THIS IS AN EVOLVING ARTICLE THAT BEGINS HERE AND WILL END SOMEWHERE ELSE
This is a kind of rolling blog that will be amended, changed and revised. This first part is by way of an introduction.
On a typical August bank Holiday in Edinburgh, where the weather changes mind hourly, we meet up with Richard Demarco and Terry Ann Newman his assistant of 20 years, in the Summerhall building just south of the city centre. Walking through the many rooms and corridors packed with photographs, paintings, drawings, boxes of letters, that form, what is described as an archive, but its much more.
What is clear, even to the casual observer, is that it’s a living entity, a recording and memory of a thousand conversations, discussions, choices and decisions that highlight a remarkable and singular career of the Richard Demarco project that has influenced and affected so many people for so long.
This is an amazing resource of actions, exhibitions, performances, happenings and many travels, a life spent racing forwards at high speed. But the rooms are quite and the conversations muted, the many treasures hidden here deserve a wider audience there is so much to explore and enjoy. In front of your eyes, on many shelves, boxes and drawers are exposed the many twists and turns that mark a life, full on, un-compromised and dynamic.
He wears like a medal, a camera around his neck, which he occasionally uses to photograph us as we talk. It's part of the conversation but not evasive, it's just Ricky, recording the present for the future.
He is something of an enigma, he talks about the artists, writers and curators he has met and supported, including Marina Abramović and of course Joseph Beuys who was a long time friend and collaborator.
We arranged to meet in a pub that is part of the Summerhall complex. He is late, Terry arrives first, Ricky is just being Ricky and is held up by a conversation in the carpark. Its what he does, he speaks to people, listens and has much to say, because…. he has much to say.
I first met him in 2011 when I inherited Venice Agendas from Bill Furlong and Mel Gooding. It was meant to be a one off project, but has preoccupied part of my time ever since. We organised a talk called Crossing Boundaries and as often happened the conversations of the panel were just the starting point. Ricky always attended, once he had the microphone in his hand he stood up and held court, talking about the issues and ideas that drives his passion for art. His contributions are always welcome, well timed and relevant.
One thing for sure is that he needs and deserves a platform, he has given a great deal to art and he has much more to give. Actually he shares many of the qualities of Hans Ulrich Obrist who like Demarco is an enthusiast, a fan and someone of enormous generosity. Connecting people, ideas and projects, these are exactly the kind of people we only value once they are gone.
I have met him and Terry many times in Venice and London but this is our first meeting in Edinburgh and my first time as witness to the extraordinary labyrinth of rooms, tables, boxes that form what is called an archive but as I mentioned before it is better described as a journey just begun.
< to be continued >
(Photographs by Chelsey Browne)
