My Mouth is Very Hot Now
A response by Lisa Freeman to Galalith, an exhibition and publication by Lauren Gault, guest curated by Katherine Murphy. The text is a script for two characters, Ghost & Wolf, and is set in a field on the outskirts of the small fictional town of Cúl Gort
Ghost
Chilling under a Yew tree.
Wolf
Enters the field under a grey rusty gate and makes her way over to the tree.
Note: there’s a distinct crispness to the air, it feels like when you breathe in that your nostrils are more expanded than usual and you’re taking in more than the normal amount of oxygen.
Wolf
Arrives at the tree and immediately says:
The sun was shining so bright this morning that it woke me up at 5am and I only went to sleep at 4am.
Ghost
No response.
Ghost
Still no response.
Wolf
Helloooo?
Ghost
Ah… sorry… I was tuned into the news from up the road, an auld fella was about to go but he’s still hanging on. How are you anyway? Are ya well?
Wolf
As well as a girl that only got an hour’s sleep could be!
Wolf takes a second glance at Ghost:
Oh look at you, you’re all fancy today! I’ve never seen you in that shade of opaque before.
Ghost
Yes.. I.. it’s an upgrade.
A flock of sheep can be seen grazing in the distance, the field is about an acre in size, so they’re pretty far away. They’re like small fluffy clouds scattered on the grass.
Ghost
OHHH…
Wolf
What?
Ghost
I just heard there’s stirrings in Cúl Gort for some sort of scattering of ashes.
Wolf
Sure that wouldn’t be your line of work at all.
Ghost
But won’t herself be there, she’s fond of the ceremonial, communal, and all-things sad.
Wolf
Esoteric.
Ghost
Speaking of, I read my horoscope this morning and it said my day would start off with some grand plans but things could get really chaotic by mid-afternoon. And also it said I’d have an influx of cash soon.
Wolf
Sounds tumultuous but hopeful?
Ghost
Takes out a measuring tape and begins sizing up an area that looks roughly the size of a standard coffin.
Wolf
Nodding off, half in the shade, half in the sun. She notices how nice it is to feel the sensation of the prickly grass against her belly. She makes a mental note to do this more often.
She glances up at Ghost through one eye and sees them measuring the air around them, they might have even licked a finger and held it to the air to see which way the wind was blowing.
The smell of lilies floods the field but there are none in sight. It feels sickly, comforting and familiar to both Ghost and Wolf.
Wolf
Feels like she isn’t contributing much to this conversation so she half-heartedly mummers:
Guess it being Taurus season an’ all, makes sense that you’re focused on understanding the land and being drawn towards material possessions and the finer things in life.
Ghost
Is busy putting the measuring tape up into the sky and then down on the grass, they repeatedly push the little metal bit at the end of the tape into the grass, cutting into the soil.
Ghost
In a matter of fact tone: I like to get a sense of the space around me at any given time. Very handy carrying a measuring tape with you.
Wolf
Is increasingly getting irritated by Ghost’s constant chatter and the zip of the measuring tape as it flies back into its holder every five seconds.
A crow lands in the tree overhead.
CAW CAW CAW CAW CAW CAW
Ghost
Does a jaunty dance with the measuring tape, swinging it around like a dancing cane and finishing with a salute to the crow.
The crow seems to have gained some sense of importance after being saluted by Ghost and it repeats louder:
CAW! CAW! CAW! CAW! CAW! CAW!
Wolf
Is fully awake now, she knows there’s no chance she’ll nod off. She’s annoyed thinking that it was probably Ghost’s luminescent vibes that drew the crow over to them.
Wolf
Urgently: it feels like my teeth are melting in my mouth, we’re not in a dream are we?
Ghost
Maybe we could ask those sheep and see what they think?
Wolf
Yes quickly! My mouth is very hot now.
Wolf and Ghost leave the tree and begin making their way towards the sheep at the other end of the field. The crow flies away.
Song ‘Good Vibrations’ by the Beach Boys plays faintly as the camera pans back around to reveal an identical wolf coming under the grey rusty gate and a ghost, sitting where the other ghost sat, under the Yew tree.
I’m pickin’ up good vibrations, she’s giving me the excitations, I’m pickin’ up good vibrations (oom bop bop good vibrations) She’s giving me the excitations (oom bop bop excitations)
Good, good, good, good vibrations.
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Lisa Freeman is a visual artist working across scripted performance, film making, text and installation. She investigates content from archives, mainstream media and local knowledge to explore representation and precarious economies of labour. She currently holds a Project Studio at Temple Bar Gallery + Studios, Dublin (2022/23) and is supported by an Arts Council of Ireland Project Award (2022).
Lauren Gault is based in Magheramourne and Glasgow and was born in Belfast. Her work engages with multiple fields including agri-policies, biomaterials, archaeology and sound-image composition. This practice, active in its uncanny materiality, seeks to expand critical discussions around material sentience, future agri-relations and radical human/non-human interconnectivity. Her recent solo exhibitions include: Galalith, TBG+S, Dublin (2022), Cithra, The Tetley, Leeds (2021).
Katherine Murphy is a Glasgow-based Scottish independent curator. She’s worked with not-for-profit organisations, prominent artists, art institutions, museums, and international art festivals. Her Unfolding project (2021) works closely with collaborators to manifest and realise independent projects and exhibitons with feminist sustainable working practices. She is currently a Jerwood Curatorial Accelerator Fellow (2022-23).
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Galalith publication launch 26th November, 2022: 12pm, Temple Bar Gallery + Studios, Dublin. Informal reading and discussion with the artist, curator, TBG+S Director Cliodhna Shaffrey and invited guest, artist Lisa Freeman. www.templebargallery.c…
1st December, 2022: 6:30 - 8:00pm, Good Press, Glasgow, Galalith publication launch at Good Press, Glasgow with an informal reading, soundscape excerpts, and the publication displayed in an expanded, large format. The publicaiton will be displayedalongside materials, objects and ephemera relating to its content and research. goodpress.co.uk/pages/…
Other links: Lauren Gault: www.laurengault.co.uk/ Katherine Murphy, Jerwood Arts: jerwoodarts.org/katherine-murphy/ Lisa Freeman website: lisafreeman.net/ Contemporary Art Library: www.contemporaryartlibrary.org/project/lauren-gault-at-temple-bar-gallery-and-studios-dublin-24597
