I always seem to stumble when asked ‘what do you do?’ The answer I that is so often on the tip of my tongue is ‘Do you want a list?’ I don’t mean that to sound facetious or unkind but it is life – I, like most artists, are juggling various roles to maintain an income, a home, sustain an art practice as well as personal relationships.
I also seem to hesitate when asked ‘what do you do in your art practice?’ So I thought responding to that question in a blog would help the continuing reflection on what I do in my art practice.
I am essentially a painter. I work a lot with paint. Make a lot of 2d images using paint and print, they are mostly abstract exploring shape and colour, but at times my ideas seep into digital imaging, video work and photography.
This week I have been making some new work but also reviewing old work in preparation for an upcoming solo show ‘The Science of Fictions’.
I have chosen this title for a number of reasons. Science and mathematics is a re-occurring theme in my work – geometry and colour being very prominent. I wonder if I had heeded my father’s suggestion to pursue chemistry at school I may have explored the science behind paint and colour from a very different angle. As and aside I am currently reading Philip Ball’s “Bright Earth: The Invention of Colour” and am finding it very informative and fascinating reading about colour in art from a chemists point of view.
The works that I am planning to show suggest a narrative of ideas through images. The art I have made reflects a personal fiction that has accompanied me through recent years. It’s a continuing journey.
On putting this collection of works together I have been musing on the idea that I could presently describe myself as a landscape painter. Not in the traditional sense but I am very aware that my work often is usually a reflection of my environment. I take inspiration from and collect materials from my surroundings. I have been enjoying looking at the differences in the work I made when living in Stratford (pre Olympic frenzy) to the work that I am making now in leafier SE London.
I’ve moved away from scaffolding and building sites to manicured gardens and contained nature. Interestingly it is the angles of the man made structures and interventions that continue to be encompassed in my work. But the shapes of nature iare starting to seep in and I am interested to observe the direction my work will take if I allow it.
Having a solo show is a privilege and one I am grateful for. It also allows me an opportunity to place my work in a new space for a period of time giving me space to reflect on my practice and the direction it has taken. Also it feels like it will offer me a breather from my current work and I am excited about having blank walls for a while to all new ideas to develop.
I had an interesting trip to Munich recently and had the pleasure of visiting the Student show at the Art Academy (Akademie der Bildenden Kunste Munchen). I was wowed by the building and envious of the high windowed studio spaces. As with many student shows the variety of work was impressive.
I had a very good conversation with Ines Weber an art student that had just finished her first year – their summer shows include all years in the exhibition. It was good to hear about her initial experience of degree level education in Munich and on reflection has increased my respect for the art education that I have had in the UK. From a far I had always admired German education and the support that their students receive in making the transition from education into the art world – the grass is always greener. Also German artists would feature strongly in my all time favourite list – Genzken, Kippenberger, Richter, Polke… to name a few. Hence this admiration from a far no doubt fertilized the grass over the fence.
Ines is studying under the Atelier system. I understand from this that she studies under the same artist tutor for her whole time at that institution. Her complaint was that her tutor was often absent, hard to get hold of and sometimes drunk. She didn’t feel that she ever got much guidance let alone teaching and hence is very dependent of her fellow students for her learning and development. However her tutor is a well respected artist practicing in Germany and so seen as a credit to the institution.
She felt frustrated by the macho posturing of this out dated method of teaching and learning – the privilege of a student having access to the knowledge of the ‘elusive master’. She is right to say that her learning has developed through her interaction with fellow students. This is expected at any institution but a tutor is there to facilitate and develop that learning further. Teaching and learning is a multi way practice between the tutor and students.
The students at the Kunste Akadamie show their work as according to their Atelier group – I found this interesting to see how students’ work closely relates within Atelier groups. There was one group of students’ work that I felt very inspired by. They had carefully curated the room even thinking about what viewers could sit on. There was some strong and very professional work; some of it hung high to really make full use of the vast walls of the studios. I couldn’t help but notice that these students were working under a female tutor and I wanted to know if their experience of learning at the Academy was any different to Ines’ – sadly there were no students available at the time to ask.
I am passionate about teaching and learning and believe that a good art education can really stretch student’s way of thinking, problem solving, analytical and interpretation skills. I am aware that I received a good art education – I had a variety of tutors to refer to while studying and so wasn’t just influenced by one train of thought. All my tutors were practicing artists but also dedicated to teaching and learning – they were available and were not jetting off to their next big exhibition mid-term. I hope that the future of art education in the UK is not threatened by the increased fees due to hit students and Universities this Autumn – there are some good teaching practices here and it is sad to see them being cut. My trip to Munich has encouraged me to reflect on the impact of a good teaching practice and has renewed my commitment to learning in my own teaching practice.
