Neville Gabie's 'Experiments in Black and White' at WOMAD 2014 explores materials and human labor
In 2014, at the WOMAD festival in Wiltshire, artist Neville Gabie showcased 'Experiments in Black and White,' which comprised short films, a performative drawing, and an interactive installation. The themes of his work revolved around crude oil, ice, and chalk, highlighting human labor in oil extraction and chalk mining. The films depicted Gabie engaged in repetitive actions, while one installation featured a swing hanging from a tree. His drawing process involved pulling a chalk boulder along a designated path, and the piece titled 'Collective Breath' encouraged festival attendees to breathe into bags. Gabie encountered difficulties obtaining permission from Lord Suffolk and earned accolades for his chalk-drawing performance. His creations reflect his South African heritage and draw from a 2009 Antarctic residency and a year at the Cabot Institute in Bristol.
Key facts
- Neville Gabie's 'Experiments in Black and White' was commissioned for WOMAD 2014 in Wiltshire
- The project includes short films, a performative drawing, and a participatory installation called 'Collective Breath'
- Materials involved are crude oil, ice, and chalk, referencing human labor in wells and quarries
- Gabie participated in the British Antarctic Survey Artists and Writers Programme in 2009
- He undertook a year-long residency at the Cabot Institute in Bristol, focusing on clean air research
- The swing installation required permission from site owner Lord Suffolk to avoid damaging a Quercus Oak tree
- Audience members described the chalk-drawing performance as 'mad but curiously brilliant'
- Gabie's work is influenced by his South African roots and aims to connect with a wide public without compromising artistic integrity
Entities
Artists
- Neville Gabie
- Cormac McCarthy
Institutions
- British Antarctic Survey Artists and Writers Programme
- WOMAD festival
- Cabot Institute
- ArtReview
Locations
- Antarctica
- Wiltshire
- United Kingdom
- South Africa
- Robben Island
- Bristol