GHISLAIN AMAR - WORKING AMONG BLUE

Through this post I want to introduce you to the very last artist that is working now at the Guestroom project space. Ghislain Amar (1984), is a French artist currently doing a residency at Foundation B.a.d.

"THIS PLACE WOULD BE PERFECT IF ONLY IT HAD AN OCEAN VIEW"

"There is a slight pressure to perform, to talk interesting talk. This is not my intention as a maker but how does one escape it? 

During our last Sunday' gathering at the Guestroom, Esmé Valk reflected on her ongoing project Zicht op Zalmhaven. At the same time, her aim was also to create a new situation in which a few different registers would pick up on the notions like audience, guest, participation, collaboration, each on its own way.

After the guests arrived they bagan introduce to each other and then took place at the table. The event began with the artist talking about her method of working, the ideas coming forth in her practice. She talked about how through the Zicht op Zalmhaven project her guests share their knowledge with her. How she transcribes their conversations and make books out of it. Finally, how she likes to observe the entire event, and distracts her guests by joining in in their conversations while actually preparing the dinner for them. 

In her talk she included two important quotes that derive from two different conversations. Together with Marc we were asked to read them. One piece was about art either being able to solve the problems or not, the distinction between art and daily life...is there any? The other was speaking about performativity of life and people constantly playing their roles. After that Valk came to the point where she spoke about the place of the now - the Guestroom, its particular location and the domestic environment. She talked about it as "the ideal Zicht op Zalmhaven location" while also almost being a white cube.

What did we, the audience, encounter last Sunday afternoon? What have we seen? Were we a part of something that was unspoken?  

Although the artist did not wanted to use a camera or even a voice recorder to capture the event, as if the people would start to act and react differently. Yet she sometimes took a leading role in the event and used her time to present the ideas that confussed the spectator and provoked him to doubt whether she is acting or not.

Esmé Valk preparing the meal on the evening before

Just before the opening, Esmé making the dough for easter bread rolls

First guests already at the table

Jay Tan (turned back) in loose conversation with our guests

ARTIST PRACTICE/HER TALK/THE PERFORMANCE

"There is a moment where a conversation over a meal takes place between two to four invited guests that don’t know each other but who share an interest in a topic which is also shared by myself."

Moment when me and Marc joined the performance through reading the pieces from Zicht op Zalmhaven books

MAKING OF

"I no longer practice these game-like challenges but this approach to using the things around me became an integral part of living my life. It’s a way of doing things that uses the self-thought and the how-to; aspects that are also inherent in recipe transmission." 

Making the easter bread rolls  

Ania very proud of her chicken(?) bread roll

...while the rest of the guests still strugling

IN THE MEAN TIME WHEN THE DOUGH WAS IN THE OVEN

Esmé Valk invited Jay Tan to talk about her working method. In her presentation the artist explained what does mean for her to be ON or OFF.

A RECIPE 

"A recipe is a set of instructions which often allows for free interpretation by the executor. Usually one doesn’t have to follow it exactly, it’s a suggestion and method for sharing ideas that can bridge cultures and generations." 

THE BREAD

...exactly which bread creature is who's?

THE MEAL

“(...)This place would be so much better if only it had an ocean view”. We thought of this as a very useful sentence that can be used in pretty much any situation. For example, to break an unwanted silence in conversation.*The sentence expresses a wish and allows for dreaming, you can imagine that by just running  over those dunes, you’ll be splashing around in the ocean waves.But saying it draws the conversation back to the situation one finds oneself in, together with the other person. I want to share this how-to for any occasion with you today."

A creamy vegetables soup, I guess Valk would call it a tasty reward

Everyone at the table

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*speaking about herself and her partner

All quotes in this post come from the text written by Esmé Valk on the occasion of "This place would be perfect if only it had an ocean view", and they were used under the permission of the artist.

INVITATION FOR THE FIFTH GUESTROOM OPENING

On Sunday the 24th of April at 4 PM, GUEST ROOM* temporary project space at Aelbrechtskade 128, Rotterdam, will open its doors to the public for the fifth time.

In the frame of the Guestroom project artist Esmé Valk (NL 1977) will give a presentation that oscillates between the notions of the artist talk, the performance and the concept of the ‘how to‘. In a shared moment around the dinner table Valk will reflect on the relation between domestic and artistic life. She will discuss the long-term project Zicht op Zalmhaven and simultaneously touch upon the 'lived-in' nature of the domestic environment, being comfortable and the relation between things. As part of the presentation Valk has invited the British artist Jay Tan (UK 1982), to share her views on ‘pottering about’ and on doing various things in an almost aimless manner. 

A simple meal will be prepared and served as part of the presentation This place would be perfect if only it had an ocean view. 

We are kindly requesting that you arrive at Guestroom between 4 and 4:30 PM. The presentation will start at 4.30 PM sharp. Due to the nature of this work we are obligated to keep to the schedule and can’t allow access to people arriving later. 

GREAT WEATHER HELPS TO DEVELOP THE BEST IDEAS

I really have not much to say. This is why, the title of this post may perfectly speaks for itself. 

btw. Esmé is working on the concept for a very promising event that will take place during the afternoon on the Eastern Sunday. She enjoys the atmosphere of the Guestroom and the lovely spring breeze.

WHAT AN ARTIST DOES IN HIS/HER (TEMPORARY) STUDIO?

Esmé Valk started this week her residency in the Guestroom. She asked me for a chair and a table. To find some extra chairs in our house is never a big problem, but unfortunately the only available table in the house is a drawing/playing table of our son. Esmé accepted this table and....began to read...

AFTER THE OPENING...

Paula Salas 2011

Confinement Room: a story about following intructions

 installation view

 installation view

detail

detail   

detail

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Last Sunday artist Paula Salas, showed at the Guestroom the results of her two weeks residency - the final work titled Confinement Room: a story about following instructions. The narrative build up of many sequences, as if in the movie, guided the viewer among different characters and the emotions they were representing. 

The series of (15x21) images was presented on the wall and hang on the eye level. The spatial installation of Salas photographs formed at the same time an interesting image and a surrounding for our public. By including on her photographs all the corners of the physical room and inviting people who did took part in her project as the performers, the outside visitor could not figure out who was still locked in the room, and who supposes to free them.