A busy week ahead of me:
I’m going to read “Time” by Eva Hoffman, I haven’t read as much this semester as everything I have been looking at is dissertation orientated. I’ve also ordered the new blackdog “Art and Text” book which should arrive today or tomorrow. This will help me back up the work I have started over the last two weeks as it is new territory for me.
I need to prepare my drawings for laser cutting, luckily I have friends to help with that as I am somewhat of a computer-dunce.
I will be attending the “lifeworkart” conference on Baltic tomorrow.
I have a tutorial with Thereza Buskova on Wednesday (my last visiting artist tutorial didn’t go very well, so I hope this has a more positive outcome!)
And of course….I must do some art work.
I just caught up on “School of Saatchi,” and while I thought it to be slightly out of date (the question “Is it art?” is not a new one) and ridiculous in parts, (the anonymous phone calls from Saatchi, for example) it did allow me to consider a few things about my own stance on art….
Personally, I would never enter such a competition as I don’t chase fame or money. It did make me wonder about my reasons for needing to create art, I think a lot of the time it is just a burning interest, or an aspect of my personality that needs exploring in a physical way.
I think that the quote “the charmed inner circle of contemporary art” was an awful statement. In Newcastle, and probably in many cities, the most interesting collectives and spaces are sprawled out and intertwined, low budget and makeshift. I’d much rather go to a Hangar 51 show than one at the Baltic. I think I prefer the immediate and the unseen, not something that I have seen in a book or online countless times (possibly a reason why I am making decisions about whether to photograph my current work or not).
Is it important to look at others work? This was asked to one girl who claimed that it was unnecessary, yet I love it when you’ve been working on something and come across someone who you have never met or spoken to, and who is exploring the same ideas or methods.
I could sound as ridiculous as I said the show, but I guess we all have our opinions. I found it interesting to see Suki Chan on there, as I saw her work in Manchester last December, she must desire to be in the so-called “charmed inner circle”.
My assessment date has been confirmed as 15th December, a lot of work to do before then, especially as I feel that I’m starting again.
I have a lot of problems with imagery. Even though I may know exactly which tools, methods and materials to use, I often sit there unable to decide which image will be appropriate. Over the years I have tried the body, ornamentation, minimal lines and architecture, and although I have had successful pieces of work, they just haven’t worked in some way. So where am I going with this?
Something so simple came to me on that train back from Edinburgh as I was scribbling away in my third notebook of the year, it was exactly that. I’m a compulsive writer. Along with that, I often get comments on the aesthetics of my writing, it seems that I could have been ignoring the answer that was right in front of me.
My day has been like this: 6 hours bent over a sheet of paper, pin in hand and 4 hours standing on a chair, on a table, trying to suspend said paper in a way that I’m happy with. I finally broke my three weeks of not working, a happy day!
Although burning took over my practice last year, it just isn’t relevant anymore. The subtle pin prick is much more suited, and although I initially worried that it “had been done before” (a comment from an artist tutorial in year one) I just don’t care anymore. I think I’m finally getting to the stage where my work is for me, and not for the tutors or my peers.
I took a rainy afternoon trip to Edinburgh to see the “Attitudes To Drawing” show at the Fruitmarket Gallery in search of inspiration. While I was there I didn’t think anything had clicked (although it was a great show) but on the train back I suddenly had a flash of an idea, one where this blog may become integral. More soon….
Also, 3000 words down on the dissertation:
“The men of old were born like wild beasts….therefore it was the discovery of fire that originally gave rise to the coming together of men, and to social intercourse.”
