Angus Fairhurst

Like everyone whose path he had crossed, we at frieze were shocked and saddened to hear of the death of Angus Fairhurst. Angus was a funny, clever, charming man who will be much missed. As well as his work as an artist, Angus was a sensitive and elegant critic, though he wrote only occasionally.

 

I met Angus in 1990 when we were putting together the pilot issue of frieze. Along the way he played me a tape of ‘Gallery Connections’, the project he had produced a few months before. By placing two phones next to each other and simultaneously dialling two London galleries’ numbers, he created a few days of chaos in Cork Street. Some galleries apparently thought the Inland Revenue was bugging them, and went out into the street to talk in person. Angus agreed for us to transcribe the tapes and publish them in the first (pilot) issue of frieze.

 

The tapes of ‘Gallery Connections’ are now in the collection of the Tate. Below we reproduce the original transcription, from the magazine project, June 1991.

 
[Ringing tone]

Hello, Tate Gallery.

(Pause)

Tate Gallery.

Royal Academy, hello?
Tate Gallery

Hello?
Tate Gallery?

[Pause]

No, Tate Gallery

Yes, hello?
You rang me, I didn’t ring you.

(Pause) Well, we must have a crossed line, I haven’t rung the Tate Gallery, so, er, somebody obviously’s trying to get through to you and we’ve had a crossed line, I’m so sorry.
I’m sorry. That’s alright. Bye.

Ok, bye.
[click]

[Ringing tone]

Hello, Interim Art.
Hello, Anthony Reynolds Gallery.

Hello?
Hello?

Can I help you?
Sorry?

Can I help you? Er, my phone just rang.
Oh, no, so did mine, sorry, who are you calling from?

I’m not calling from anywhere. (Laughs) I just picked up the phone because it was ringing.
Ah… well this is the Anthony Reynolds Gallery,

Oh. I don’t know what’s happened because I, um, I mean the phone just rang and I picked it up, and, um, you were there (laughs) so, I don’t know.
Sorry, wh… who… am I talking to, sorry?

It’s Rose at Interim Art.
That’s strange, maybe someone’s phoning from another gallery, and… ma…

(Pause) I don’t know, maybe just something a bit odd on the phone line, I…
I’ll find out anyway. Thanks.

Ok. (Laughs)
Bye

Pleasure, then, bye.
[click]

[Ringing tone]

Victoria Miro Gallery…

Hello?

Salama-Caro Gallery.
Sorry

Salama-Caro Gallery.
Oh yuh? No it’s not, this is Victoria Miro, I think you have the wrong number (pause). Yuh?

(Pause) OK.
OK. [click]

[Ringing tone]

Hello, Lisson Gallery?

Hello?
Antony D’Offay.

Hello?
Yes? Hello?

Ah, this seems very strange. The phone just rang here and I picked it up.

(Pause) Hello?
Hello, yes?

Sorry, I wasn’t calling anywhere, I was actually answering our phone.
Oh, that’s very strange…

We… where is that?
This is… a… yu… are you in London?

Yes.
This is um, the Gallery D’Offay, Antony D’Offay.

That’s bizarre, this is the Lisson Gallery.
That is strange, is someone kind of um, doing…

Sounds like a fax line as well (laughs)

Exactly.
Our system’s down (laughs) OK.

How weird.
Yearh.

Oh, well, thanks.
Bye bye.

Bye.
[click]

[Ringing tone]

[Engaged tone]
Karsten Schubert Gallery.

(Pause)

[click]

[Ringing tone]

[Engaged tone]
Hello, Karsten Schubert Gallery.

[click]

[Ringing tone]

Victoria Miro Gallery.

Hello, Waddington Galleries.
Hello?

Hello, Waddington Galleries.
Yu… no… yu… sorry this is Victoria Miro.

(Pause) I’m sorry, who did you want to speak to?
I think we have a crossed line or something, I mean, er, this is the Victoria Miro Gallery, ah, you’ve just rung me.

(Pause) Oh right.
And that’s Waddington’s isn’t it?

Yes.
Oh, look, it sounds as though we’ve got some problems this morning actually.

Oh have you had this happen before?
Well, yuh, I’ve, ah, I… a… or did you call to get hold of Salama-Caro?

No, I mean literally, I just picked the phone up, the phone was ringing, I rang…
Same here.

I picked it up to see who…
Clare Row at, um, Victoria Miro.

Maybe we should hang up and hope it goes away? (laughs)
We’ve got some problems I think.

And maybe report it.
Yuh, yuh… OK, bye bye.

Bye bye.
[click]

[Ringing tone]

Hello, Interim Art.
Annely Juda Fine Art

Oh, … I, a … this has happened befor, we seem to get crossed lines, I, um (laughs) my phone was ringing so I picked up the phone, but ..
Um… ah….

It’s very odd (laughs)
Where are you calling from?

Ok, thanks, bye
(Pause)

[Click]
Hm…
[Click]

[Ringing tone]
Antony D’Offay
Pause

Annely Juda Fine Art
[Click]

(Pause)

[Click]

[Ringing tone]
[Engaged tone]

Laura Genillard

(backing voices and laughing)

Oh.

(To someone else) Il ne marche pas.
[Click]

[Ringing]
[Engaged tone]

Laura Genillard Gallery, good afternoon

(backing voices)

(pause)

(to someone else) Ce son ‘teu, teu’.
[Click]

[Ringing tone]
Hello?
(louder) Hello?

Salama-Caro gallery.
Hello?

Salama-Caro gallery.
Oh, I’m sorry, I think there’s been a crossed section, sorry.
[click]

(Pause) Hello? (Pause)

[click]

[Ringing tone]
Hello, Karsten Schubert gallery.

Hello? L … Laure Genillard.
Oh, hello, Karsten’s … out at the moment, I’m afraid.

(Pause) ‘Karsten is out’?
Yes, but, I, shall I get him to call you?

(Pause) I … what is this about? I’m … not … sure.
Oh… s … sorry, ha … have you got the right number? were you trying to call Laure Genillard Ltd.

(Pause)
Hello?

Yes?
It … um … ‘cause you …

You’re talking to Laure Genillard now.
No, sorry, you ,,, you’ve come through to Karsten Schubert Ltd.

(Pause) You … You’ve just called me, right? You’ve just called Laure Genillard … Who’s speaking?
I … I’ve just picked up the phone … i … is this Laure?

Yes.
Ah (laughs) it’s um, it’s Peter here at Karsten Schubert Ltd. but I’ve ju … I’ve only just picked up the phone, I thought …

Ah that’s strange ‘cause my phone rang and I picked it up.
Same here … isn’t that strange?

Ah, there’s something wrong with the …
It must be British Telecom.

Ah yes (laughs) I think so.
Oh (laughs)
Bye, bye.

Alright (laughs) bye.
[click]

[click]

[Ringing tone]

[beep beep beep]

You have dialed incorrectly, please try again.

[Ringing tone]
Antony D’Offay
(background talking)
(Pause) Hello?

Hello?
M-hm?

Yes, can I help you?
Oh!
[click]

(Pause) [click]

[Ringing tone]

Hello, Nicola Jacobs gallery
Good afternoon, Waddington Galleries.

(pause) Oh … they’re ringing to Wa … Helloo?
Hello?

Is … somebody’s ringing you too I think?

Hello?
Hello?

Is this Waddington’s?
That’s right.

Well we just got … er … the phone just rang here at Nicola Jacobs too.
(Pause) Oh, right.

I wonder who’s calling one or the other of us?

Anyway, we better both hang up. (laughs)

[click]
Shall I put the phone down?
[click]

[Ringing tone]

Redfern Gallery
Hello?

H’lo? (pause)
[click]

[click]

[Ringing tone]

Waddington Galleries.
Hello, Lisson gallery.

Yes, Waddington Galleries here.
Yes, erm … did you call?

No, I think we’ve got this weird this we’ve had once before.
Yup, exactly.

Have you had it before today?
Yes it … No …it, well it … happened …

I mean, during today have you had it?
Exactly, we had it about two weeks ago with you, and then … we … we has, I mean, this is really crazy …um, OK …

Ah …ah … What … what I was doing as maybe you were, was answering an incoming call.
Yup, exactly.

Yes.
Exactly, I know.

OK, well let’s hope it disappears again.
Yearh … yuh … I know, OK, thank you very much, bye.

Tha … bye.
[click}

[click]

[Ringing tone]
Hello, Interim Art.
(Pause)
[click]

Annely Juda Fine Art.

(Pause) Hello? (Pause)

[click]

[Ringing tone]

[Engaged tone]
Hello? (sigh)
(Background voice) Ce marche pas?
Ceci la meme chose.
(Background voice): Oh god! (laughs) not …
(muffled)
[click]

[Ringing tone]
Anthony Reynolds

Annely Juda Fine Art
(Pause) [click]

(Pause)

(Background voices)

(laughs)

(muffled)

(Pause)

[click]

[Ringing tone]
Antony D’Offay
(Pause) [click]

Tate Gallery.

(Pause) Tate gallery.

(pause) (louder) Tate gallery.

(Pause) Hello? (Pause)

[click]

[Ringing tone]
Good afternoon, Waddington Galleries.

Antony D’Offay.
Hello, Waddington Galleries.

No, you have te wrong number.
OK.
[click]

[click]

[Ringing tone]
Antony D’Offay

Good afternoon, Waddington Galleries.
Hello?
Sorry, this is the Antony D’Offay gallery.

No, no, it’s not.
No, this is … I … I don’t know how we’re being connected here.

Oh right. OK. (laughs)
OK?

Bye bye

[click]
[click]

[Ringing tone]
Antony D’Offay.

(Pause) Hello?
Yes?

Were you answering an incoming call?
Excuse me? … Yes … yes, we were.

Er, this is Waddington Galleries … I was …
I thing they’re playing around with the, um … with the exchange or something, doing some …

No, there is something very peculiar going on, and I think Mr Waddington has already complained about it, because what is curious, it appears to be galleries who get …
That’s absolutely right. I … I was just saying to someone it happened to me on Friday with Annely Juda … I don’t really know what’s going on …

And what’s more wei … yes … We have had it happening with, um, I mean there is something funny going on, we’ve had it happening with Nicolas Logsdail at the … Lisson, which is no way even in the same vicinity …
Yearh, yuh, I don’t know what to say.

Um, well I just going to note it down, it … because I think the more one knows precisely … so, OK … we …
Hmm.
Well I’ve been on to the exchange here … um

Yes, and I’ll find out who we’ve got on to because I know … a … something was being done at the end of last week.
Yes, OK (laughs) Thank you, bye bye.

Ok, Thank you. (laughs) bye.

[click]

[Ringing tone]
Hello, Interim Art.

HHello, Karsten Schubert gallery.
(laughs) There’s something really weird going on … um, sorry, I’m calling from Maureen’s.

Oh.
E … every now and then, our phone rings (laughs) I pick it up and then it starts ringing and then (laughing) another gallery picks up at the other end.

We … we had exactly the same problem with Laure Genillard, it’s so weird.
Well no I … I’ve now had Annely Juda and Anthony Reynolds and we’re obviously moving further afield than Dering Street.

That is so … weird, I don’t understand it at all.
Noo … (laughs) I’m glad you’ve got the same problem (laughing) I don’t know what it is.

(laughs) Ok, well, there we are.
OK, well, (laughing) nice to talk to you anyway.
Bye.

Bye.

[click]

[Ringing tone]

Salama-Caro Gallery.

(Pause) Hello? (Pause)
Victoria Miro Gallery.

[click]
(background noise)
Hello?
(Pause) Hello?
[click]

[Ringing tone]

Annely Juda Fine Art.
Morning, Anthony Reynolds.

(Pause) Hello?
Hello?

(Pause) Can I help you?
(Pause) I’m sorry, our phone just rang.

Sorry?
Sorry, who’s calling?

This is Annely Juda Fine Art.
(Pause) Oh … err …seems to be some problem … our phone just rang.

Oh. (laughs) wh … where are you? (Pause) I’m through a crossed line.
Ye … es …

OK then, cause our phone just rang, so I just picked it up, alright then.
OK the, thank you. Bye.

OK, bye.

[click]

[Ringing tone]
Antony D’Offay.
(background voices)
(Pause) Hello?
(Pause) Hello?

Hello, Lisson Gallery.
Oh … (talking to someone else) hey … it’s happened now

Hello?
Hello.

Yes, this is … Hello?
Yes, hello, this is the Antony O’Dffay gallery … um …

N … no … oh, is it?
Yes, we just um, I just (laughs) picked up a line that was ringing, and I got you.

Right.
I … is this the Lisson Gallery?

Yes it is. We …we just did the same thing.
W …well so where exactly are you, North West One is it?

Yes it is.
So li … we’ve just got British Telecom in actually (background voices), incidentally, and we … we’re reporting this sort of weird sort of crossed line situation that’s occurring (laughing) for about four days, it’s sort of Waddington’s, no one else …Hmm … Yep …

I know, well we need to do the same, it happens … so it’s quite weird because we’re not even in the same area.
Exactly, and … it happens really often.

Yes … I … I’ll report it to British Telecom also.
Yeah … can I have your number actually. Your phone number.

er … our phone number is seven two four, two seven three nine.
Yuh, two seven three nine, thank you.

OK? bye.
Bye. [click]

[Ringing tone]
Good morning, Waddington Galleries.

Hello, Lisson Gallery.
(Pause) Sorry?

Hello, Lisson Gallery.
Um … I’m sorry, I just picked the phone up … um, I got an incoming call from Waddington’s.

Oh my god, I can’t believe this is happening.
Have you told … the, um …

Yeah, we’ve told them and told them and told them.
Yearh, we had Telecom in again this morning.

This is crazy.
I know, cause we’ve had sort of various other galleries on the phone as well.

Really?
Yearh.

Yearh, well we’ve had one other gallery on the phone as well.
Have you? With the same sort of … same set up where you get an internal call … er … er … an external caller.

Yuh, exactly, and you pick up the phone, you say ‘Lisson Gallery’, and … it’s … y … you’re doing the same thing at that end … And there’s usually this kind of beeping fax noise as well. Do you get that as well?
Um … actually, to be honest, I was … I’ve only had a couple of other calls, ad I wasn’t aware of it the first time but … um, I think … yes, we have.

Sorry? … You have?
Yearh.

It’s really odd.
Yeah, I think it’s very strange, well I think we’re probably keeping a tally on it now, so um …

Yeah, so are we actually, and we’re informing Telecom whenever it happens.
Yearh.

(Sigh) OK.
OK, thanks. Bye.

Sorry, bye.

[click]

[ Engaged tone]

[Ringing tone]

Galerie du Genie.

(Background music)

Allo? (Pause)

[click]

[Engaged tone]

Daniel Templon, bonjour?

[Places on hold; plays electronic musak version of ‘Alouette’]

[Engaged tone]

[Ringing tone]

Galerie Ghislaine Hussenot.

(Pause) Allo?

(Pause) Allo? (Pause)

[click]

[Engaged tone]

[Ringing tone]

Galerie Ghislaine Hussenot.

[click]