Daniel Eatock
A Performance
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