Tate St Ives: Anna Farley, Your Space II (inspired by Ithell Colquhoun)

This space is available indefinitely and is an updated version of the original Your Space.

Anna Farley is an autistic artist who develops inclusive and accessible spaces that are interactive and inviting.  It would be easy to assume that these spaces are just for children, but I think there is a lot for adults in them as well.

Ithell Colquhoun was an artist, writer  and occultist who spent the later years of her life in Cornwall.  She was very much inspired by the Surrealists and identified as such although she was only loosely affiliated to the Surrealist movement.  She loved biology and often included studies of plants.  It's not surprising, given her interest in the occult that her work often explored the conscious and subconscious, dreamscapes, spirituality as well as gender and sexuality.  While her work is sometimes considered dark and macabre.

Not surprisingly, it is not the dark and macabre that has inspired this version of Your Space, but her billowing colours which spread across the walls.  They remind me of the effect of water colours spread by water, or ink blot art.  Colours spreading, diluting and merging.  It's a very beautiful effect.

The other notable introduction that references Ithell is the inclusion of books on her and a tarot deck and an oracle deck.  Occultism has been such a huge part of many artists and it was an influence in the group of artists living in Cornwall after the Second World War.  It's important not to exclude it or gloss over it when learning about these art movements.  I personally do not believe tarot is sinister and I think it is a useful tool in exploring archetypes.  It's no wonder artists are drawn to it and representing the full range of archetypes is a good challenge.

The Yay! Tarot was developed by young people from the Yay! Intercom Trust at Tate St Ives in collaboration with artist Sam Metz.  Stimming is a coping mechanism many autistic people use to cope with overwhelm, be it physical or emotional and it can be calming as well as expressive.  It often features repetitive behaviours.  The group explored drawing as stimming as a way to create non-verbal sensory expressions.  The deck features a range of abstract images and is inspired by Ithell's own tarot deck.

The space still features a wide range of things to interact with such as objects to build with or arrange.  There were lots of bean bags and comfy spaces, especially for smaller people.  I imagine on school holidays and weekends, it will be very well used.

I think the only thing I really missed from the previous version of the space was the board where people added their own art and thoughts.  Some of the things on the old board were great!  All well used spaces need a refresh though!