Placement: On wall
-
A painting’s background in Virginia Woolf’s 1927 novel ‘To the Lighthouse’
Encyclopaedia of a painting’s background
She scrutinises her canvas on the easel and wonders how to connect the right window to the left hedge in her painting. How can she break the empty foreground?Isle of Skye summer holiday house
Scale: 1 centimetre = 1 metreWith a canvas 60 cm wide and a point of view 35 cm from the canvas, the field of view spans from the window to the hedge
due west wind from the east
red geraniums spilling from urn
escallonia hedge
lawn
pampas grass
elm tree
apple orchard
pear orchard
kitchen table with legs in the aira. the window
b. red-hot poker plants
c. jacmanna
d. purple passion flowers
e. anemones
f. artichoke bed
g. strawberry bed
h. herbs
i. raspberry bed
j. poppies
k. dahlias
l. mesembryanthemums
m. grapes in greenhouses
n. greenhouse entrance
o. love corner
p. coffee garden
q. tennis lawn
r. house entrance -
Background reasons
Encyclopaedia of Background Reasons
To paint room B blue, she finds the background
[floor plan details
– background stairs
– A B C D [in corresponding room, clockwise]
– chair [in room A]
– tube of blue watercolour to paint room B blue on table [in room D]
– paintbrush and bowl of water to paint room B blue on table [in room C]]stairs from room A to room D, then to room C.
1925
[centre]
- background stares
- library of books on background reasons in art
- bookshelves
- years 675 BCE – 0
- years 0 – 675 CE
- years 675 – 1350
- years 1350 – 2025
Background memory garden of scent and sense
a. Boronia megastigma (brown boronia)
b. Lavandula angustifolia (lavender)
c. Jasminum suavissimum (native jasmine)
d. Salvia rosmarinus (rosemary)
e. Haemanthus albiflos liliaceae (elephant memory)
f. Chamelaucium uncinatum (Geraldton wax)
g. Prostanthera (mintbush) -
A page from the Encyclopaedia of Stares that are Stairs
Encyclopaedia of Stares that are Stairs
They await their friend’s return before taking leave.
- chairs in which to anticipate friend’s return
- stares in real space
- stairs in picture space
- chairs in which to anticipate friend’s arrival
extended page
-
Encyclopaedia of real space: one background
ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF REAL SPACE
She is alone this figure of hollow space known as the outside.
Aether thin, shared as background: being’s realm — she is not alone.————
- lone figure made of space
- door
- chair for a figure of actual space
- chair for actual space that figures
- rug
- figure/ground
————
- figure/ground
-
Encyclopaedia of a Whole Point of View
Encyclopaedia of a whole point of view
To be seen together, pages shut dark and closed, they cannot all be seen, until one is alone.
-
For Clancy. Thank you
By Ben E. King
When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we’ll see
No, I won’t be afraid
Oh, I won’t be afraid
Just as long as you stand
Stand by meSo darlin’, darlin’, stand by me
Oh, stand by me
Oh, stand
Stand by me, stand by meIf the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
Or the mountain should crumble to the sea
I won’t cry, I won’t cry
No, I won’t shed a tear
Just as long as you stand
Stand by meAnd darlin’, darlin’, stand by me
Oh, stand by me
Oh, stand now
Stand by me, stand by meAnd darlin’, darlin’, stand by me
Oh, stand by me
Oh, stand now
Stand by me, stand by meWhenever you’re in trouble won’t you stand by me
Oh, stand by me
Won’t you stand by -
colour circle: four colour scheme for a room
photo: Robin Hearfield
[floor plan details]
– entrance for internal secret agent
stairs
– entrance for external secret agent
underpass
– counter intelligence room for external secret agent
– counter intelligence room for internal secret agent
– overlooked room
– lavender pot plant on windowsill
overseeing room
– two secret agents befuddled by the four colours try to uncover their source
– actual space
– internal couch
– external couch
– colour space
– lavender pot plant
– L=lightness
– a=green-red axis
– b=yellow-blue axis
– clay pot L=67 a=24.8 b=26.3
– complementary clay pot L=67 a=-24.8 b=-26.3
– lavender leaf L=95.6 a=-5.4 b=8.9
– complementary lavender leaf L=95.6 a=5.4 b=-8.9
– lavender flower L=65.5 a=30.9 b=-35.4
– complementary L=65.5 a=-30.9 b=35.5
– lavender flower L=70.7 a=15 b=-25.9
– complementary L=70.7 a=-15 b= 25.9
– shadow on clay pot L=41.2 a=20.9 b=20.2
– complementary shadow L=41.2 a=-20.9 b=-20.2
– clay pot L=76.1 a=30.4 b=25
– complementary clay pot L=76.1 a=-30.4 b=-25 -
Replica of an original space: yellow green
Encyclopaedia of an original space here, now
We need backup. We are in a situation. Go ahead Art Squad, what is your situation? We have a yellow green cyclic quadrilateral on the wall that replicates an original space, encased inside. Verify the replica’s legitimacy, Art Squad. We cannot verify. Repeat, we cannot verify. Reason, Art Squad? We cannot access the replica space. Your location, Art Squad? That’s just it, we are inside the original space the replica encases. Confirm: you are inside a space of which you are outside? Confirmed. Situation identified: circular. Backup is on its way.– replica space encased
– encyclopaedia
– 95°
– 65°
– 85°
– 115°
– here
– now
– an original space
– entry
– exit
– 95° + 65° + 85° + 115° = 360° -
Replica of an original space: blue light
Encyclopaedia of an original space here, now
We need backup. We are in a situation. Go ahead Art Squad, what is your situation? We have a blue light cyclic quadrilateral on the wall that replicates an original space, encased inside. Verify the replica’s legitimacy, Art Squad. We cannot verify. Repeat, we cannot verify. Reason, Art Squad? We cannot access the replica space. Your location, Art Squad? That’s just it, we are inside the original space the replica encases. Confirm: you are inside a space of which you are outside? Confirmed. Situation identified: circular. Backup is on its way.
floor plan details
– replica space encased
– encyclopaedia
– 110°
– 80°
– 70°
– 100°
– here
– now
– entry
– exit
– 80° + 70° + 100° + 110° = 360°
– an original space -
The distance of doubt
ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF DOUBT IN ART
‘What’s the point of that’, exclaims one of four friends gathered in front of a framed watercolour floor plan that depicts only half the room they are in. Comforted by the unity of communal indignation, the others eagerly launch into their favourite topic: their card-carrying doubt of contemporary art.ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF DOUBT IN ART
At last, the tea tray arrives. The friends sit back with a cup in hand to allow, with each sip, their troubles to ebb and their being to revive—when a silent realignment transpires. For with eyes wide as though previously blind, they now see the floor plan’s other half: so deep, before, was their doubt without cause.[floor plan details]
– watercolour floor plan of half the room
– chairs
– table
– Missing book
– rug
– entrance
– stairs
– stares
– Did you see the Missing book on the table?
– Yes. Inside, I’m told, there’s an encyclopaedia of doubt in art worth reading.
– I doubt it.
– I doubt it too.
– floor plan of the other half of the room
– tea tray
– exit
Missing
Four Sculptuationsby Gail Hastings
with a foreword by Richard ShiffFormat: E-book
Pages: 52; xi, 43
Dimensions: Viewing device
Publication date: 26 Apr 2014
Publisher: Pigment Publisher
Place: Sydney
Language: English
ISBN: 9780646915937 -
Missing
Missing
Four Sculptuationsby Gail Hastings
with a foreword by Richard ShiffFormat: E-book
Pages: 52; xi, 43
Dimensions: Viewing device
Publication date: 26 Apr 2014
Publisher: Pigment Publisher
Place: Sydney
Language: English
ISBN: 9780646915937 -
Space of a five page plot
ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF LOOKING FOR THE PLOT IN ART
On page one they search the room for figures in the work of art, its characters. Unable to find any they check under a couch that has a Missing book and behind the curtain for ‘hidden’ characters. Still, no one.ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF LOOKING FOR THE PLOT IN ART
On page two they discover the couch has moved. They wonder who could have moved it if there are no characters. Perplexed, they sit on the couch for a while, then decide the answer must be on page three.ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF LOOKING FOR THE PLOT IN ART
On page three both the couch and Missing book have disappeared. Here, they strongly suspect they have missed something integral in the work of art — its plot, for instance.ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF LOOKING FOR THE PLOT IN ART
On page four they dread, without finding the plot, they will never reach the conclusion. They decide to backtrack through a margin’s passageway to search, again, page one for some clue in the Missing book.ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF LOOKING FOR THE PLOT IN ART
Everything is in place as before, except the Missing book. Either the work of art is dodgy or, if reason prevails, this is not page one but page five. Confident in their understanding, they at last see the denouement’s door. -
Corner caretakers
ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF TAKING CARE IN ART
Forgotten, a corner caretaker awaits delivery of the upper left corner of the page.ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF TAKING CARE IN ART
Diligent, a corner caretaker awaits delivery of the upper right corner of the page.ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF TAKING CARE IN ART
Alienated, a corner caretaker awaits delivery of the lower right corner of the page.ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF TAKING CARE IN ART
Steadfast, a corner caretaker awaits delivery of the lower left corner of the page.ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF TAKING CARE IN ART
Upon delivery of their corner, each caretaker finds the door and joins the others in the unity room. Fellowship and good cheer abound as they recognise in each other their duty done.ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF TAKING CARE IN ART
As they depart, their duty complete, they take the space of unity with them. Now a blank page left behind, it awaits the meaning someone might write.Missing
Four Sculptuationsby Gail Hastings
with a foreword by Richard ShiffFormat: E-book
Pages: 52; xi, 43
Dimensions: Viewing device
Publication date: 26 Apr 2014
Publisher: Pigment Publisher
Place: Sydney
Language: English
ISBN: 9780646915937 -
Space holder for a blue, white and green space
ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF A SPACE PUT ON HOLD
Parliament adjourned, the House in a deadlock divide, after the question was put That the spac[e] block 32 x 32 x 80cm (blue for 70, white for 2 and green on the end), is either a waste of space without use to society or, in being a space that cannot be used, enables society.
Until such time as the debate is resumed, the before mentioned space will remain on hold.
Floorplan details:
1 Side of the Ayes
2 Side of the Noes
3 Space holder
4 This Encyclopaedia
5 Despatch box made of rosewood
6 Table of the House
7 Entry through stairs of silent stares -
Space holder for a yellow, white and red space
ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF A SPACE PUT ON HOLD
Parliament adjourned, the House in a deadlock divide, after the question was put That the space block 32 x 32 x 80cm (yellow for 70, white for 2 and red on the end), is either a waste of space without use to society or, in being a space that cannot be used, enables society.Until such time as the debate is resumed, the before mentioned space will remain on hold.
Floorplan details:
1 Side of the Ayes
2 Side of the Noes
3 Space holder
4 This Encyclopaedia
5 Despatch box made of rosewood
6 Table of the House
7 Entry through stairs of silent stares -
Art frame: blue
ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF ART THAT BELONGS IN A BLUE FRAME
‘Mighty misfits’, swore the artist. ‘It’s too late, the art has just been seen — we can’t swap the frame for a blue one now.’ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF A FRAME MEANT TO HOUSE BLUE ART
‘Fictive flagpoles’, swore the framer. ‘It’s too late, the frame has just been seen — we can’t swap the art to match it now.’Details on the watercolour floorplan read as follows:
- Where someone suspected something while looking at the framed watercolour on the wall.
- couch
-
Art frame: red
ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF ART THAT BELONGS IN A RED FRAME
‘Mighty misfits’, swore the artist. ‘It’s too late, the art has just been seen — we can’t swap the frame for a red one now.’
[Floorplan details]
Where someone suspected something while looking at the framed watercolour on the wall.ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF A FRAME MEANT TO HOUSE RED ART
‘Fictive flagpoles’, swore the framer. ‘It’s too late, the frame has just been seen — we can’t swap the art to match it now.’
[Floorplan details]
– Where someone suspected something while looking at the framed watercolour on the wall.
– chair -
100% intersubjective space: caput mortum violet
ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF 100% INTERSUBJECTIVE SPACE MADE OF 9.75% STARES AT 90.25% COLOUR
Four strangers live in four corner rooms. Unbeknownst to each other, each shares a Caput-Mortum-Violet, Crimson-Lake, Scheveningen-Yellow-Light and Vandyke Brown watercolour in a black frame. They are unknown to each other, yet not alone.
- 42% of an old trunk the colour of Caput-Mortum-Violet is filled with chocolate bars that A gives to visitors when they leave
- 15% incomplete, a garment B plans one day to finish sewing is folded inside a sewing machine case the colour of Crimson-Lake
- 10.5% of the images still unseen, C is disinclined to put an art catalogue the colour of Scheveningen-Yellow-Light away and so leaves it on the table
- 22.75% full of tea leaves the colour of Vandyke-Brown, D opens the jar and scoops the tea sparingly to avoid going to the shops too soon
-
100% intersubjective space: Italian Brown Pink Lake
ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF 100% INTERSUBJECTIVE SPACE MADE OF 9.75% STARES AT 90.25% COLOUR
Four strangers live in four corner rooms. Unbeknownst to each other, each shares an Italian-Brown-Pink-Lake, Old-Delft-Blue, Brilliant-Pink and Cadmium-Orange watercolour in a black frame. They are unknown to each other, yet not alone.FURNITURE
- 30% of B’s Italian-oriental crockery the colour of Old-Delft-Blue, remains in the cupboard unused.
- 8% this summer, A will wear an Italian-Brown-Pink-Lake coloured T-shirt kept in this chest of drawers
- 27.5% of the time while away, C regrets leaving the grey and Brilliant-Pink tartan travel rug at home, folded on the back of a chair
- 24.5% of Freud’s ‘Interpretation of Dreams’ remains unread, so D leaves a Penguin edition with a spine the colour of Cadmium-Orange on a side table next to the couch
-
Encyclopaedia of an Idea
ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF WRITING DOWN AN IDEA
Where best to write down an idea unhindered?
[page 2]ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF WRITING DOWN AN IDEA
In 1A the idea might appear too sure of itself.
[page 3]ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF WRITING DOWN AN IDEA
In 2B the idea might appear too middle of the range.
[page 4]ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF WRITING DOWN AN IDEA
In 3C the idea might appear without confidence.
[page 5]ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF WRITING DOWN AN IDEA
Or, in 4D: off the page — not an idea, but a reality. -
24 hour space: sapgreen lake socks
ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF A 24 HOUR SPACE
‘a’ is where a person wearing sapgreen lake socks organises for 23 hours and 50 minutes their ‘To Do’ list.
‘b’ is the room in which the person wearing sapgreen lake socks does their ‘To Do’ list in 10 minutes
[floor plan details]
– a [next to chair] -
24 hour space: Scheveningen violet shoes
ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF A 24 HOUR SPACE
‘a’ is where a person wearing Scheveningen violet shoes cooks for 23 hours and 50 minutes a cucumber soup.
‘b’ is the room in which the person wearing Scheveningen violet shoes eats, in 10 minutes, the cucumber soup
[floor plan details]
– a [next to chair] -
24 hour space: brilliant red shirt
ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF A 24 HOUR SPACE
‘a’ is where a person wearing a brilliant red shirt writes for 23 hours and 50 minutes on the ‘space of 24 hours’.
‘b’ is the room in which the person wearing a brilliant red shirt reads their 10-minute text aloud to others
[floor plan details]
– a [next to chair] -
24 hour space: Caribbean blue jumper
ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF A 24 HOUR SPACE
‘a’ is where a person wearing a Caribbean blue jumper thinks for 23 hours and 50 minutes of what best to say next.
‘b’ is the room in which the person wearing a Caribbean blue jumper spends the next 10 minutes saying it
[floorplan details]
– a [next to chair] -
24 hour space: black jacket
ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF A 24 HOUR SPACE
‘a’ is where a person wearing a black jacket waits 23 hours and 50 minutes to look at a work of art.
‘b’ is the room in which the person wearing a black jacket looks for 10 minutes at the work of art.
[floor plan details]
– a [next to chair] -
habit’s pattern: orange and black
Text within the framed watercolour reads:
- horizontal ledge with orange and black striped pattern
- double sided library shelves
- reading couches
- books on the habit of patterns
- library complaints box on top of plinth, into which notes are cast expressing grievance with the library’s failure to find the orange and black pattern’s missing part
-
habit’s pattern: red and grey
The text details within the framed watercolour read:
- horizontal ledge with red and grey striped pattern;
- where two conversed for three hours on how best to find the missing part of the ledge’s red and grey pattern;
- red rug
- grey rug
