The Conservatoire, Blackheath, 20 January 2025
Back at The Conservatoire, after the short warm-up poses apparently it was my turn to stand (as opposed to sitting or reclining) for the evening’s long pose. The last time I’d stood for the 2-hour pose – 90 minutes plus breaks – it was in the style of ‘Balzac, étude de nu C, grand modèle‘ by Auguste Rodin.
Tutor Victoria Rance asked me to recreate the Balzac pose once more, but this time with feet squarely aligned rather than one foot a step forward. Victoria always prefers symmetrical poses. I was happy to comply although I suspected the stance made me look less like a 19th century French novelist, more like a 20th century club doorman.
The pose itself was easy to maintain and heaters kept me sufficiently warm. The only ache was a stiff neck. Psychologically however, it was interesting to notice how much more ‘naked’ I felt in this pose. Maybe because it didn’t feel like a ‘pose’; I was simply standing, the same as in everyday life… but open, exposed, unshielded, vulnerable.
Pose minutes, 7:30pm-10pm
Part 1 : 1, 1, 1, 5, 10.
— break —
Part 2 : 45, (20-minute rest), 30 continuation, (5-minute rest), 15 continuation.
Artworks
With apologies to artists I’m unable to credit.
steve ritter 