On Saturday 31 October Young Tate will take over Tate Liverpool after hours to present Night of the Machine, an event inspired by the exhibition Joyous Machines: Michael Landy and Jean Tinguely. Tinguely’s wondrous machines have been a source of inspiration to artists like Michael Landy, and now to members of Young Tate who will celebrate his work in an interactive Halloween event. This Tinguely-themed costume party, suitable for anyone aged 13-25, will take place from 18.00 – 21.00 on Saturday 31 October. Entry is free, and includes free admission to the exhibition for one night only.
Based on an interpretation of Jean Tinguely’s Homage to New York, Young Tate and students from Liverpool Community College Arts Centre will transform Tate Liverpool into a fantasy crime scene where the city is almost completely destroyed and only relics and images remain. Guests are invited to come in costume and pick their way through the wasteland to uncover clues as to what might have happened. Among the ruins will be live bands including Man eats plane, The Ghost Ship, surprise electronic guests, and DJ/VJ sets by Jessie Beaumont and Mark Green.
There will be a chillout space with food and drink, and drop-in workshops where guests are invited to create a Cloverfield-style report on the event with media artist Bert Byron. Visitors can also work with artist Deborah Butler to make jewellery out of parts of the foyer installation. The aim is that by the end of the party all that will remain of the Night of the Machine foyer installation will be the idea of it.
The Chatterbabes, an arts and performance group formed through Find Your Talent in St Helens, will also be contributing to the evening’s festivities. Make-up artists led by Irfan Ali and Rauf Rashidi will be on hand to spice up any costumes that need that little extra something. A prize will be presented to the person wearing the costume that best suits the theme.
Jean Tinguely’s famous work Homage to New York is the starting point for creating the event. This famous auto-destructive work of art was a 27ft high self-destroying machine that came to life for only 27 minutes during a performance at the Museum of Modern Art, New York in 1960. However, the machine failed to destroy itself completely, leaving only relics, some of which are on display in Joyous Machines alongside other kinetic sculptures and automatic drawing machines by Jean Tinguely.
The event, Night of the Machine, is supported by the Liverpool Integrated Youth and Play Service and Youth Opportunity Fund.