Corinne

Reflection from Corinne

Sunday morning is generally my “me time”. I either go for a swim, for a walk, I often study and cook, I need that time on my own to relax, think and recalibrate my life. Last Sunday, I did something different, I helped friends organising their study and started to sort out their attic. It was part of a project run by one of my friends, Bridget,  where I chose a little woven vessel. To purchase it, I had a choice of either giving  money to the value I thought the object was worth or giving the amount of time that was put ( by my friend) to make the object. Because I had no idea of the monetary value of the object, I decided to give my time: 2.5 hours, during which I shared one of my skill: organising and putting system in place. It was a very pleasant experience, I always find the process of sorting, cleaning, tidying and organising very therapeutic, it was also a lovely way to catch up with my friends Bridget and Luke. At the end of the 2.5 hours, Bridget gave me the little vessel I just purchased and I didn’t anticipate how excited I would be to finally have the object in my possession, going home with it to display it next to the other art sculptures I gathered from various exhibition ran by the same friend! I chose the object sometime last year, so several months had passed between the time I chose it and the time I got it. That made me think of how instantaneous our world has become! When I want or need something, I generally buy it straight away, yes sometimes it requires planning, research and comparaison but really, it is so easy to cumulate possessions, services and goods.Even the research part is instantaneous with the internet! By participating to this project, I was able to put some space between me and the object, unconsciously, that space was filled with desire, excitement and gratitude to be able to be of service. The process of purchasing the object was as gratifying as getting it in my hands. Something else happened. I mentioned at the beginning I had no idea of the monetary value of the object. The questions I am asking myself now are: is my time as valuable as my friend time? How do you put a dollar value in time value? Isn’t each of our time a separate currency in itself?

Thank you Bridget for the experience.

Correspondence used for the artwork ‘Many Hands: A year of exchanges and stories’

BK:  Hi Corinne, Hope you guys are all well!

Thanks for showing an interest in my artwork. I’m back from hols and now (finally) getting on top of this project!

You chose 150:4500 (which I’ve attached a pic of) and to exchange for time, which equates to 2hr and 30 minutes.

I was wondering if you were interested in helping me in the gallery for this time uploading data to online events for the exhibitions, or writing the words ‘a year of time’ or ‘two hours and thirty minutes’ in French over and over on a piece of paper that I provide you. I try and find something that resonates with each person. If the above doesn’t grab you, please feel free to suggest some other things. Some people have been happy to help me out with doing admin things in the gallery, documenting the project, updating my website…someone is going to sing to me for approx 8 hrs (this one is actually leading into another exciting development in the project), someone else is giving me surfing lessons, another has always wanted to learn about gardening so is going to help me in my garden…someone is going to cook food for a fundraiser I’m holding, someone wants to interview me about the project…someone is stitching the words ‘a year of time over and over onto a linen table napkin’….etc etc. It all depends on where your skills and interests lie.

Once the exchange is complete I give you your basket (after taking a pic of your hands holding it – see Michael-hands.jpg example). Ultimately, all these exchanges and cash exchanges will be documented and displayed in another exhibition at the end of 2018, as well as in a small book noting what each object was exchanged for. Any cash that has been exchanged will be cut up and made into one more basket and also displayed in the show…… I’m jokingly calling it ‘the essence of a year of time’ ! If you’re doing this remotely I require you to take a pic of your hands doing the type of exchange as well as keep a log of the minutes as this may be used in the final exhibition (see attached  Szilvia Gyorgy.jpg and the sample log book for example). If you’re unable to collect your object from North Sydney, you’d need to pay for postage and also take another pic of your hands holding the final exchanged object (in a similar layout to the ones I’ve attached).

Let me know what you think.

Bridget x

BK: Hiya C, Hope you’re well.Just wondering whether you got my email below and it’s that’s of interest? Alternatively, if you’ve got anything else you’d be interested doing please let me know. Bk x

CM: Hi Bridget, I just tried to return your call and you are on the phone!

Yes I am still interested in your project, yes I received your emails and apologise for not replying. I have been thinking for a while how I could contribute to the project, for that, I am trying to find which of my skills could be of help to you. French teaching is now a big part of my life and I realise there isn’t much I could do in two and a half hours! Your suggestion to write something in French would certainly be an option, I am curious to know what you would do with it.

I saw on Facebook that one of your participants is helping you decluttering your wardrobe, I thought: I could do that! Being organised and finding system around the house is, I believe, something I am good at, so I wanted to suggest I could help you declutter, a room, a cupboard, a space.Please don’t think that I see your house messy, I am only offering because, as a busy person like you, I always find those tasks difficult to complete, however, they help gain time in the long run, that is why I think it could be useful for you. If this doesn’t suit you, no problem, I am happy to do the writing. Just let me know what you think. Shaun and I are coming to hear your guest sing, I am looking forward to the event and it will be good to catch up. I am not coming to North Sydney too often at the moment as I am not doing my zumba and yoga classes this term. I hope this email finds you well. Talk soon,

Corinne