TREVOR MATHISON at Goldsmiths CCA
From Signal to Decay: Volume 1
Visited - 12th August
“From Signal to Decay: Volume 1” is an exhibit running at Goldsmiths CCA between the 13th-16th August 2022.
The artist Trevor Mathison documents the sounds of new cross through recordings using an Ambisonic microphone. The sounds are played live through the vast brick building filling the rooms and rooms above resulting in a randomised composition.
The exhibit also features sketches and archival materials that span across the past 40 years of his work. These materials give an extra insight into the process and Mathisons mind.
The curatorial aspect of this exhibit is what captured me the most. Yes it is a recent exhibit but the use of past materials and archives add another layer to the work. Works can be created for a single purpose or reason but I believe when an artist adds these extra pieces, another layer is added to the exhibit. The work is no longer just something fun or pretty to experience, but a story to emerge the viewer into.
Little clever details are also hidden in this space. The artist positioned speakers in the empty corridors, a place most people over look when curating, adding more depth to the sound. Attention to details like this often can be what makes or breaks an exhibition.
Although this was a solo exhibit by one artist it still has elements of collaboration in the space. The building is a multi use space, it includes a cafe, a collaborative studio area and also had another exhibition going on at this time. The other exhibit, although mainly textiles based, also included a sound element. When working in a space, even in a solo exhibit, you still have to adapt to others and the main uses of the building. This got me thinking about our degree show at the end of May next year. Yes we are a large group and we can’t all have a space as large as Mathison did, but there are still ways we can involve our past works and process just on a smaller scale.
