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This summer I designed and produced the set costumes and props for Miss Havisham's Expectations, written and directed by Di Sherlock, performed by Linda Marlowe, lighting design by Paul Green. It's had great reviews at Edinburgh Fringe (see links below) and is now touring. This has been a wonderful project to work on and to be part of an amazing team.
There is a design style that runs through all my work, paintings and production. These next images are of the set and costumes I produced for Dance Continuum for the performance 'Of Myths and Moon dragons' premiered at Sadlers Wells Theatre.
I enjoy working on the detail of a piece. Everything is a work of art. The many props for fringe theatre are always facinating, particularly when it is the only prop as in Naomi Paul's 'Reshape While Damp'. The hand painted Kafka Biscuit tin which she uses has the wonderful irony of the fact that Kafka died of starvation.
I freelanced as a master Artworker for Living Paintings, making the sculptural reliefs to complement the audio discriptions which allow partially sighted and blind people to read and 'see' paintings. It brought a new perspective to my work, particularly concerning accuracy and detail.
Jacques Louis David's portrait of the revolutionary Marat assasinated in his bath. First sculpted in clay, a strong rubber mould is taken and then cast with bronze effect fine casting resin and burnished. It was exhibited along side the painting at the Royal Accademy. I produced panels for many of their albums as well as the queen's collection.
Sometimes budgets fit the brief. I designed and made the objects on the tables for 'Breaking the Mould' exhibitions at the National Portrait Gallery. Curated by Clare Gittings it was experienced by 18,000 visitors.
Everything needed to be robust to enable that many visitors to handle
and explore the objects which explained the materials and methods of
sculpture.
Community involvement has always been part of my working practice. One of my favorite projects was an installation Jouet Unite- Dance in a box-I made with James Engel for the Royal Festival Hall and Islington Festival. It explored all manner of materials specifically aimed at under fives. It was a flat pack installation which could be transported to different locations. The 120cm panels each explored different sound, materials textures and could be put together in any combination.
The theatre work was my starting point in the art world. Apprenticing at Boundary Road studios in the late eighties gave me skills which have been forever developed. Backdrops I produced on canvas and plaster fifteen years ago stil have a fresh finish today.
The images from Sygiria in Sri Lanka (all in private collections) and clouds of cherubs are far removed from my painting for 9/11 memorial museum or the 1100 Tokens (see earlier posts on this blog)
The images from Sygiria in Sri Lanka (all in private collections) and clouds of cherubs are far removed from my painting for 9/11 memorial museum or the 1100 Tokens (see earlier posts on this blog)
Yet fifteen years after these works I was commission last year to turn a new plastered wall into a surface that looks as if it hasn't been touched in fifty years.
My work is always about being able to convey the message or brief using whatever medium is required to enable the concept to become reality. Budgets may range from £100 to £30,000 but the desire to produce something original and amazing never leaves me. At every step I have had wonderful people to collaborate with and throw ideas around with.
We had some great reviews this summer for Miss Havisham's Expectations:
http://ed.thestage.co.uk/reviews/1505
http://www.whatsonstage.com/reviews/theatre/london/E8831344421121/Miss+Havisham%27s+Expectations.html
http://sgfringe.com/2012/08/13/miss-havishams-expectations/
http://edinburghfestival.list.co.uk/article/44027-miss-havishams-expectations/
http://www.festivalhighlights.com/the-times-give-4-stars-to-miss-havishams-expectations
http://www.lothianlife.co.uk/2012/08/miss-havershams-expectations/
many more ... and some lovely comments on the costume / set design and Paul green's lighting...
Michael Coveney: Clever design and costumes by Andie Scott, and lighting by Paul Green, help Marlowe's mighty line in fringe fantasia: great riches, indeed, in a little room.
fringe guru: 'The iconic Miss Haversham look, a skeletal old lady in a decaying wedding dress, is created beautifully. And the costume design was my favourite part of this show; the two ‘Estella’ dresses are quite breathtaking, glistening like sweetie wrappers...'
and 'The cleverly designed costumes really added to the changing characters that Linda had to play.'
here's just a few amazing people to acknowledge and thank:
James Engel- designer of Breaking the Mould & Jouet Unite - www.spacedout.co.uk
Di Sherlock - http://diningwithalice.co.uk/portfolio/cast-and-production-list/
Linda Marlowe - http://www.lindamarlowe.com/
Paul Green - http://www.paulgreenld.com/Home%20New.htm
Eric Richmond - (first photo for Miss Havisham images) http://www.ericrichmond.net/
Clare Gittings - National Portrait Gallery http://www.scalapublishers.com/4fold.php?ID=198
Camilla Oldland - Living Paintings www.livingpaintings.org/
Michael Ho - of myths and moon dragons, http://www.elmhurstdance.co.uk/Michael-Ho.html
Josh Pulman - (photos for Of Myths and Moon dragons)- http://www.joshphoto.com/
Seabright Productions, www.seabrights.com/
Naomi Paul, http://www.fringereview.co.uk/fringeReview/4131.html
Peta Lily, peta@petalily.com
Roma Napoli - http://www.dix10.net
Black Sifichi - http://www.blacksifichi.com
City Plaza Hong Kong - andie scott, james engel, roma napoli, photos by josh pulman
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