University of Hertfordshire

The last couple of days have felt quite productive; after a first attempt at videoing a cocktail umbrella outside (which was one of the few times I’ve found myself wishing it would rain!), I had a tutorial, during which I asked about whether my work for the degree show could comprise of a few separate things, rather than trying to make one work that sums it all up. My tutor said, quite sensibly, that it was very important, if there are different aspects to your work, to ensure that you don’t end up diluting it all by trying to incorporate everything. I think the mistake I made at my last assessment (though, generally, it went very well) was to get scared into thinking that I had to make all the strands in my work tie together, resulting in something which really didn’t represent any of it very well. However, as my tutor pointed out, it’s a good thing I tried doing that, as I learned not to go down that road again! So I’ve decided to show the different areas of the work, but as distinct and separate pieces; a ‘live’ installation, which would be in an enclosed space (to avoid disruption to anyone else’s work, apart from anything), as well as a T.V monitor, showing the video work. I would like this to be near to the installation space, but separate from it. If I were still thinking the way I was when I set up my last assessment, I might have tried something like projecting the video work onto the walls of the installation room, but thankfully I’ve learned from my mistakes! My tutor then asked me about my small object-sculptures, and how I was thinking of displaying those… again they would have to be separate from the other work. I said I was playing with the idea of ‘hiding’ them around the building, and producing maps for viewers to look for them, she seemed to think that was a good idea. But of course that would depend on whether it was feasible to do that, once the space has been converted for the exhibition. After my tutorial, we had a group meeting, with the tutors, about where and how we would like to present our work at the degree show. It was helpful to think of it in terms of what spaces are likely to be available, and the meeting actually seemed to go fairly smoothly, and no fights have broken out over this subject…yet!Joel was also taking photographs of everyone, which he’s going to convert into outlines as part of the catalogue cover design. I found myself worrying about the state of my hair, but really I think it represented my usual self quite accurately!