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FLOP 01.06 mins 2008
Commissioned by Five Story Projects as part of ‘Matter of Time’ group show at the James Taylor gallery, London.
FLOP is an idea conceived from a particularly obscure piece of East End history that originated in buildings somewhat similar to this gallery space.
In the late nineteenth century in Londons East End (and elsewhere) there were establishments known as doss houses which were of an even lower status than the Victorian workhouse. They generally were the last resort for homeless people and other of Londons unfortunates. The lowest form of doss house was sometimes known as a flop house where these people would pay to get a roof over their heads for the night but very little else. Space was so limited that sleeping while hanging over a rope was the only option. The rope would be strung from wall to wall and early every morning it would be loosened or cut as a wake up call. (Hence the saying Sleep Tight).
The film is an abstract idea conceived from this these circumstances. Dancers manipulate the rope and the final flop signifies the wake up call.
FLOP 01.06 mins 2008
Commissioned by Five Story Projects as part of ‘Matter of Time’ group show at the James Taylor gallery, London.
FLOP is an idea conceived from a particularly obscure piece of East End history that originated in buildings somewhat similar to this gallery space.
In the late nineteenth century in Londons East End (and elsewhere) there were establishments known as doss houses which were of an even lower status than the Victorian workhouse. They generally were the last resort for homeless people and other of Londons unfortunates. The lowest form of doss house was sometimes known as a flop house where these people would pay to get a roof over their heads for the night but very little else. Space was so limited that sleeping while hanging over a rope was the only option. The rope would be strung from wall to wall and early every morning it would be loosened or cut as a wake up call. (Hence the saying Sleep Tight).
The film is an abstract idea conceived from this these circumstances. Dancers manipulate the rope and the final flop signifies the wake up call.