THE LAYING ON OF HANDS
The Laying on of Hands is a new Artwork using digital media with notions around the performative.
It is a multi-national project which will be shot over a period of time in various countries
When someone is ill another person with the power to heal lays their hands on the person and miraculously makes them better.
A simple but powerful idea that takes one week from preparation to exhibition, (one day to prepare, one day to shoot, one day to edit and produce a DVD and one day to prepare the exhibit and then one day to exhibit). What is being healed here is our state and our environment which is why this artwork should eventually happen in several countries (eventually this should take place on all 7 continents, in all countries).
THE INSTALLATION
The Laying on of Hands requires 1 table and about 50 people. A camera is suspended above looking directly down on to the table. People are kneeling around the table and slowly, one by one they place their hands on to the table taking care to get only their hands, wrists and arms in to shot and not their heads or shoulders. Eventually there are fifty pairs of hands of differing skin tones from black to white on the table. When the last pair of hands comes upon the table, they wait for a moment and then slowly leave, followed by all the other hands until eventually only one pair of lands is left.
SOUND
I want everyone to intone a low hum whilst they're doing the 'performance', starting quiet, building and receding to silence when the last hands come off - and I'll record a clapping track for the middle (a sound like white noise) also building and receding...
EXHIBITION
When exhibited, the installation consists of a table and 8 chairs for people to sit around the table - this is direct and intimate exhibition which will give the audience the chance to join in. A projector is suspended above the table looking in to a mirror which reflects the image directly down on a white table cloth (the screen). The first pair of virtual hands enters the table space until eventually there are fifty pairs, then slowly they leave, leaving only one pair which rests a moment before fading away - then the installation loop begins again.
AND ITS DOCUMENTATION
A major part of the artwork is the making, so that in itself should be an art event, the gathering together of fifty people with one concern, the realization of this piece. It is important to me that there are varied and mixed races - the colour of skin should be various and manifold. Of the fifty, some brave people, the ones who place their hands on the table first will have to wait for a long time whilst the rest of the process happens above them - but that is how we will change things, for the stronger to support the smaller.
A DV crew will shoot the making of this installation.
RESOURCES:
Shoot: An HDV camera is required, a table and white table cloth, a black space (studio) to shoot in and some lights and a technician to help rig the camera above.
Preparation: The next day a final cut editing suite would be needed to prepare the footage for display.
Then Exhibition: The following day a projector and a computer to play back, a mirror and hanging above a table, with a white table cloth and a technician.
E-Mail: flaxton@btinternet.com e-mail me Telephone +44 (0)1749 890 610 Fax +44 (0)1749 890 018 Mobile +44 (0)7976 370 984