Stroke - What did you think?

[Melanie]

Although this commission was launched a while ago in March, I am keen to hear people's comments about it. For those who managed to view it, what did you think?

[Marya]

There were mixed reactions from my household Melanie. My 14 yr old son and my 40 something husband felt hot and bored

I thought it quite disturbing in parts. For example, it seemed as though one of the swimming figures was trying to drown another at one point and I found the music unsettling and unpleasant. I went expecting something beautiful, because of the photos I had seen and although there was an element of that , my lasting memory is one of unease.
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[Melanie]

Hi Marya,

Thanks for your feedback! There were a few other comments made along those lines as well.

It was a very warm and I can understand how the mix of heat and chlorine might not make for a comfortable viewing experience.

Do you think if there had been no sound it would have been less unsettling?

[Marya]

[wangi]

Maria, were you there the first night Stroke was open? The sound was much louder then. If you weren't there the first night then be glad you weren't

[rapunzell]

I get heatstroke if I sit near the toaster so the hot air of the baths was never going to be the good part. But watching Stroke was magical, just magical. Not least because I'm a waterbaby who has always wished that swimming pools were dark and coloured and musical, with shoals of fish flickering between the swimmers.

[Melanie]

It reminded me of swimming outside in mountain lakes by moon or starlight. However, the thought of dark water absolutely terrifies me - if I can't see below my legs I panic! It made me think of the scene in the film The Beach, with Mr Leonardo DiCaprio, where him and his love interest go swimming at night and all the bio-luminescent plankton come out to play. Anyone seen it? It is a beautiful scene.

Do you think the piece utilised the space well?