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Cleopatra's asp

15/8/2024

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Picture
this one almost broke me

I have been broken by theatre before

the ridiculous time pressure which pushes my ability to organise process and materials always to a new limit

compounded by a necessity to continue prototyping until the eleventh hour

unlike a slow evolutionary process where we arrive at the body I am writing this from

the puppet maker is manifesting a body most often never made or tested before

often with a fantastical and visionary brief 

great ideas take time

sometimes they can be ignited in a spark flash of necessity 

although it is best not to rely upon this happening

 so

here I am writing about the two asps I designed and made for the  Shakespeare’s Globe theatre production of Antony and Cleopatra

such a marvellous miraculous fantasy

a snake which defies gravity and logic

I still hold this to be possible

but

more time
much more time for this

and until then

here are two marvellous helictical mechanical serpents

heads of hand carved brass
black resin printed spine of original experimental design
skin of formed brass copper aluminium sheet

in this production beautifully performed by Nardia Nadarajah as Cleopatra and Zoë McWhinney as Charmain
​
​directed by Blanche McIntyre
designed by Simon Daw

these ideas grow through my spirit and inside my studio continue being nurtured becoming no one knows until then it is

https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on/antony-and-cleopatra/
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Cazimi

13/8/2024

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Cazimi (2024)
Created together with  Lucy May Schofield and with the generous support of Ingrid Pollard MBE.

Currently featured in the group show Paperwork at Hub, Sleaford, UK.

20th July - 17 November 2024

https://hub-sleaford.org.uk/exhibitions/paperwork
Picture
Picture
Picture
Cazimi

floating
semblance
of
individual
we
at the edge 
here
an edge
galaxy’s edge
being in this
and
at an edge
separate
together
holding
how
these
how
these
each
it always
asks
responds
feels
this it is
is it
is this
around
their
together
relating worlds
together feeling
they
feeling
these
and
hold together
each part
then each
a section
to hold
suspended
gravity plays 
the part 
life
to
death
and this movement
the other part
share
share is close
close is sharing
I want
and
to feel
sharing
my arms
my body
play gravity
each to a unique point
this
what is this body
it is together and also it is separate
we unify
we separate
pervasive is this
here
idea and notion
that the elements of a community whether this being a body or an instrument may be so much so together but also they are impossibly separate
so far
each of us
is
the tip
iceberg’s tip
of the iceberg
so many
I connect through
and of
but to hold
each part
and touch
this easing back
backing
to ease back
all at once not
no not all at once no
I feel this
being a feeling
that
this
and
that
share form
but from
places so
altered
and
different
in placement
hang
that is
each part
in freedom
being together
a conversation of these
this to this
we all are
we can be
different
entirely
and
having
such effect
on the
other’s
each's
other
my wish for
freedom structures
ways for
wayward
gathering
we
us
cherry branches
paper
steel
suspension form
each part
has
has
has
each part
has
the others
here to holding
is over
so slightly
that
to the
conversation
takes place
we
the parts
being
we entirely
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© Oliver  Smart 2024
  • Studio
    • In Process
    • Solo >
      • Sculpture >
        • Components
        • Natural Forms
        • Seeds
        • Clusters
        • Systems
        • Forces
      • Outdoor >
        • Jewellery for an Ancient Cedar (2025)
      • Drawing >
        • Imaginings
        • Devices
        • Revolution
        • Spaces
        • Drawing Films
      • Wearable
    • Collaborative >
      • Bow Down and Very Low -123
      • Dandelion Seed
      • Dragonfly - Imago
      • Flight is a Waltz
      • Cazimi
      • Asp
  • Prints
    • From Drawings
    • From Photographs
  • Performance
    • Suitcase Circus
    • Life Still
    • Folded Feather site
  • Photography
  • Teaching
    • Substantial Poetry
  • Bio
    • Exhibitions
    • About >
      • Artist Statement
      • CV
      • Biography
      • In my own words
    • Press >
      • Press Release
      • Solo
      • Collaborations
    • Contact >
      • Newsletter
      • Instagram
  • Thoughts