, like the balance of "pretty" fish and Pierre, also (yin & yang)
- You expect to see some "magic"
- things need to be repeated in order for us to "fall in" (seduce- that's why we all like Michael Jackson)