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Reflective Journal: Post 2 - The new project, statement of intent & first tutorial

THE NEW PROJECT:

I feel that the first project for year 2 has a little bit more structure to it and a nice slice of academic learning. I am very pleased there are guidelines for this year as they were needed so badly, for me anyway. ‘Cos at the end of the day, despite being able to be free in what we do, we still need to ‘tick boxes’ as it were, in which to succeed. The powerpoint presentation and poster has daunted a good few people I’ve spoken to, but not me personally. Talking infront of a group of people is what I conquered in college, I had to do it about once a week thereabouts - though I would say I’m a bit rusty!

Being shot to the ground is expected in critiques because nobody is perfect and it’s easy to miss things and get it wrong. That’s the whole point of these things. I’m rather looking forward to my presentation because I want feedback from other people including idea suggestions, artist links and development processes. 

The poster will be an enjoyment to make. I love creating posters but my only concern is trying to get across my research and development in a way that others will understand and perhaps relate to. I think keeping it to the point and having a lot of visual stimulus is the best way to go. A2 in size will give me plenty of room to create something interesting. The examples on the VLE really do range from the plain and boring to the extravagant. 

STATEMENT OF INTENT:

” Throughout this year I wish to extend my research and knowledge into the Black Death. I touched upon this subject last academic year in my essay ‘Materialising the Immaterial: The altering perceptions of Death in Art between 1300AD and 1500AD”. I will create a body of work based on several concepts: Religion, History, Death and the Metaphysical. I will focus on using mixed media, combined with a new recent practice - using recycled imagery. 

I have no arguments to present within my work, only to create visual responses to newly-gained knowledge. However I do have concerns about presenting the metaphysical in a physical, visual manner and in a defined practice of my own. This will be explored, questioned and analysed during this year”

This year will be really opening up what I can do and what I’m interested in. I’m determined to do well and want to do well in something I enjoy producing art about. 

FIRST TUTORIAL:

I was slightly apprehensive about my first tutorial because of a couple of things. Firstly, I had a new tutor, who didn’t know my work, or anything I had created previously last year, in depth. Secondly, I had to discuss my new project and statement of intent ideas (as written above), which I felt were still a little too open for my liking - I felt lost in all honesty. 

However, talking to Flora really opened my eyes. It was like a metaphorical slap in the face. The connection I had between myself and my in-depth interest in the metaphysical and death was there all along. She explained that what I talked about and showed her, suggested that my obsession of trying to complete, control and organise my life linked with the fact that Death is completion. It is finite, inescapable and uncontrollable. I want to produce the metaphysical and a physical, visual thing to hold. This links to creating my digital work…it can be seen as only real when you print it off and hold it in your hand. The idea of imagining and creating something out of nothing. 

Unfortunately I can’t explain it nowhere near as well as Flora did, but I know what I’m on about, I know now what to do and for now I just simply need to enjoy being ‘lost’. 

Not knowing what I want, need to do and will do, enables me, over time, to let go of my controlling, organised habits and explore into the subject I keep condensing to narrowed, constricting briefs. Which in effect, never become complete.

I told Flora that I wanted to focus on the ‘Plague Doctor’, which was a key figure represented in art during the 16th Century in Europe and the response was to just go for it and start doing some direct research on it. This is something I am currently doing.

She also gave me a few artists to look at, but the one that stood out for me the most was Michael Landy and his project called ‘The Breakdown’. I don’t think I could physically do it. Not because of destroying items of sentimental value, but because of the monetary value of what I own. If I had to re-enact this, I would have to SELL everything own, not destroy it. This artist came up into conversation because of my obsession with obtaining money, I am in fact mid-way through the process of turning my home into a minimalistic place - It’s taking far longer than expected. So far I have sold over 500 items online. 

“Michael Landy made an inventory of everything he owned: every item of furniture, every book, every piece of food, every cat toy… The list took three years to complete and it contained 7,227 items. Then, with the help of a large machine and an overall-clad team of operatives, he set about destroying it all. After two weeks nothing but powder remained.” (See source) 

Source: www.angelfloresjr.multiply.com/journal/item/3594/3594

(Source: artangel.org.uk)

Reflective Journal: Post 1: May to October 18th 2011

INTRO:

This is effectively a diary of my ideas, thoughts, worries and progression into my developing Art Practice. Firstly, I want to state that some of the written text will be a bit confusing as I’m far from literate at times and there’s nothing worse than struggling with what on earth you’re trying to say. 

First things first, I should be at uni at the moment, but karma has kicked me in the arse and given me the flu. I feel like my nose is a tap which simply will not turn off. To make myself feel useful, I’m starting my project today by writing on here. 

SOME LUCK:

The last 2 weeks or so have been really eventful and have distracted me from my work almost entirely up until now. It started off when I was arranging my dyslexia appointment with a psychologist in the Francis Building, Norwich…and I power walked into a pile of tan-coloured dog shit. Now that’s what you call an instant ‘yummeh’ moment, but I believe in good luck and I think it was the starting point. Like being pooped on by a bird or finding a 1p piece.

Day after, I found out I am in fact dyslexic, which I felt was a kick in the teeth. But since High School I haven’t been able to speak, write or even use my memory properly…(especially my memory. I think a fish has a better chance). But because I was in top sets for everything, my downfall was overlooked and I thought I was plain stupid. I’ve never had such a big smile on my face, ‘cos now I have a chance in actually passing this course! Yippee!

Technically I have only been at NUCA (Norwich University of the Creative Arts) about 5/6 months at max, despite being in my 2nd year. I had massive issues with people at my previous university, which left me no choice but to leave; despite the fact I adored my course and university. At the end of the day, I guess it’s because I don’t drink  - that’s how pathetic other people can really be. I don’t drink because I don’t like socialising all that much, let alone with drunk, puking people. Plus I love money (Saving not spending). I will be the one laughing when I have extra money to rely on after university.

Rant over. Basically I’m trying to say that since university, I have been lost amongst everything and anything, and I haven’t got a clue what I want my future or art practice to be like. For several years it’s all been art-focused, still is in a way, but since all this palaver about the recession and a double dip, I’ve been doing nothing but saving and earning every penny I can get. This has developed an addiction and obsession with eBay, gumtree, bootsales, auctions and generally selling almost EVERYTHING I own. I know it’s unhealthy and I have other priorities, but I honestly cannot help myself! 

Okay, so enough about my life story for the moment. Back to my week of ‘luck’.

So I trod in dog shit? So what? I got the help I wanted, so what? Right, well a few days later (12th October) I was in my very first car accident and had to be rushed to hospital on a stretcher and I had messed up my neck. I left with simply a neck brace and was drugged up to the eyeballs, which was a relief and a half because it could have been a lot more serious. Sounds like bad luck? Well yes in a way, but I now have a nice compensation claim, which in time could be improving my bank balance somewhat. 

Last but not least, not only a few days ago, I got a contract through the post about a prop I designed for a feature film called ‘The Power’ this summer for 9weeks. (It sucked out my soul, well and truly). It was an occult bible for their pagan-style religion in the film. I originally applied as doing it solely for work experience, working under a brief for a real client excited me greatly. But to my utter astonishment the contract was about payment for this book I’ve created and signing over copyright. I couldn’t believe it, but something was niggling at the back of my head saying ‘it’s too good to be true’, so I’m currently organising a solicitor to read through it and clarify all these overly complex words to me to be safe.

THE OCCULT BOOK:

A couple of the pages of my book are below.

The book consists of a goat-skin bound shell with the two main occult symbols, one on the front and one on the back (both related to Baphomet, a pagan deity). The inside consists of over 250 hand-stained pages (which took absolutely FOREVER to do), approx 20 of which were illustrated with pictures and text, designed by myself. All the pictures were drawn with a quill and different coloured inks. In the brief I was told to avoid certain ‘positive’ colours such as yellow, green and blue, unless it was for a page on creation (how the world was made).

The project was certainly an interesting one and definitely gave me an insight into the unpredictable, unorganised and confusing world of the film industry. But it was well worth it.

SUMMER 2011:

This wasn’t the sole project for the summer, towards the last few weeks of the last academic year, I felt disheartened and desperately wanted to improve my practice and explore what I could produce in my 2nd year.

I did extensive personal research and still felt like there was so much I could do and I was simply getting nowhere; until I came across my unsuccessful lithography prints. I kept them originally because I wanted to re-do them at a later point and show development, however I never got around to doing it.

Looking at them closer, I realised that they were something more. I loved the cubic and textured mistakes I made when placing the paper wrong and instantly I decided to develop it to be a background for a new piece. But what to put on it exactly? I knew I wanted to do a portrait simply because I’ve never really wanted to do anything else, so I started by just googling stimuli online.  I came across several female pictures depicting their organic, natural beauty, represented by flowers, foliage and wildlife - especially deers and fawns for some reason.

I was hooked. It definitely doesn’t correlate to any of my previous work, but I embraced the idea of creating a one-off piece. Coincidentally an exhibition is currently being organised by and for Yr2 Fine Art, which I entered it for. This exhibition will take place late 2011/early 2012 I believe. Pictures of the piece (currently still in the making) are below.

Sources:

Nicomi Turner: http://galleryextrana.blogspot.com/2008/07/were-pleased-to-present-emily-strange-s.html 

Gabriel Moreno: www.gabrielmorenogallery.com/

Day of the Dead female (unknown artist): www.google.com/images

EARTH GODDESS:

I developed an imaginary metaphysical creature, based upon some google images I found (Above). Her feminine pose and antlers instantly said Mother Nature to me, so that’s my impression of what she could look like. I don’t want to give her a body because I feel she would suit a spirit far better. Her red blindfold contrasts her leaf-green hair and will bind her hands and blind her eyes to suggest she is peaceful, calm and forgiving but at the same time can be dangerous, unpredictable and ruthless. I will decorate the area with foliage, flowers, vines and a little bird on her hand. This represents the connection between her and her surroundings. 

The picture itself is made out of recycled imagery, mainly from cut up magazines, because the range of colours was much better and the pages have this silky sheen to them, which I liked. I feel that this technique is a niche of mine that needs to be refined and developed at some point, but I don’t think it beats my interest and success with digital manipulation; using Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator. 

Inspired (by fluke) a new release film I watched yesterday: The Black Swan.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=201515689863179&set=a.189877631026985.51344.189869777694437&comments

Going more along the lines of gothic widow in this piece. Again, for my Fine Art University project.

This guys illustrations are just me all over...