I was much more nervous about setting up my installation
than I thought I would be. Inserting my own torso into a public venue left me
feeling vulnerable, and I left it until the very last minute. When I went to
install my project, I found that the torso was too large to sit on the chair
and it toppled over. I quickly remedied this by balancing the stomach against
the table, but this resulted in putting the back of the torso and the text
attached to it out of view.
I’m not quite sure what the reaction to my installation has
been. I have not seen anyone interact with it, but I often see that it has been
moved from the chair to the table top, presumably so the chairs at the table
can be used. My art, and my torso, is an intrusion on this public space and
putting art work in public venues gives you a lot of insight into how art is
valued.
If I were to do this project again, I would take more care
in the plaster casting stage. It could have been done more successfully and
much more neatly. I would also choose more carefully how to place the text on
the torso. If I were to do this in a gallery setting, I would set up a table
for two to resemble a tea party of sorts.