Nothing to be done Artist Interview with Melany Nugent-Noble
In the exhibition Nothing to be done, Melany Nugent-Noble explores sculpture through the use of contemporary materials and takes reference from the stage set of Samuel Beckett’s play, Waiting for Godot.
First performed in Paris in 1953, the play is about two characters—Vladimir and Estragon—who wait beneath a tree by a country road for Godot (who never arrives). The courtyard is intended to provide a refuge for the imagination—a focal point for contemplation where one has permission to let their mind wander towards adventure, possibility, and the unknown.
There have been numerous interpretations of Waiting for Godot, and although there has never been consensus on its meaning, it is noted that Beckett was inspired by Caspar David Friedrich’s 1820 painting Two Men Contemplating the Moon. This atmospheric installation refers to both the scene described in the play and the painting, complete with a large replica moon hanging low in the sky next to a Burr Oak tree.
About the Artist
Melany Nugent-Noble is a Kelowna-based artist. Her work responds to the political and social nature of public spaces, and takes various forms including community-focused installations. She was recently selected as the City of Kelowna’s first Artist in Residence.
Acknowledgements
The Kelowna Art Gallery gratefully acknowledges the financial assistance of City of Kelowna, Canada Council for the Arts, British Columbia Arts Council, Province of British Columbia, Central Okanagan Public Schools, Central Okanagan Foundation, and our members, donors, and sponsors.
