University Campus Suffolk

I had a tutorial with two students from the Royal College of Art (RCA) a few days ago. Whilst this proved helpful in some ways, it’s somehow left me feeling that i need to justify my figurative work more. I am interested in advertising, from its design to its integration into society and the impact advertising can have on peoples lifestyles and beliefs. The figurative work is integral to the core theme which runs through my work and is something which has existed in essence since the beginning of my studies. The figures represent society in a generic sense and were intended to act as canvases for my narrative. However, with the acquirement of discarded computers these plaster figures have developed into my present work. I was also asked to justify why I have chosen to use crystals…this is primarily due to a previous piece of work I did which was heavily influenced by Damien Hirst’s For the Love of God. Untitled is a plaster figure with crystal covered gas mask, which came to symbolise a kind of war between society and consumerism with the crystals representing false wealth and ideals, my new work is a natural progression from this. Secondly I believe the crystals work well with the precious and semi precious metals I am using at present and will be further enhanced with the use of mirrors and lighting which i intend experimenting with in the next few days. I have spent alot of time over the last few weeks trying to ascertain why I make the work I do. My initial thoughts are that I make work automatically, I have an idea which comes into my mind based on the objects I find or possess. I do not consider the reasons or meaning behind it, I just know that it is an idea which feels right. The work evolves through a process of creative construction, if something does not look right I change it. The processes and materials used can alter throughout the development of this idea, however the original concept remains the same. My interest has always been to create figurative work and although i have been advised against this by a number of people in preference to juxtaposing and displaying my materials as unmodified readymades (which i fully intend doing to some degree) I struggle with the idea that i can have ownership over work I make and exhibit in this way. I agree that the un-modified components that I am using are interesting and for the most part aesthetically beautiful,which certainly puts them in the category of objet d’art, however i don’t feel like i can take credit as an artist for its existence. I keep being told that all I need to validate the work as my own is the idea, yet without some form of involvement or effort on my part I struggle to agree with this. I was advised at the time of my tutorial that sometimes, no matter how much hard work and effort you have put into a piece of work if its not working you have to let it go. This comment has caused me a great deal of contemplation as it was in reference to my figurative work. Whilst i agree with this comment to some extent, I feel that up until this point it was this work which i felt the most happiest with, feeling secure in the fact that even if it wasn’t appreciated by everyone, I had altered the materials and spent enough time and effort on it to be able to claim ownership of it. As much as i understand this is the opinion of one person, it has caused me to question my work,its direction and its place within a fine art setting. Do I go in the direction dictated by my own ideas and abilities? or do i go in the direction dictated by others? (which makes me feel uncomfortable yet could prove to be more gallery worthy). Is it possible to do both?