The Inspiration
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
Anthea designed seven costumes for the performers based on different squashes.
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
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:
Art handling team installing one of the plinths, photo courtesy Alexey Moskvin
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Timelapse by 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.
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.
Intrigued? Come and see The Squash daily at Tate Britain until 7 October 2018
