Days of our Lives
October 2, 2008
The exhibition will change day to day as Murchie adds and removes works from the walls. Ideally he hopes there’ll be some form of encouragement for museum-goers to respond to the exhibition being created before their eyes.
Although he has some idea of the works waiting for him in the Nickle’s vaults, it’s nothing more than what he’s read about on their website. He’s trying to stay as blank as possible and waiting to see what’s there.
“It’s quite possible I’ll get there and walk upon some art that really strikes me, and discover that not only does it strike me but the last time it’s been shown was 1982. It may have whatever characteristic—where they’re from, when they were alive—that may set the whole thing going in one direction.”
But Murchie is doubtful that any real thesis will evolve. By the time he’s done the gallery could have a slight course of idea, or it may just be a salon hanging of a bunch of things. He is attracted to the idea there are possibly hundreds of objects that never see the light of day.
“I can’t believe that there’s not this huge wealth of visual and intellectual delights that are there. I’m more excited about exploring the territory as it were personally, and then trying not to make sense of that for people but create the opportunities for sense to be made.”
With more than 40 years of using improvisation in his performance work, and the operation of chance in his formal work, Murchie isn’t too worried about the project not working. Besides, since he’s there everyday if something isn’t feeling right he can take everything down and start again.
“There need to be more odd curatorial projects in the Canadian art world…And as I say to people—it’s only art. No one’s going to die at the end of the day if something doesn’t work.”
Things of Desire 