The Black Square

The Black square project began on the 1st of September 1990. I wanted to give over part of my studio for other artists in an unpredictable and interactive way that could be a focal point or magnet for ideas. It would begin to evolve a life of its own, a history, a mythology. I have always had a fascination for the square, as a student had researched the work of Corbusier and the human module. The size of this square was arrived at by stretching out, striding, laying in it. Its length and width fluctuated until it was a size that felt right. No ruler was used. Its size in inches or centimetres was unknown, I didn't need to know. I was concerned with what feels right visually, physically, instinctively, not what is measured, accurate or exact. It probably wasn't an exact square, that was irrelevant. Before the ruler, man measured his world visually, by body size and shape, it had human relevance.

The plan: to offer the "black square" to artists, known or unknown, each week for 10 weeks. Each week an artist organised an event/performance within the square. Audiences turned up and participated in what turned out to be an exciting project.