Baker’s Dozen
2017 - 2019 Stray Dog in Athens/ London/ Prague to create the 13 hangings
2021 Stray Dog in Dorset, England - performance ‘Baker’s Dozen’ with the 13 hangings as a set.
13 canvases hangings 3x1.5 meters each. With a vertical composition in mind, string was glued to the surface of one side of the canvas, to delineate an initial structure. The same surface was then ‘textured’ by differing white markings. An ‘echo’ of the initial side was created on the reverse, with the string lines picked out in the white texturing, individualising each of the 13.
In each city, people chose their preferred canvas. They were given tubes of black henna, to draw/paint into the prepared reverse side. Utilising a good amount of water, their drawing ‘bled’ through, in varying degrees to the string side.
In each city, people chose their preferred canvas. They were given tubes of black henna, to draw/paint into the prepared reverse side. Utilising a good amount of water, their drawing ‘bled’ through, in varying degrees to the string side.
Gail then responded to the latter, integrating the random result into a finished painting, without affecting the other persons composition. The final set of Baker’s Dozen was completed by 13 people of 13 different nationalities, many of whom are refugees.
In the performance of Bakers Dozen, several actors utilised the stories of some of the individuals who created the works. The performers related these stories of others to a personal element of their own, whilst playing with the vertical motion that now belonged to each hanging.
In the performance of Bakers Dozen, several actors utilised the stories of some of the individuals who created the works. The performers related these stories of others to a personal element of their own, whilst playing with the vertical motion that now belonged to each hanging.
