There was some time for studio today – exploring the translation of research into artwork. The focus is the first case study – Finger Collars. Val and I have been re-exploring a piece of work from 2003, and despite the time between then and now it feels an entirely relevant piece of work of be exploring. The second case study will be based on an artwork I produced earlier in the year which is due for launch imminently. The two work are quite a contrast; the resulting case study documents may be given similar or different treatment methods in order to form the findings into artworks.
The visual work is feeling a bit tricky today, a familiar feeling in every project; extracting the work that will be exhibited from the mass of research and experiments into a form I’m happy with can be a challenge. Currently the project feels like a solid lump of stuff, but if I keep turning up and paying the lump some attention it will start to yield, and once that process starts there is usually no stopping it. I’m starting by turning document text into a diagram; it’s taking time and looks a mess – great – I must be getting somewhere. The project curator Gill Hedley is visiting next week, and I am tasking myself with getting a set of ideas as clearly articulated as possible. It feels a challenge, as usual, working in a process orientated manner always involves this. It is inevitable, as inevitable as the work finally emerging when i may least expect it.
