FEATURE Image taken from www.metaphorm.org
Brian Goggin ((Homerton 1986 –1988) has been a sculptor, artist and whimsy technician since the early nineties, specialising in site specific installations that involve not only those in the artistic community but also city planners, philosophers, scientists and architects to create stunning pieces that interact with our everyday environment.
B
rian was previously best known for the 1997 work ‘Defenestration’ which was created with the help of over a hundred volunteers in an abandoned tenement building in a run-down part of San Francisco. ‘Defenestration’ is now being de-commissioned but remained in place for more than fifteen years, with a major refurbishment in 2010. More detail on all of Brian’s works can be found here (http://www.metaphorm.org/works/) His latest work is a collaboration with conceptual artist Dorka Keehn to create a permanent, site-specific installation in downtown San Francisco entitled ‘…
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HOMERTONIAN
CARUSO’S DREAM And My Room Still Rocks Like a Boat on the Sea (Caruso’s Dream)’, or ‘Caruso’s Dream’ for short. The sculptural and audio-visual work consists of a chorus of thirteen glass pianos suspended from an apartment building which light up in response to a recording of Enrico Caruso, the Italian tenor who achieved fame in the early twentieth century. The installation is inspired by Caruso’s experiences during the San Francisco earthquake of 1906, which traumatised him so much that he vowed never to return to the city. Work started on the installation in 2012 and it was unveiled on 23 February 2014
with a procession of pianos through San Francisco. On arrival, the pianos became part of a carnival-like opening featuring a range of performers including thirteen pianists, five aerialists and a marching band. The unveiling was funded by the Kenneth Rainin Foundation and Black Rock Arts. To find out more about ‘Caruso’s Dream’, or any of Brian’s other projects, you can visit Brian’s website (http://www.metaphorm.org/ portfolio/carusos-dream/) or follow him on Twitter (@BRIANJGOGGIN). James Thomson Homerton 1987–1994