Open Mind

UNIT 8: SKILLS TEST ADVANCED

Listening Reading
Listen to friends Evie and Will discussing Read this feature about a beach artist and his
installation art. Choose true (T) or false (F). work. Choose the best ending for each
sentence.
0 Evie claims there is no precise definition of
‘installation art’ that everyone can agree on. T/ Last summer while staying by the sea in Devon, I woke
F early one morning and, unable to get back to sleep,
decided to take the dog out for an early-morning
1 Evie says the difference between installations run on the beach. My efforts were rewarded. To my
and sculpture is not obvious. T/F surprise, someone had risen even earlier and had
been hard at work with his rake, creating contrasting
2 Evie completely dismisses the phrase patterns of wet and dry sand. Walking over the
‘installation art’ as having no real meaning. T/F dunes, I found that the whole beach had been
transformed into an exquisite mass of swirls and
3 Will gives three examples of exhibits that
spirals. The effect was so astonishing – and so
might be called installations. T/F
completely unexpected – that I had to pause for a
moment to catch my breath.
4 Will is interested primarily in the ideas
After some research, I managed to discover the identity
conveyed by a piece of artwork. T/F
of the beach artist – a local man named Johnny West –
and tracked him down at his home where we spoke.
5 Will seems generally to be dissatisfied
with modern art. T/F I wondered whether West told people in advance
when he was going to create one of these works of
art.
How did he ensure that the public got to see the fruits of
his labour after so much effort and skill had gone into it?
‘If people happen to be taking a stroll along the
cliff early in the morning and they stumble on my
work, that’s great, but I’m not at all interested in
publicising my work. It’s just not what I’m about.’
‘So was it a labour of love?’, I asked him.
‘Yes, I suppose it is. It’s something I do for its own
sake. I was raised by the sea and I’m never happier
than when I’m on the beach, alone, absorbed in what
I’m doing. I’m inspired by the patterns in nature – the
forms that water makes when it’s moving, the
symmetry of snowflakes, and so on. All these naturally
occurring shapes fascinate me. And there’s the
solitude too – that really appeals to me.’
And finally, I had to ask him how he felt when,
inevitably, his lovingly crafted masterpieces were
washed away by the tide. Why put so much effort
into a temporary work of art?
‘Well, I suspect I’m not alone in finding fascination in
the whole concept of non-permanent art. Perhaps it’s
the fact that these works have such brief lifespans that
makes us value them more – for the hour or two of
their existence, they’re precious. And then they’re
gone, forever. I think there’s something beautiful about
that.’
© Macmillan Publishers Limited 2015. This page may be photocopied and used within the class. 1
Open Mind ADVANCED

0 The writer is pleased Writing

A that he had been unable to sleep.
Write about a piece of art that you’ve
B that having a dog forced him out of the house.
seen. Use your own ideas and the ideas
C that he’d had the opportunity to see the sand
below to help you:
art.
• Is the artwork original and interesting? Why or why
1 The description suggests that at the point when the not?
writer arrived at the beach, the artist
A was still busy creating his work. • What do you think the theme of the artwork is?
B had already created his work and left. Is the theme of the artwork easily interpreted by
C had just started to create his work. the average viewer? Why or why not?

2 West refers once to his childhood, saying that he • Do you like the artwork? Why or why not?
A spent it on the coast.
B spent most of it on his own.
C spent most of it doing art.

3 West states that he takes great pleasure in

A being on the beach.
B his own company.
C both of the above.

4 The writer inquires how the artist feels when

A people destroy his creations.
B time destroys his creations.
C the sea destroys his creations.

5 Johnny West finds a particular value in

A works that reflect aspects of nature.
B works that only last for a short time.
C works that use sand.

© Macmillan Publishers Limited 2015. This page may be photocopied and used within the class. 2