Model the Model proceeds as a series of five, five-minute poses, as in a life-model drawing class. Instead of the model being naked, she is dressed and re-dressed for each timed pose. The poses are based on the catalogue descriptions of five of the terracotta female votive figures in the American Academy in Rome‘s antiquities collection. “audience” is also cast in the role of modellers; each rendering the pose in textual or drawn responses with supplied graphite and paper.
Model the Model was first performed in Sydney as an invitational event (taking account of Covid restrictions) in which Campbell set the conditions for Grant as ‘model’ to take the position of standing woman. Grant oscillated between subject and object, perhaps to the point of shimmering, perhaps to the point of energetic stillness. The state or status of the standing woman was relayed to invited writers and artists in the room who acted on the figure through acute observation and different graphic means.
In October 2022, while resident at the American Academy in Rome, Campbell worked with other residents, Preeti Chopra and Saskia Verlaan as "dressers" while Campbell took up the role of model. The resident scholars at the AAR were given materials to write and draw with.
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