Cornelia Parker: One Day This Glass Will Break | Hayward Gallery

TL;DR

Artist discusses her experimentation with photographic plates and the influence of Fox Talbot, highlighting the accessibility of the Hayward touring program.

Transcript

for me it's always about truth to materials I'm not trying to depict anything or you know represent something I want it just to be itself well that's why I think I like the photographic plates because it's it was sort of very contemplative and very slow and somehow very perfect I've always loved fox talbot and have made various works over the years... Read More

Key Insights

• 💦 The artist is drawn to Fox Talbot's work and his contribution to the invention and mass production of photography.
• 💡 Experimentation is a significant aspect of the artist's creative process, evident in her exploration with smashing a light bulb onto a photographic plate.
• 💦 The artist aims to capture moments and evoke a sense of mortality and the precariousness of life through her work.
• 👶 Reactivating museum objects and creating new contexts for them is an important theme for the artist.
• 👻 The accessibility of the Hayward touring program allows the artist's prints to reach a wider audience and travel to various venues throughout Britain.
• 🧑‍🎨 The artist values the ability of her prints to permeate and travel, representing her presence even when she cannot physically be present.
• 💦 The artist's work reflects contemplation, slow processes, and a pursuit of perfection.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does the artist approach her work in relation to materials?

The artist prioritizes truth to materials and aims for them to speak for themselves, without trying to represent something else. This approach allows the materials to be appreciated and acknowledged for what they are.

Q: What is the artist's connection to Fox Talbot and his work?

The artist has always admired Fox Talbot and has created various works inspired by his inventions and still-life photography. She appreciates his contribution to the mass production of photography and the use of inks that don't fade.

Q: What led the artist to experiment with smashing a light bulb onto a photographic plate?

After successfully using a negative on the photographic plate, the artist decided to try smashing a light bulb onto it to explore different effects and capture the moment. The result was surprising and captivating.

Q: How did the artist transform the formal displays of glassware borrowed from the body library?

The artist wanted to give the formal displays of Fox Talbot's glasswork a more informal and mysterious touch. She borrowed articles of glass from the body library and arranged them in a way that was more relaxed and less structured, reactivating museum objects in a new context.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The artist emphasizes a focus on truth to materials in her work, allowing them to be themselves rather than depicting something else.

• She finds inspiration in Fox Talbot's invention of the photograph and his use of glass objects in still-life photography.

• The artist experiments with smashing a light bulb onto a photographic plate, resulting in a captivating and moment-capturing image.