Off Center

DIS-CONTENTS: INSIGHTS 2007

Daniel Eatock

A Performance

Tuesday, March 6, 7 pm

Shark © Daniel Eatock

This year, INSIGHTS, the design lecture series, kicks off with a homegrown hero: Daniel Eatock, a designer currently living and working in London, but formerly of Walker design intern fame. (1999) Check out his website and you’ll see the overall conceptual approach of his design practice. He exemplifies one of the themes that this year’s lectures attempt to explore: the overlapping roles of designer as author, editor and publisher.

We’re huge fans of Daniel’s and more than excited that he’s coming to the Twin Cities for what promises to be a fantastic evening. (Note the subtitle to the lecture – Daniel Eatock: A Performance) We recently asked him what he’s missed about Minneapolis and the Walker, and what he’s looking forward to when he comes back to town; needless to say, the response did not disappoint. (Read on below)

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Hello Jayme

THE INVITATION

I open Andrew’s email invitation on 19 December in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on

Flvia’s (my girlfriend, whom I met in Minneapolis) Dad’s computer in a small

workroom whilst the rest of our families made lunch in the adjoining

kitchen. Being invited by Andrew, being able to return to the Walker as a

former intern feels very special; it was a brilliant Christmas present!

WALKER

It was the first and only job I have every really had. I enjoyed the

pressures of having to do lots of projects well, very quickly. It was great

getting something back from the printers almost every week. It was the

perfect extension to the RCA, enabling me to explore further the ideas I was

interested in, in a live context.

Things I miss about Walker:

Michell Piranio’s coffee

Andrew’s very subtle but strong critiques

David Naj

Carpentry shop

Kathleen & Pamela’s corrections

Bookshop discount

Meeting artists

Rosemary’s collection of artist books, and her scrap book with Walker look-alikes

Looking forward to seeing the new building, meeting new people, saying hello

to Philippe, seeing the current shows, having lunch with you all.

UPCOMING PRESENTATION

Over the last few year’s my presentations of work have become less formal and

more works themselves. I am interested in the idea of a performance, or of

making works specifically for the context of a lecture.

Last week Flvia and myself did a performance/lecture at the RCA for design

students. She presented my work as if she were me, I presented her work as if

I were her. It became difficult to talk with clarity about each other’s work,

but as it was mainly improvised the result was a surprise both for the

audience and ourselves. I like the incomplete process where the final outcome is

unknown.

As part of my upcoming presentation I am planning on presenting three

previous performances:

Saying NO, performed at the recent Eye conference

20 Unrealised Ideas, each presented in 20 seconds, first performed at the

Pecha Kucha Night at the ICA

Chair Balance, an ongoing work

MINNEAPOLIS

Things I miss about Minneapolis:

Bob’s Java Hut

Cheapo Records

7th Street Entry

Pho Quan

The Wedge

Walking around the lakes

Feeling slightly removed from a really big city

Mason Jennings

Mayslack’s roast beef sandwiches

Radio K

Dan

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Thanks, Daniel! See you soon.

–Jayme