Modern archeology, layering subjectivity

[A summary of sorts of our skype conversation. Please take a look here for a more direct response to Liz's questions/post skype thread which includes proposed agenda points for our next skype.]

With the accumulating a depth of cross-era and -genre material on the blog, I'm getting the feeling of a stacking up of images or a modern archeology. On a personal note, I'm feeling a little daunted the idea of representing the breath and strength of images, politics, and actions that have gone before!!! I do, however, feel more capable when thinking about presenting and layering these collectively.

I wonder how this collective layering go towards addressing some of the questions that were raised and left open in our recent skype regards Subjectivity and Accountability?

What risks are we taking?

Where are they located ?

...within the public nature of the personal reveal?

...within the public statement that is made?

Who do we want to speak to?

Who do we/want to represent in doing so?

In what ways can we acknowledge our subjectivity?

Is acknowledging this subjectivity enough?

How do we want to position our own subjectivity within the project to the wider GLBT context?

Could we utilise the title to address some of these issues?

Rachel's rather cheeky suggestion of splitting Gabrielle d'Estrées et une de ses soeurs over two of the light boxes forming a diptych got me thinking - that the eight lightboxes weave like a salon dressing screen...


I'm excited at the radical prospect raised in our recent skype of 'removing' the image in a couple of lightboxes (in place of text or smaller image) is another platform to consider material for and the possibilities it opens up. I'm interested in the proposition to 'jar' with the accepted space of the 2-year-old lightboxes, and layer the work on the surroundings - possibly stimulating a similar space to how Sharon Hayes' work operates/engages with people in the first person.

Differing from the space of advertising or public message, I'm interested in the how the light boxes might offer a space to unfix or undo images and in particular words...


So, does anyone have any text in mind? ...perhaps something found or something one of us has written?

Edgar Schmitz and Liam Gillick, Inverted Research Tool, 2006. image: Van Abbemuseum

What could these modes of attention be liberated for? Could they be made use of in some other ways? Could they become an instrument of liberation, as in the Inverted Research Tool (Edgar Schmitz and Liam Gillick)? [Irit Rogoff, 'Turning' e-flux]

And what happens if the image area is limited to a small area?

(Thanks Liz for the borrowed-borrowed images!)