Gallery Visit Blog Posting:Kate Murphy

The first step into the exhibition, the surrounding colour of white clean, fresh and empty feelings. The exhibition space were so empty, as if some works were missing. There was arrange of the artworks displayed on the walls. Before I started to observe the Murphy’s works I could hear someone singing and talking continuously. Since I was more interested with noise rather than silence, I straight went into the curtain. The video installation behind the black curtain, (The only dark space within the exhibition), the large screen and close-up shot of the video invited me into the scene. Where a woman is standing and singing along the lyrics that Murphy have wrote. One of the music that performance sang in the video was called ‘suicide song’, something that was confronting,and weired. What kind of person write a song about suicide? That was first thought.

The lyrics was very personal, the name and events that happened in her life, that she tries to remember. The interesting about this performance was that the audience was faced with back side of the performer, as if she already disappeared from the world. Most of the songs were about her lover, family, friends and her life experiences. For some reason I just can’t forget the title of the song ‘suicide’ such a strong word that I almost can imagine someones death. Not the word that I'd like to hear at all. The other works that was displayed on the wall, the pieces of notes/composed music with the lyrics. It kinda creates the contrast
between two art medium. One with words and note without any sound, other with no words to read but hear the sound.

I'm not sure whether she intended to created different effect of using two medium. I was personally more interested in Kate Murphy's works rather than Jonathan Jones. Because I enjoyed sitting down in front of the video installation and listening to the woman singing (Interested with Opera type musics~) Overall ,the visit to gallery of both artist were excellent, I was wished that there were few more works to look at.