Naomi Fitzsimmons
In August and September we welcomed Naomi into the OUTPOST Studios residency space.
Address: OUTPOST Studios, Upper Green Lane, Norwich, NR3 1AX
“As artist in residence at Outpost I proposed to make a video work exploring the cultural, ideological and materials qualities and significance of concrete - using storytelling and speculation to imagine a world in which the crumbling and somewhat redundant materials was the last known inhabitant.
However, once in the space and having spoken to Outpost studio members, I was told that the building, an old concrete office block, was set to be demolished, and that I would be the last artist in residence in this space. Given the nature of my project I wanted to include this in some way.
I collected found materials from the space and other nearby building sites to create a set of an archeological dig. The found and waste materials were installed in such a way to give them the sense of movement, permeability and melancholia. Small robotic sculptures that were gradually running out of energy, or supported by long thin rods moments away from toppling over, added to the short lived nature of the project and the residency format in general. The excavation site also functioned as a set for filming and sound performances - rigging up materials with contact mics. I worked with a range of analogue equipment to provide a record of not just the materials but the sonic properties of the space itself. This will now inform a soundscape and set for a larger video work.
Thank you, Outpost x” Naomi Fitzsimmons, 2023