LONGING FOR THE OCEAN

 

The three-day performance and installation took place in the formal foyer of University College London, outside the provost’s office, opposite the mummy of the philosopher Jeremy Bentham, next to a couple of sculpted lions from ancient Egypt. The foyer talks of power and permanence. The cubicle reeked of indeterminacy. The performer meticulously broke old window glass until it became a sea (recalling that, scientifically, glass is liquid). Longing for the ocean played with paradox – longing for the ocean while trapped in a box. The fragments reflected the over-bright light, creating a staged, hyper-real feel. The sound of the hammer on glass was imposing and was the first point of entry for viewers The glass fragments were later made into a rocket.

 

Performance / mixed media installation: main foyer of University College London; 3 days duration.