and
http://www.facebook.com/notes/the-vintage-festival/evol-street-art/209331555756698
Friday, 6 May 2011
two interesting street art projects (not mine!)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/amooseabroad/sets/72157623340638685/
and
http://www.facebook.com/notes/the-vintage-festival/evol-street-art/209331555756698
and
http://www.facebook.com/notes/the-vintage-festival/evol-street-art/209331555756698
Sunday, 1 May 2011
self-consciously artful
One week to go before the end of year two 'body of work' hand-in for the Studio Practice module. I thought I would sum up some of the elements I have found most challenging.
As with all genres there are the obvious challenges of researching and coming up with the initial ideas. With site-specific intervention, which is what I have been working on, the time, energy and commitment required cannot be underestimated. Then getting those great ideas out of your head and having the courage to get out in 'the field' and place the work. For me, at least. it's a huge leap.
The biggest challenge of all for me though, is how to present site-specific work in an exhibition setting which is NOT the site and bears no relation to it. I have considered displaying the 'props' I have used for my 'interventions'. But this just didn't feel right. Out of context they would just seem insignificant and, as a tutor remarked, 'twee'. I agree.
So a display of some description seemed an obvious route to take. Put everything out there, all the images, all the field notes, found objects, everything that says "this is how much thought and effort I have put into this project". Still didn't feel right though, surely the interventions at the site is the 'work' and an exhibition can merely serve to document that. It became clear that it is those images of the interventions that are most important.
I recalled how Francis Alys' work was displayed at the Tate last summer, everything on display and in complete contrast to the recent Orozco exhibition, quite minimalist. I revisited the idea of a 'display' several times thinking that I need to tell the story, people won't get a series of random images unrelated to anything. But a phrase kept nagging away in my head - 'self-consciously artful'.
It was written on my assessment this time last year at the end of year one. I never quite understood what it meant, the tutor who wrote it subsequently left and I wasn't able to ask her. But now I understand, I think.
By trying to create an aesthetically pleasing 'display' I was self-consciously trying to create a new 'artwork' to please an audience when actually the art work had already been created and documented and all I need to do is be confident in showing that. In order to anchor it and create a 'narrative' I will include some other images that act as pointers but I will let the images of the work speak for themselves.
Wish me luck!
As with all genres there are the obvious challenges of researching and coming up with the initial ideas. With site-specific intervention, which is what I have been working on, the time, energy and commitment required cannot be underestimated. Then getting those great ideas out of your head and having the courage to get out in 'the field' and place the work. For me, at least. it's a huge leap.
The biggest challenge of all for me though, is how to present site-specific work in an exhibition setting which is NOT the site and bears no relation to it. I have considered displaying the 'props' I have used for my 'interventions'. But this just didn't feel right. Out of context they would just seem insignificant and, as a tutor remarked, 'twee'. I agree.
So a display of some description seemed an obvious route to take. Put everything out there, all the images, all the field notes, found objects, everything that says "this is how much thought and effort I have put into this project". Still didn't feel right though, surely the interventions at the site is the 'work' and an exhibition can merely serve to document that. It became clear that it is those images of the interventions that are most important.
I recalled how Francis Alys' work was displayed at the Tate last summer, everything on display and in complete contrast to the recent Orozco exhibition, quite minimalist. I revisited the idea of a 'display' several times thinking that I need to tell the story, people won't get a series of random images unrelated to anything. But a phrase kept nagging away in my head - 'self-consciously artful'.
It was written on my assessment this time last year at the end of year one. I never quite understood what it meant, the tutor who wrote it subsequently left and I wasn't able to ask her. But now I understand, I think.
By trying to create an aesthetically pleasing 'display' I was self-consciously trying to create a new 'artwork' to please an audience when actually the art work had already been created and documented and all I need to do is be confident in showing that. In order to anchor it and create a 'narrative' I will include some other images that act as pointers but I will let the images of the work speak for themselves.
Wish me luck!
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