Sculpture /
Installations
Stormy Weather - Multi-media Installation
Stormy Weather incorporates weather satellite receiver information, world news and popular songs. The intention behind this work is based on monitoring climate, climate as it immediately effects everyone as weather and climate as it effects everyone as a social state. It focuses on a changing selection of locations around the world, represented by the three elements: each location is monitored by current weather information using weather satellite receiver information available on the internet; current local news from these locations is presented through the daily press and information available on internet news and press sites; and popular songs relating to the various towns, cities and nations is broadcast and performed. These representations are presented as equals and all three elements play a part in the choice of locations.
Weather is something we have no control over though its effect on our lives is extremely dramatic, one of the ways we comprehend the weather is as Drama, although a constant, inextricably linked with the seasons, its state is one of flux, changeable. News information we are also effected by, but this is human construct, which having undergone a selection process is presented as reality. This is also in a constant state of flux and, like the weather, is changeable. Places and climates are extremely emotive especially foreign lands. Songwriters are drawn by the emotion and romance held within the ideas of these places, writing lyrics which reflect and recreate these emotions. Based upon memories these songs create images equivalent to and as constant over the passage of time as both the news and weather.
The element of chance and the normal law of error involved in every human endeavour are two invisibles which steer our lives. In the collection and forecasting of weather information these elements are now generally accepted as norms, in the creative process they are actively encouraged, within the sphere of news, which is invariably linked with world affairs and politics, chance and error are rarely acknowledged. As with long-range weather forecasting, long-term news is also impossible to predict, data is in a continual state of flux and yesterdays news is old news. A good song on the other hand improves with age. Stormy Weather presents current information concerning the whole of the globe through highly advanced technology alongside our favourite old songs, in a visual event contrasting what we are told to be true and what we would like to believe.
The first complete presentation of Stormy Weather was at Aggregat, (Glasspavilion at the Volksbuhne) Berlin, July 2002, where it took the form of a studio and cafe. This was a relatively simple presentation due to the basic nature of the space. Each day a news-page was produced containing news and weather information relating to that days chosen location, a relevant song and a daily editorial. Boards in the space displayed current information - news/song/weather - relating to a number of other locations. The information was collected daily from the internet and brought to the space, along with a selection of international newspapers and a play-list of popular songs. Outside the space were newsboards with the days headlines displayed.
Leo 1993/2006.
