From the Deep Waters of Sleep

Eloise Fornieles, From the Deep Waters of Sleep

Eloise Fornieles, an up and coming performance artist, has done a considerable amount in the name of art.

In the first  of a three part trilogy she took sleeping pills and slept in the Paradise Row gallery space for 48 hours whilst visitors were invited to whisper into a vent near her head in order to influence her dreams.

That was in 2006, and now in 2007 she has just completed the second leg, this time she attempted to stay awake for 48 hours.

To her it is all about the theatre of the thing, not some David Blaine style magic trick.
This piece of drama is about the visitor interacting, feeling, being part of the beautiful spectacle as it unfolds.

In the middle of the large room an old rustic boat is set on a bank of sea salt which fills the entire space. The dimmed light and atmospheric music add to the mystique.
You are told to remove shoes and once inside,  feel as if you are on a beach with the weird sensation of the salt moving like fine sand beneath you feet.
Cuts between your toes would not be welcome here.

The piece was inspired by the cult artist Bas Jan Ader’s performance work in which he tried to cross the Atlantic in a guppy in 1975. He was lost at sea never to be found.

Eloise is sits in the boat throughout the 48 hours and whilst there considers the concept of loss.

Visitors are asked to write down their questions as to where things or people they have lost might have gone. And she answers this by converting their text into morse code.

Nick Hackworth, the gallery owner explains that the content of  part three are yet to be decided.
It is a fluid and organic process, in which all will be come clear in time.
Eloise has certainly done her utmost to bring unique live art to the shores of  East London  and I, for one, look forward to the third part which should be taking place in March 2008.

Julie Pallot.

The performance took place from Aug 31st till the 2nd Sept at:
Paradise Row
St Matthew’s Hall
17 Hereford St
London
E2 6EX

The next exhibition at the gallery- from 7th September -  is Urban Pastoral, Justin Coombes' large format photographs that recreate the sense of romance, adventure and threat he experienced when he first moved to London after growing up in the country.

 

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