84 Steps to Solace — Tara Carroll

Participatory Performance Installation

Silk, velvet, fringing, thread, foam,

Planta Alta, Madrid | 2023

3 cushions custom-made for staircase corner seats in the inaccessible Georgian building of the art space and residency accomodation. Silk words in Spanish say "52 more steps, It's okay to rest", "31 more steps, really take a rest" and" 10 more steps, just a moment". The cushions invited participants and the artist to take a rest on their performative journey to the gallery where a feast and cosy chats awaited.

The artist playfully moved around the participants as everyone recited the number of the step they were on creating sounds billowing up the staircase. The artwork vibrantly highlighted an access aid often ignored by visitors and the artist to break down the shame of using it.

This work was developed on the Create and Hablarenarte International Residency in Madrid, Spain while connecting with local communities of place.

Various pieces of fabric in shades of yellow, green, and blue are neatly arranged on a wooden surface, with a small green leafy plant in the top left corner.

52 more steps, It's okay to rest

A decorative piece in the shape of a table with a colorful cloth covering it. The cloth has a green background with a gradient and fringe at the bottom. The top of the table has text written in yellow and white that says '31 Pasos Más Desconcertar De Verdad'.

31 more steps, really take a rest

Three people in a room. One person is sitting on a green bench, smiling, and wearing a white shirt with a design, a navy jacket, and black pants. Two other people are standing; one with glasses and a beard, looking down at a device, and the other with short hair, wearing a striped shirt, orange earrings, and a green bag, smiling while looking at the person with glasses.