Creative Relationships
Melanie Manchot
Melanie Manchot's triptychs show three of the partnerships involved in the creation of the exhibits. The triptychs are all designed similarly, with a portrait of the artist forming the right-hand third of the triptych, a portrait of the collaborator forming the left, and a text panel in the centre. All of the portraits are almost life-sized, and show the artists and collaborators seated, smiling, against a white background. They are shown from the bottom of their torsos upwards, and the upper quarter of the frame is left white. The colour of the text and its background reflects the colours being worn by each pair.
The first picture on the website is of Mat Fraser and Freddie Robins. Mat is wearing a blue knitted tunic, made by Freddie Robins, over a brown T shirt. Freddie is wearing a bright pink sleeveless T shirt with a necklace of plastic flowers, and her red hair is swept up over her head and secured with more plastic flowers. Both are looking straight out at the viewer. The text, which is in bright pink on a blue background, reads:
For their first meeting they had agreed to take
his measures
as an initial step towards fulfilling his woollen desires
Upon his arrival at her small, intimate studio
he proceeded to drop his trousers
thinking this a necessary aspect
of their exchange of information
Momentarily surprised by his ability
for spontaneous frankness, she reassured him
that only his upper body would receive measured attention
The second picture on the website is of Ju Gosling and Andrew Logan. Ju is wearing a black T shirt, together with the spinal brace which Andrew Logan decorated for her. Andrew is wearing a cobalt blue silk shirt, with a large blue ornament (made by Andrew) on the front of his shirt, and a large ring on the little finger of his left hand. Again, both are looking straight out at the viewer. The text, which is in pale blue on a dark blue background, reads:
choosing lights
blue she offered
silver he replied
in mirrored recognition
their pride
and presence
they tied around
in ribbons and reflections
in adornment of difference
embraced by prisms dancing
The third picture on the website is of Gary Robins and Felicity Shillingford. Gary is wearing a maroon T shirt with the slogan "Blah, Blah, Blah" on the front, together with a bracelet and a bead choker. Felicity is wearing a pale green and white patterned T shirt with three-quarter length sleeves and white edging around the neck. She has long, light brown curly hair, and is also wearing black glasses. They are looking towards each other. The text, which is in maroon on a pale green background, reads:
Both knew
of the appeal
equipment such as this exerted
often
without need
so here the idea
for an ultimate object of desire
all gadgets, for fantasy and fetish
a fusion of steel, leather, skin
glamour
© The City Gallery, Leicester and the artists: 2001
This site was built by Ju Gosling aka ju90 during an artist's residency at Oriel 31 in November 2001