On Saturday 23 April I visited the Simon Starling: The Grand Tour Season 2 exhibition at Nottingham Contemporary, this was a collection of Starling’s major work over the years presented through the gallery space. Most of the works are based on lost histories of manufacture, with them featuring either materials or processes directly related to this. This very process led approach is interesting when considering my project work where the process/materials have dictated the aesthetics. One of the most striking pieces of Red, Green, Blue, Loom Music (2015-16), this featured and highlighted analogue technology that has anticipated digital systems. The main piece was a piano which seemingly played itself fed by music box style drum of perforated pianola paper with the notes punched into it. This was extremely captivating in the room and filled the space, creating an atmosphere that gave weight to the process Starling was trying to highlight. Alongside this was weaving and paper rolls where the music score had been translated into woven textile, again this provided an interesting link to my project work exploring the translation of objects and the spontaneous occurrences that come from these.

Another piece I particularly liked was Recursive Plates (Joseph Wright, The Alchemist, in Search of the Philosopher’s Stone, discovers Phosphorus, and prays for the successful conclusion of his operation, as was the custom of the ancient chymical astrologers, No 2, 1771-1795) 2016. This was from a set of site specific daguerreotypes made of the original painting, the metal plate is displayed on the opposite wall to the original creating a haunting reflection and ghost-like representation. Initially this piece seems lost in the space, but when you look closer and make the connection it provides a clever juxtaposition to the original that requires you to search this out. Again process is the main focus here, with the chemicals in the production of the daguerreotype directly relating to the chemical subject matter of the painting. Forming a modern day homage that both uses experimental processes and forges its own line of enquiry in the space. Also interestingly, while the painting is on display at Nottingham Contemporary another daguerreotype is in its place at Derby Museums.