On Thursday 07 April, artist John Shankie gave a talk in our workshops as part of the Everyone @ Trongate 103 project.
“During the night following my talk at Project Ability I dreamt the talk had been presented on the TV cooking programme “Ready Steady Cook”. As a guest I’d brought along a gourmet bag of images as ingredients to share. Then, somehow, and only as dreams can do, I became/was the celebrity chef (perish the thought) .
However, on reflection a few days later I consider this: perhaps this is actually what artists often do when they speak of their work and of their practice – it’s an opportunity to assemble a melange of disparate and discordant ideas and ingredients into a platter of edgy, kind of desirable, edible & understandable nosh. The kind you take or leave. You fancy it or you don’t. Attraction and revulsion. Red tomato versus green pepper. And all the while remaining anecdotal and professional despite Fern or Ainsley’s help or hindrance.
So here’s me thinking I’m talking of developing visual and tactile language in various ways: communication partnerships and collaborations with people; looking at objects of cultural or social significance; sharing thoughts and aspiratons as an artist all in relation to what I’ve been doing these past eighteen months and beyond. Have I actually been working as a chef-of-sorts I wonder? Whatever it was it seemed the recipe was well received and the dish may well have been delicious. And despite my various inabilities and disabilities I’m happy to say this was a particular dish I enjoyed putting together and serving up on the night.”
Thank you John, for a very interesting and enjoyable talk.
