THE SUNSET LEXICON
Pentagonal table with lights and acrylic inserts (1.8 x 1.8 x .5 metres). Assorted other ephemeral. Books, Catalogue, tin shapes.
As one of seven winners of the Bath Spa University's Porthleven prize, I was tasked with making a piece of work on the subject of Provenance. This became a set of 85 icons, titled the Sunset Lexicon, split into 5 groups of 17, which were produced as playing cards, in book form and as the Sunset Lexicon table. Visitors to the gallery were enouraged to spin number wheels, make 5 pencil rubbings and then send a photo of the paper to @sunset_lexicon on instagram, where the selection was decoded and a report presented. While the outcomes of this aleatory process and the arbitrary readings were not to be considered seriously, they were worked on as though they were real, and during the exhibition a number of truths were revealed, as well as a number (probably more) as a lie. The Sunset Lexicon was also responsible for manifesting the presence of the actual international popular music star, Dua Lipa in Origins coffee shop on the second morning of the exhibition. She seemed to be having a nice time, despite customers secretly taking pictures of her, so we left her out of it. Dua Lipa appeared on the description for card 36, The Mermaid, which was taken from the wall murals at Breage church, which was not a million miles away from where we saw her (3 miles).
The project was inspired by an earlier book, The Unearned Increment, which was thrown into the sea from the end of the pier during the first residency. This book, describing some fairly unpleasant circumstances and an 80 mile walk across southern England, mostly on all fours, begat the Sunset Lexicon. The results of that sacrifice provided the mulch for this project, which while attempting to be encyclopedic and learned, frequently existed in a hysteric and manic space. A6 copies of the book are available available in the shop.
Above: The Sunset Lexicon in Tides That Bind Exhibition, Porthleven Cornwall, August 2024.
The Sunset Lexicon at the Michael Pennie Gallery in Bath. The table and accoutrements were given the rear space at the back of the gallery, where it could exist, shrouded in darkness. (Although this made seeing the numbers on the table a little bit of a challenge.
The 85 cards of the Sunset Lexicon.
Lady Clifford's Visitor Book, click to see the pages.
Lady Clifford's Visitor Book re-set as an A5, Eye-spy style guide (available in the shop).
The Sunset Lexicon book of holes. Warhols.
The Sunset Lexicon Mind Map. Geographic locations and connections connected with a bewildering series of red threads. So many that the whole thing becomes almost meaningless. (The connections have been authenticated by witnesses). (Honest).
Below, the time lapse view over Mounts Bay from my accommodation in Porthleven. Click to view.
Below are the 34 readings made during the two weeks of the exhibition (not including the in person ones, which have gone the way of all things).Thanks to everyone who played the game.
There were some strange goings on at the Pennie Gallery.