So yesturday was the first offical Big Crit. The first two presentations. I really love hearing people present their work and ideas, plus i throughly enjoy the discussion. One topic came up which i felt had a connection to my own work (and to artists working with technology all over the world).
The use of technology removes the personal touch of the artist. However i always find statements like this odd; afterall isnt the paint brush a physical form that is not part of our person and therefore the mark isnt personal. Mind you, technology digitalises the interaction and categorises it, in order for the programs to understand. Which would mean there is a limitation for the mark to fit into the categories.
The reason this debate arose: The artist had mentioned that the super-natural and the 'aura' were a key element in his work. Then continued to say he wanted to scan images in, print them onto canvas, re-paint, re-scan, and continue the routine.
Lecturer Sue Williams had said that the mark was no longer personal and felt that the 'aura' wouldnt be expressed within art created through technology.
However i disagree, i feel that the struggle between technology and non-technology would be an interesting one. The idea that by scanning you are forcing something organic and personal (your aura) into the 'machine'. For the image to then be manipulated and produced from the 'machine'. For me the 'machine' can have its own aura, the imperfections when printing, low quality files, damaged or 'lost' fragments of files. Something the artist doesnt have control over, as if collaberating with the 'machine' itself. Ive heard of "The ghost in the machine" and theories surrounding it. I feel its definetly something i need to start reading into.
I cant wait to see how his art develops, personally, i feel the use of technology in his work will create a heightened sense of the personal-aura in contrast with the mechanical-aura.
Still needing to write my statement of intent! Its difficult trying to collection all these delicate ideas and place them into a such a solid form. words. Words, for me, get in the way sometimes. But as an Artist, you need to be able to promote, describe, explain and discuss your own and others art.
After a tutorial with Katrin Webster, Craig Wood and Harold Hope (on separate occasions) i came to the conclusion that i am changing, my experiences and personality are developing, rather noticeably. My work has always had an emotional struggle, a dark tint. I feel that i have a formula that works. I dont feel that im struggling anymore, i feel change, a flow, movement, life and a love for it.
Utopia, a non-place of perfection. Ive been researching, researching…. and guess what… researching! But i enjoy the process, the avenues to explore, or at least be aware of. I feel its a necessity. However, the skill is knowing where to stop thinking and start doing. If i over think an idea sometimes i feel the physical work doesnt give justice to the theory that goes along side. For me , Art shouldnt be made for the theory, Art is my personal expression of my views, the theory is there to help me express myself successfully to the masses. Or at least thats what im hoping.
Next week is put aside for me to collect my materials, im going out into the Welsh landscape to collect coal… (fingers crossed that there is some left)
Ive included images from Video Projections i exhibited (in university) last week.
Friday morning, ive now taken down and moved out of the installation room. Spending this afternoon making sure its in a good clean condition for the next student.
I didnt manage to partake in the performance orginally planned, however i managed to start "doing". Catrin Webster was talking to us during our Big Crit on Tuesday about constantly creating, documenting, and processing.
So i used the room to practice a way of projecting. By using mirrors and positioning of the projector in a certain way. The outcome was rather good, and the video piece i had produced quickly (just to practice with) actually fit the installation and finished it off nicely. The video needs to be redone, little bits and bobs need to be cleaned up. But it is done. Then because i had the room i decided to start projecting my video pieces and taking images to use in my portfolio.
For me, this is a good start to the year ahead.
Pictures to follow :)
We had a year meeting this morning, introducing us to "Big Crit" which will take place every tuesday morning from now on.
Each week two students will give a 45 min presentation of their work to the class and a selection of lecturers. We need to treat it as an oppurtunity to prepare and test our skills of presenting our own artwork. Something which we havent really had a chance to do, especially on a scale like this. We spent an hour chatting about what was acceptable and what wasnt, for example: The presentation must take place in that room, we cannot fill the room with the actual artwork, we cant overrun and we need to have time dedicated to questions/debating.
Im pretty excited, i cant wait to get to know the people in my studio through a strong first impression of their artwork. Perfect :) Plus, it will encourage me organise my portfolio, its gotten a little rough around the edges over the last couple of years. (oops).
I also went into my installation room today, well, tried to. The door was locked with a note from my lecturer:
"Hi Erin, I have heard through the grape vine that you intend to undertake a piece of work that we cannot condone and also will not be able to assess. Please come and have a chat, Regards. Harold"
I definetly have a soft spot for my Lecturer Harold, he has been a saviour for me over the last few years and helpped me develop as a person and with my art. There are no words i could put here that would express his wonderful personality. So i went and found him, turns out that health and safety had put a big clamp down on the university. Meaning we were being watched and after lots of joking and chatting i realised that it wasnt just my health and my grade that was on the line – but also Harolds job. That was something that i would never be willing to risk, so i accepted that while in university there are some art practices that would not be condoned.
The performance piece had included, or may have included, a blade… which was intended to cut my skin IF the performance had developed that way. I dont like to plan my pieces from start to finish, just have the options there. But it was a piece of work based on the personal and what we physically have of our body that is purely our own. My thoughts have been in all seriousness that i cannot find an inch of my skin that is not seen or touched by another person. Which disturbs me slightly. Anyway, the performance was stopped and i changed it around so that i could continue tomorrow afternoon – the representation of action can be stronger than the actual action…. or so they say. We'll see.
University is now back in full swing. Or at least it should be… theres been a problem with the ventilation in our casting workshops. Which has put my work on hold, in a big way. But being a 'multi-media' Artist, i just feel encouraged to use different mediums until the workshops are open again.
We were given this week to decide and build our individual working areas over two studios, the third has been allocated to the first years drawing workshops, which they will use for space afterwards. Im extremely happy with my space this year, the studio im in has an installation room connected. And yes, ive already put my name down, i have the room from 06/10/08 until 10/10/08. Have a plan for a semi performance – semi installation piece.
I was meant to hand in a statement of intent yesturday, i havent been able to create one yet. The medication im having to take at the moment is an emotion blocker, which is not ideal. Ive stopped taking them for a few days before my performance to hopefully get a more emotional / human final product. I have the research, planning, concept and development all in place for the work…. but emotionally and mentally im unsure about whether or not i am going in the 'right' direction. A constant struggle i have is my art's worthyness.
Maybe i need to force myself into being a cocky and strong willed Artist. Or just create and let the masses decide.
