VERMIN – ROOM 101
Room 101 – The Book
Produced entirely for the Room 101 show this lovely little collectors item documents the trials, tribulations and ultimate success of Dale vn Marshall and his battle with mental illness and gives an insight on what the show was really all about.
14 pages of images of Dales art work, scribbled thoughts and what mental illness meant for Dale plus 5 limited edition postcards.
Book Front
Signed Book Rear
Book Pages Example
Postcards
Sunday 10th October 2010
We were only made aware of this a couple of days ago, just one one of the bizarre co-incidences we have encountered during the making of this show.
Saturday 9th October 2010
A small queue was already forming when we arrived to add the finishing touches. Quite a calm day really considering, not the usual rush to get things ready before throwing the doors open.
It was a great night, selling out within 2 hours and we all left very happy and VERY proud of Dale. He is a very deep person with an incredible past and he really did lay his soul and mind on the table for this, his first solo show.
Thanks to all those of you who came and support Dale and the show.
Here are a mix of photo’s from before and after the open of the door to Room 101.
Special Thanks To Our Beer Sponsors
Friday 7th October 2010
All hands to the pumps today (or should that be drills and screwdrivers)!
All Pictures hung and we are very nearly there.
2nd wall hung - nearly there!
Thursday 6th October 2010
A massive achievement today, first of the canvases hung and The Emporium is looking pretty awesome.
Dale and George hang the first canvas
4 hours later!
Also some video taken for one of the installation pieces as well – all very interesting, but we’re not going to give to much away!
A little bit of of earlier night, but still a busy one signing the books and making up the book/postcard packs.
Some of postcards ready to go into the packs
Book signing, stamping and packaging.
The book/postcard packs
Wednesday 5th October 2010
Installations pretty much sorted and walls painted at The Emporium. At home Wednesday turned into Thursday as 202 mirror plates and 404 screws later all the mirror plates went on the canvases all ready to hang tomorrow.
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The official Room 101 video – enjoy.
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Room 101 is a place introduced in the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell. It is a torture chamber in the Ministry of Love in which the Party attempts to subject a prisoner to his or her own worst nightmare, fear or phobia.
Eventually, Winston is sent into Room 101, the most feared room in the Ministry of Love, where a person’s greatest fear is forced upon them as the final step in their “re-education.” Since Winston is morbidly afraid of rats, a cage of the hungry vermin is placed over his eyes, so that when the door is opened, they will eat their way through his skull. In terror, as the cage is placed onto his head, he screams, “Do it to Julia!”, breaking his vow to never betray her, in order to stop the torture.
“You asked me once, what was in Room 101. I told you that you knew the answer already. Everyone knows it. The thing that is in Room 101 is the worst thing in the world.”
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Sunday 3rd October 2010
So work has begun, The Emporium has been swept and painting has started. All back to ours covered in paint and dust and pretty tired, looking forward to a shower and the curry that is on the way.
The Beginnings of Room 101
Sweeping was a dusty affair!
Saturday 2nd October 2010 (p.m)
What a long and tiring day driving, but we’ve done it and Room 101 (or at least the contents of it) are home (and thankfully dry) in Bristol. Haven’t seen all the canvases in the flesh as yet but the ones we have seen we are very excited about, can’t wait to hang them all!
The last exhibition at The Emporium has been ripped down and we’ll be all set to start work tomorrow.
Okay 2 Trips Looking Necessary Right Now!
That's The Van Fully Loaded
And The Car!
And Were Off (With Everything)!
Saturday 2nd October 2010 (a.m)
Well folks, we’ve been counting down for the past 101 days, but the pressure is now really on with just 1 week to go. Thankfully all the canvases have been completed, now the show must go up!
Keep checking here for updates which we’ll attempt to provide during the chaos of installing the show. After posting this we’re off for a long jaunt involving 5 motorways to bring the contents of Room 101 back to Bristol.
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Room 101 will showcase 101 oil paintings completed in 101 days, (during the summer 2010), as well as five additional show paintings and site-specific installations, all deeply reflecting and exposing Vermin’s ongoing battles with the rigours and demands of mental health.
The room 101 theme draws parallels from George Orwell’s novel, 1984, and the artist’s own personal experiences of being incarcerated in a mental institution in 1999.
In total around 140 paintings were finally completed in the 101 days before the artist enforced his stringent quality control to tailor that down to the required number.
All of the works in the exhibition will signal the artists salient diversion to the medium of oil on canvas, resulting in work with subtle backgrounds, impasto and consummate depth. Influenced by past masters and late 1800’s expressionism, yet mixed with Vermin’s highly recognisable piercing letter form and dirty graffiti aesthetic. Some are hectic, others more meditative. no doubt a reflection of the constant ebb and flow of a schizophrenic mind.
Vermin’s oil paintings have already been lauded by members of the perceived graffiti establishment, as well as catching the eye of curators and collectors of contemporary fine art. His work is already owned by established collectors in the Far East, Europe, Australia and the US.
The show opens at 6.30pm on the 9th October 2010, at The Emporium, Stokes Croft, Bristol.
March 16, 2012 at 2:24 am |
Great, interesting piece – book looks fab…
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