The Inspiration
Erick Hawkins in his original production of 8 Clear Places (squash),New York 1960
Courtesy of The Erick Hawkins Dance Foundation, Inc, erickhawkinsdance.org
Photo: Daniel Kramer
Each element of The Squash has evolved from Anthea Hamilton’s interest in a photo she found in a book whilst at art school. The costume in the image is modelled on the Squash Kachina of the Hopi culture.
A collection of glass, fabric and vegetable squashes in Anthea Hamilton's studio © Tate, courtesy Anthea Hamilton 2018
Reference images: mushroom taxonomy and a still life with a melon, cabbage and citrus fruit © Tate, courtesy Anthea Hamilton 2018
Patterned waistcoat used as a reference garment for the marble leather pumpkin costume © Tate, courtesy Anthea Hamilton 2018
The Costumes
Technical drawings for each of the seven costumes at the LOEWE studio in Paris © Tate, courtesy LOEWE 2018
A rail of toiles of the seven costumes at the LOEWE studio in Paris © Tate, courtesy LOEWE 2018
Anthea designed seven costumes for the performers based on different squashes.
Reference sketch and garment for costume one © Tate, courtesy Anthea Hamilton 2018
Toile and digital drawing for costume one © Tate, courtesy LOEWE 2018
The costumes have been made in collaboration with Creative Director Jonathan Anderson at the fashion house LOEWE, with Anthea working closely with Jonathan to realise her ideas.
The seven costumes feature tracksuits, nightgowns, boleros and a codpiece. Many elements are hand painted in textures inspired by squashes, and lots of the fabrics feature custom prints.
Shirt in white hammered silk crepon and vest in black stretch leather for costume five © Tate, courtesy LOEWE 2018
Fibreglass head in white and black stripe embellished with crystals © Tate, courtesy LOEWE 2018
Detail of a black ruffle with gold trim for costume one © Tate, courtesy LOEWE 2018
Silk shirt and vest toile for costume five © Tate, courtesy LOEWE 2018
Samples of fibreglass heads, printed leather glove and braided cord cod piece
The Sculptures
Anthea selected 11 sculptures from the Tate collection to feature in the installation. They are each placed on the tiled plinths, which have been custom built to display them. The two main things she focused on when selecting the sculptures were organic form and natural colour.
F.E. McWilliam
Eye, Nose and Cheek (1939)
Tate
Henry Moore OM, CH
Working Model for Three Way Piece No.1: Points (1964, cast c.1964–9)
Tate
Henri Laurens
Autumn (1948, ?later cast)
Tate
Frederic, Lord Leighton
The Sluggard (1885)
Tate
Jean Robert Ipoustéguy
Earth (1962)
Tate
François Stahly
Growth (1963)
Tate
Arnold Machin
Spring (exhibited 1947)
Tate
The Installation
The installation took 25 days to complete. Watch our time-lapse to see how it all came together:
Tiling the North Duveen, photo courtesy Alexey Moskvin
Art handling team installing one of the plinths, photo courtesy Alexey Moskvin
This film file is broken and is being removed. Sorry for any inconvenience this causes.
Timelapse by Alexey Moskvin
Grouting one of the plinths in the North Duveen, photo courtesy Alexey Moskvin
Building the tall plinth at the end of the North Duveen, photo courtesy Alexey Moskvin
The Squash
Anthea Hamilton has transformed the Duveens galleries. The immersive space she has created is the stage for a performer who inhabits the space daily during gallery opening hours.
Anthea Hamilton The Squash © Tate (Seraphina Neville) 2018
Each performer selects their outfit for the day from the collection of seven costumes, and use the empty plinths and the areas around them to perform in.
Costume two courtesy of LOEWE
Costume five courtesy of LOEWE
Costume seven courtesy of LOEWE
Costume four courtesy of LOEWE
Anthea Hamilton The Squash © Tate (Seraphina Neville) 2018
Intrigued? Come and see The Squash daily at Tate Britain until 7 October 2018
