Supporting contemporary art
Saturday June 28th 2-6pm
Re-enactments will take place at 2pm, 3pm, 4pm & 5pm
The Crypt at St Etheldreda’s Roman Catholic Church
14 Ely Place, London EC1N 6RY
The Temperate and the Intemperate, c. 1475-80 (Master of Dresden Prayer Book)
Ann-Marie LeQuesne will work with members of the public to present At Table, a series of live performances (spread over an afternoon), in which she will ask participants to form a tableau vivant of the painting seen above—mimicking the postures and expressions of the numbered characters in the image. Each re-enactment, borrowing on the practice of filmmaking, will evolve over several “takes” giving participants the possibility to develop their character, bringing their own interpretation to the role and allowing the final version of the work to be seen as the result of a genuine collaboration between LeQuesne and the participants.
The painting shows two approaches to drinking: drinking in excess (lower table) and drinking with restraint (upper table). It was painted as a “morality” lesson and lends historical perspective to current debates on how/if the state and/or the church influences individual behaviour.
Participants will enter a “set” of the painting. The set will consist of two long refectory tables, a raised “high” table in the back of the set and a “low” table in the foreground to the left. Both tables will have white tablecloths, dishes and goblets arranged as in the painting. Lengths of felt will be hung on the back wall to resemble the wall hanging in the painting. Participants will choose their role from the 14 numbered characters seen above. They can play any role, male or female and need not resemble their character, but they must try to portray his/her expression and position within the painting. Participants will wear their own contemporary clothing but are requested to dress in solid colours. Medieval hats (carefully modelled on those seen in the painting) and simple costume elements, such as a collar or a jerkin, will be provided.
The performance will be accompanied by live and pre-recorded sound/music. The live music will be sung by Muriel Louveau. Muriel will be the character standing on the left, dressed in blue and pointing out the difference in behaviour between the tables. She will sing with the backing of specially recorded “number choruses” spoken in rhythm as each participant enters the set in sequence.
Small printouts of the original image (numbered as above) will be provided and given to the participants as a guide to assuming their role. The performances will be filmed and photographed and a film of the same title will be released at a later date. All participants will receive a photograph of their re-enactment.
Collaborators:
Muriel Louveau – performer/ musician
Ian Bennet – milliner
Heather McDonough – Photographer
Lenka Clayton and James Price – Filmmakers
Haresh Patel – sound technician (London)
Shyamal Maitra – sound technician and percussionist (Paris)
costumes for At Table performances
At Table is supported by
Juliet Gomperts Trust.and
