A pioneer of conceptual art Willats has created work concerned with extending the territory in which art functions and has situated his pioneering practice at the intersection between art and other disciplines such as cybernetics, systems research, learning theory, communications theory and computer technology.
In the work featured he introduced an elderly woman resident of a high rise apartment block (Skeffington Court in West London) in three panels — “Living within the confi nes of my new home”; “Living with the present day limitations of a small income”; and “Living without the certainty that I will see someone tomorrow.” The panels presented her in her apartment, moving through her daily routine, both inside and outside the multi-story brick building. As part of the display, a photograph of the woman’s rectilinear U-shaped apartment block was placed in the center of each panel as the defining reality of her existence. Each panel then posed a question to prompt viewers to think from her vantage point. For example: “What do you propose is the way for me to form new relationships within this isolated tower?”
Whist studying these pages I was reminded of the time when as a kid the family moved to our new home on the #Hattersley overspill estate in Greater Manchester. Built during the 1960’s on poor quality farmland - it was described in 1792 as a veritable puddle! - the government offered the local authority huge subsidies if they would consider building high-rise accommodation, so 7 high rise blocks were built (the 7 Sisters) with 65 flats per block to take advantage of the subsidy.
Whilst elements of Willats work reflected on the “dark side” of these buildings, the hidden, segmented structure of their interiors, I was always envious of the high rise residents and dreamed of living on the top floor.
Stephen Willats (born London, 1943) is a British artist and lives and works in London.
