In 1675 a German scientist named Hennig Brand ‘became convinced that gold could somehow be distilled from human urine…he converted the urine first into a noxious paste and then into a translucent waxy substance. None of it yielded gold, of course, but a strange and interesting thing did happen. After a time the substance began to glow…’ 1. Brand had discovered phosphorous which ironically was worth more ounce for ounce than gold once its uses had been fully recognised. The AA2A scheme need not be concerned, however, as experiments with such materials would not be necessary, luckily Hennig Brand already did them. Moreover, I am interested in the chance elements discovered when following a process known or in this case unknown. The opportunity for me to expand on my knowledge and experimentation with bronze as a material would I am sure lead to some interesting and exciting outcomes. I am interested in the potential of the human as an inventor, solving everyday problems, dabbling with alchemy, offering ideas on things previously misunderstood, tinkering and most importantly an attempted reading of the material world.
1. Bryson, Bill. A Short History of Nearly Everything. London, 2003. (p131-132)
News:
GAZING GLAZING GLAZED
A Solo Exhibition of Works by Robert Pratt
The Cello Factory
33-34 Cornwall Road
Waterloo
London
SE1 8TJ
Private View 17th March 18-00 - 21-00
18th - 25th March 11-00 - 18-00
GAZING GLAZING GLAZED
The bus shelter is made of concrete. A thick layer of plaster and paint form an impasto surface like Artex on an iced Christmas cake. A hand painted motif on the rear wall reads, ‘HADJUK’, its presence causes unease, and solace is sought in the opposing view from the shelter. Several different spaces can be observed. Palms grow tall from the base of a channel cut into the rock by winter rains, these palms span the gap between the ground and the base of a bridge. The bridge not only allows the road in front of the bus shelter to bend but also traverses the gulley. It is as though a giant grey boomerang has been dropped onto the landscape.
Where the road bends a wall of green interspersed with grey pockets rises up to a peak covered in dusty dead grass. These rocky patches provide evidence that this mass is in fact hard although at first it appears soft. The sides are steep except one that falls away and runs the entire distance to the ocean. On second inspection the road that bisects this slope looks like it has been drawn with a grey chisel tip. The yellow curb that lines the most hazardous area of road seems to have been drawn with a pencil crayon and resides underneath a primary blue fence flanked by silver safety barriers that complete the image.
These galvanized barriers outline the road and become silhouetted against the sky at the next bend where the road becomes no longer visible. The anticipation of the imminent bus leads to an examination of every vehicle that rounds the bend to the left and right of the shelter and brings into question the confidence of the driver approaching the hairpin.
Other factors are brought into question; age, sex, speed, local knowledge, distance travelled, tiredness, car handling, bravery, stopping distance. Even the weather becomes a consideration. The longer the wait it becomes apparent that successful predictions can be made. So, when a faded red Opel rounds the bend to the left of the bus shelter and with a turn of the head a beige Fiat van appears on the road to the right a prediction is quickly made. These two cars are doing the same speed. Both male, local drivers seem to be aware of the up and coming bend. Moreover, these two vehicles are going to pass each other exactly where the bend is at it’s sharpest. The anticipation is too much.
As the two vehicles pass each other attention is shifted to the gap between them, an exciting slice of air seemingly no wider than a hand span. As the viewer, it is impossible not to question what takes place in this space. It must be exhilarating, full of rushing air and force. The physical pull between the two objects must be strong. The air particles are so excited due to the motion of the two vehicles, far-flung vibrations pressurize the gap pulling the two cars towards each other.
The moment is short lived and facilitated by the boredom of waiting for the bus.
Robert Pratt
9th March 2011
