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THE ACCESSIBLE VERSION


The issues surrounding audio only project are acknowledged within this project – such as it being inaccessible for those who are deaf and hard-hearing, non-English speakers or individuals who have forms of neuro-divergence. This project works towards including a visual layer, and considering actions such as transcribing the audio to make sure the project reaches a wider audience.



ABOUT THE PROJECT




The raw material of oral history . . . is pre-eminently an expression and representation of culture, and therefore includes not only literal narrations but also the dimensions of memory, ideology and subconscious desires.

(Passerini, 1979, p. 84, cited in Green, 2008, p. 90)


An Invisible Guest: Mapping Voices, Relations and Agencies is an online project based on the interviews conducted at Central Saint Martins. Encompassing a plurality of narratives around relationships and professional and artistic careers cultivated over the years in the school, this project aspires to capture the stories falling in-between the lines. It centers agency in the core of everything, reminding us to view subjectivities and memories as situated, partial and incomplete. Moreover, it binds the author(s)/producer(s)/curator(s) of this project to reflect on their own agencies throughout the process; acknowledging positions on which the interaction and engagement with the material as well as the audience happen from.


Following in the footsteps of an Italian feminist art critic Carla Lonzi’s Autoritratto (Self-Portrait) (1969), this project embodies ‘creative subjectivity’, which steps away from patriarchal ideas linked to individuality, and instead aspires to seize experiences and processes through active engagement with the existing material that challenges notions of visibility. Intertwining the narratives of history with the contemporary ones, alternative spaces are born, decentering the project from a singular point of reference.


An Invisible Guest, aims to critically unpack the scenes behind the archival collection: Whose voices are being heard? Who is absent? Who are the gatekeepers? Building on methodologies of care, this project aims to build bridges and conversations between past generations and contemporary creatives within the art institution, bringing up the challenges of now and then and creating interstices where different voices and subjectivities can be heard. Édouard Glissant’s statement on the ‘right to opacity’ is applied as a way of praxis and understanding between the agents of this project to reclaim multiplicities of voices, while aiming to form a transparent way of interacting both with the new interviewees as well as the audience. By deconstructing and demystifying the structures, histories and myths surrounding the institution, the project reveals whose narratives constitute the art school.



This online Archival/Curatorial project is the work of Franki McDade, Yuhui ‘Catherine’ Li, Alexander Aplerku, Nimco Hussein, Maria Demine, Clémentine Dubost, and Wenqing Liang – seven Central Saint Martins MA Culture, Criticism and Curation students with varied backgrounds, compiling both UK and international students.

Many thanks to Janine Francois, Jamie Sutherland, Siyan Zhang, our wonderful podcast guests as well as Annabel Crowley, Tom Lynch, Rahul Patel, Lara Bazzoui (WIM), Alyshia Jack, Pinky Latt, Dee Juneja, Catherine Caldwell, Sarah Campbell, Alejandro Ball, Alison Green, and Lee Weinberg who have supported this project through its journey.





Passerini, L. (1979). Work ideology and consensus under Italian fascism. In History Workshop Journal (Vol. 8, No. 1, pp. 82-108). Oxford University Press.




















THE ARCHIVAL COLLECTION



1. Ralph Koltai
2. Audrey Levy
3. Susan Einzig
4. Alison Britton
5. John Lawrence & Myra Lawrence
6. Simon Pugh
7. Hanna Weil
8. Bobby Hillson
9. Neville Morgan
10. Peter Avery
11. Jane Short
12. David Crisp
13. Margaret Till
14. Chris Wiggs
15. Amal Ghosh
16. Judith Kerr
17. Paul Eachus
18. Sally Jacobs
19. Ken Clark & Ann Clark
20. Mike Thorpe

21. Nick Morris & William Raeburn
22. Peter Johns
23. Jane Garnett & Richard Garnett
24. Richard Doust
25. Fritz Wegner
26. Kathryn Hearn
27. Rob Kesseler
28. Phil Baines
29. Posy Simmonds & Richard Hollis
30. John Drummond & Ruth Harris
31. Steve Furlonger
32. Colleen Farr
33. Malcolm Cocks
34. John Laing
35. Ken Garland
36. David Curtis
37. Anthony Powell
38. Sara Midda
39. Jane Rapley
40. Martin Grierson
41. Robert Addington
42. Howard Tangye
43. David Parsons
44. Carly Ralph
45. Natalie Gibson
46. Louise Wilson
47. Scilla Speet
48. Pamela Howard
49. Anna Buruma
50. Giles Last
51. Howard Asher
52. Malcolm Le Grice
53. Richard Slee
54. Derek Birdsall
55. Mike Peel

AN INVISIBLE GUEST PODCAST SERIES



An Invisible Guest: Mapping Relations, Voices and Agencies has a curated podcast series which navigates through the themes of the Oral History Archive at Museum and Study Collection, at Central Saint Martins.

Approaching the project as an ‘incomplete’ and ‘ongoing’ exploration of the archive, the curatorial process extends to continue the tradition of conducting oral histories. This is done in the format of a podcast, created with and for the public that it addresses. The new narratives and dialogues will be constructed on themes such as Friendship; Education, Artistic Practice, Mentorship; and Social Justice.

The podcast series can be listened to on Ximalaya, Spotify and Soundcloud.

Archive clips courtesy of the Museum & Study Collection at Central Saint Martins..

Theme tune by Hannah Kane.





PODCAST GUESTS



Janine Francois

Janine Francois is a Black British Feminist, writer, and academic.




Jamie Sutherland

Jamie Sutherland is an artist and recent graduate from Central Saint Martins BA Fashion Womenswear 2020, who is currently living and creating a new body of work from home in Norwich.

Siyan Zhang

Siyan Zhang is an independent curator based in London, who is currently working at both the Freud Museum and the Museum & Study Collection of Central Saint Martins. She is also a co-founder of OF ART.

RELATIONS & CREATIONS



Relations and Creations covers a wide range of conversations relating to pedagogy and practice, mentorship and access to creative industries. This page features a soundscape montage of interview clips from the oral history archive at the Central Saint Martins Museum and Study Collection.



Anthony Powell, Costume Designs, 1980. Pencil, 130.81x 93.98 cm.  
© Anthony Powell

Nastassja Kinski in Tess (1979). Costume designed by Anthony Powell. All rights reserved. 




Rob Kessler, Canopy, 2008. © Rob Kessler  
Rob Kessler, from the series Phy-topic. Illustration for the article “A New Phytopia” published in Infocus Magazine, issue 10 June 2008. © Rob Kessler

Audrey Levy, Maze, produced for Palladio 4, 1956. © Audrey Levy

Audrey Levy, Universe, produced for Palladio 5, 1961. © Audrey Levy


Suddenly Last Summer, theatre production by Ralph Koltai. © Ralph Koltai

Madam Butterfly, theatre production by Ralph Koltai. © Ralph Koltai

The Planets, theatre production by Ralph Koltai. © Ralph Koltai





ARCHIVE
MONTAGE


The soundscape is a montage of interview fragments shared by artist and textile designer Audrey Levy, theatre designers Jane and Richard Garnett, and costume designer Anthony Powell.
The soundscapes are based on the Oral History Archive in Central Saint Martins’ Museum & Study Collection. 

Archive clips courtesy of the Museum & Study Collection, Central Saint Martins.

Theme tune by Hannah Kane.




AN ACCENTUATED VOICE



An Accentuated Voice explores stories related to migration to the UK, cultural differences and adaptation to new cultural environment. This page features a soundscape montage of interview clips from the oral history archive at the Central Saint Martins Museum and Study Collection.




Hanna Weil, Spansih Village. Oil on board painting, 24 x 30 in. © Hanna Weil

Hanna Weil, 2 works: Church with Lemon; Tulipomania. Gouache on board painting, 21x21 in and 21x17 in. © Hanna Weil

Hanna Weil, Dinner Table with Roast Chicken, 1960. Oil on board painting, 49 x 84 cm. © Hanna Weil




Amal Ghosh, Allegory Series I, (1980’s).
© Amal Ghosh.  Images courtesy of SADAA.

Amal Ghosh, Allegory Series III, 1987.
© Amal Ghosh.  Images courtesy of SADAA.

Amal Ghosh, Migration, 1992.
© Amal Ghosh.  Images courtesy of SADAA.


Fritz Wegner, English Folklore,1980. Water Color on Hot Press Illustration Board, 11.25 x 10 in. © Fritz Wegner

Fritz Wegner, Delphinus the Constellation, 1986. Water Color on Hot Press Illustration Board, 10.25 x 9.25 in. © Fritz Wegner

Fritz Wegner, Grus the Constellation,1986. Water Color on Hot Press Illustration Board, 10.25 x 9.75 in. © Fritz Wegner


Howard Tangye, Emma (Double - Head and Hands, Full Colour), 2001-04. Mixed media on Fabriano Paper, 76.5 x 57.5 cm. Images courtesy of © Howard Tangye. 

Howard Tangye, HT & MH (with Butterfly), 1988-99. Mixed media on paper, 100 x 70 cm. Images courtesy of © Howard Tangye.

Howard Tangye, Red on Blue, c. 1994. Mixed media on paper. 100 x 70 cm.  Images courtesy of © Howard Tangye.


ARCHIVE
MONTAGE

 
The soundscape is a montage of interview fragments shared by fine artist Hanna Weil, illustrator Fritz Wegner, fine artist Amal Ghosh, and fashion illustrator and teacher Howard Tangye.

 The soundscapes are based on the Oral History Archive in Central Saint Martins’ Museum & Study Collection.

Archive clips courtesy of the Museum & Study Collection, Central Saint Martins.

Theme tune by Hannah Kane.
© AN INVISIBLE GUEST
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