Upon approach, one is able to see the whole sculptuation — its three components. Upon entry within its space, however, one has to turn one's back on either the star component on the wall to look at the base component opposite it, or on the base component to look at the star component. Either way, when engaging with one part, the remainder falls behind you.

behind you: blue, 2007, seen here as exhibited at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in ‘Overheard Conversation: Sculptural Situations by Gail Hastings’ in 2007.

On the left is the base component of the sculptuation. A part of its pattern is a watercolour page from the ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF ART IN MISSING MOMENTS. When facing this direction, the Encyclopaedia and the base make up the present moment of the sculptuation, the moment one finds oneself in as one locates oneself within the watercolour floor plan.

One turns to find the missing part, then turns again to find what was previously present but then missing. This circular turning or revolving action creates a new type of wholeness, an encyclopaedic wholeness.

To enter this moment, one has physically to take steps (stairs) as well as take a look (stare) into the watercolour. Within this moment, however, there is a part missing, a part one seeks, always behind you.

behind you: blue is seen here as exhibited at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Art in 2008.

behind you: blue

Year: 2007

Ontology: Unlimited edition

Edition: Behind you

In edition: 2 view others

behind you: blue
behind you: red

Medium: Acrylic & lead pencil on plywood; framed watercolour & lead pencil on paper; enamel on steel

HxWxD cm: 183.5 x 161.8 x 300

Holdings: Available to collect

Concrete Text

ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF ART IN MISSING MOMENTS

Where they were searching the future’s dark night for the star-bright moment missing from their present; without realising it is not missing, but always in memory — behind you.

floorplan details:

stairs
stares
missing moment

To collect

behind you: blue is available to collect.

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Notes, etc.

Exhibitions & Bibliography

Exhibitions

07/02/2008

Sculptural Situations: Gail Hastings, Perth Institute of Contemporary Art (cur. Melissa Keys), Perth

19/03/2007

Overheard Conversation: Sculptural Situations by Gail Hastings, Art Gallery of New South Wales (cur. Natasha Bullock, Wayne Tunnicliffe, Tony Bond), Sydney

Bibliography

Melissa Keys, ‘Gail Hastings: Sculptural Situations’, Sculptural Situations: Gail Hastings, exhibition catalogue, Perth Institute of Contemporary Art, Perth 2008.
Andrew McNamara, ‘Making space for the invisible architecture of the social’, Sculptural Situations: Gail Hastings, exhibition catalogue, Perth Institute of Contemporary Art, Perth 2008.
Andrew McNamara, ‘Making space for the invisible architecture of the social’, Sculptural Situations: Gail Hastings, exhibition catalogue, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney no.2.07, 1997.