Object used in performance; and facing page, Text for PROSPECTER 2010, Held as part of ‘Arts research: Publics and purposes’ Conference, European Arts Research Network (EARN),15-19 February 2010, Dublin, Ireland.

Prospector:

Person who prospects, esp. for gold, minerals etc

Specter:

[ORIGIN French, or Latin spectrum, from specere ‘look’]
1 An apparition, a ghost, esp. one of a terrifying nature or aspect. ▸ b In Epicurean philosophy, an image supposed to emanate from a corporeal thing.
2 fig. A haunting or terrifying presentiment. Freq. foll. by of. ▸ b A person resembling a ghost in appearance.
3 An image produced by reflection or other natural cause

PROSPECTER The reading of a 206-word text is accompanied by a slide projection showing 206 images of different gilded rabbit bones. Each stanza of the text was read according to a different rhythm.

In turn, the rhythm was determined by a wooden Mazel metronome, set at the following tempo: 60bpm, 120bpm, 180bpm. This increased the intensity at which the words were read and the images (manually) advanced.

Stanza 1 (60bpm)

in blood red waves
heads and feet come a-rolling down the hill
Sisyphus has his hands full but he remains ever so committed
below prince valiant tallies the count and readies the bonfire
ra ta ta ta ta ta (some half-wit lights a string of fire crackers)
eleven hungry bellies growl in unison
and the chorus stamp their feet
braai bra braai!
(thula thula se fokken gat)
ukuziphatha kwabaphilayo kuthunaza amadlozi!

Stanza 2 (120bpm)

dull knifes cut thin strips of meat from lean bones
eyes goes pop! as dirty fingers prod all the remaining cavities
digging digging (prospecting as in days gone by)
small hammers appear when persistence pays of and produces a lucky find
a solid gold filling (this must be eldorado)
enough of them and we can make ourselves a shiny calf boys
stook daai vuur boetie, stook hom warm!
ukuziphatha kwabaphilayo kuthunaza amadlozi!

Stanza 3: 180bpm

here and there a lost ass brays
nudging other stragglers and sniffing about like a dog
as if it might still find Sampson among the masses
a hand instinctively reaches behind its ears
but its  the jawbone that itches
(what philistine cannot understand?)
hierdie donkie weet waar die groot water lê
en hy’s hier vir sy date met destiny
ukuziphatha kwabaphilayo kuthunaza amadlozi!