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"Chord" by Conrad Shawcross and the Kingsway Tram Tunnel

I got to do something unique a recently on Friday October 23rd; I went to see an exhibition of modern at by Conrad Shawcross in an unused tram tunnel in central London; I went with a friend Emily who is an artist and quite familiar with the of works Conrad Shawcross.  The tram tunnel was part of London's only tram line that was in use from 1906 to 1952.  I have walked past this tunnel entrance in the past and was kind of curious what it was - now I know.



This tunnel has been used for movie sets.  In some of the photos, you can see the London underground symbol that would have been put up there for a movie shoot.

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We were told not to touch the walls of the tunnel as there was a good fifties years of grime on them.  Otherwise, the tunnels were remarkably tidy.  The location has been used for storage.

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The art piece we saw is called "Chord"; it was is marvellous contraption that is making rope. We were not permitted to take photos of it but  you can see a photo of the rope making machine here:

We were only allowed half an hour in the space as people were only let in groups of 20 at a time and the tickets are booked over the internet (it was free to get tickets).  It would have been good to be able to spend an hour or two down there with some tea in thermos and just contemplate Chord as it went about making rope.  It was an excellent installation to see;  it touched on many things:  the underground part of a city one normally does not get to see;  the manufacture and creation of fantastic machines;  a history lesson; observing an action with a temporal quality and art.

24 Oct 2009

Time to think

After a really busy and productive summer, my working life is slowing done for the moment.  I have time to think and pick up the pieces on various things.


I have been thinking about Japan for many reasons recently.  I have on and off been working on a writing project with my friend in Osaka Shu Nakajima.  I need to bring some of the material up to date and publish it.  I may post the first piece here in this blog.  Here is a photo to tease you with what we have been talking about.

 

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http://www.shunakajima.com/

Continuing with the subject of  Japan, one of my favourite web-site sites from Uniqlo (a Japanese clothing company).


I am also doing some more editing on the short film I made back in May (has it been that long already?).  I need to shoot a few new scenes.  One scene in particular is not working the way I would like; it is unintentionally funny.  I also have been in my mind's eye thinking about animating tea cups.  Hmm, I do like it. I need to find images of tea cups and tea leaves.  Hmm.  there may be some 3D modelling involved as well.


Screen shot 2009-10-06 at 14.34.46


I have am also slowly updating my portfolio.  My resume as a text based document does not truly realise what I have been doing all these years.  The portfolio has images which are important considering how much of my work is visual.

Continue reading Time to think
6 Oct 2009
Parting Words (copyright 2009 - 2012,  all photos and words are copyright Manjit Bedi unless otherwise noted,.)