As well as thinking about the final exhibition I have been making work up to the last minute. I have also been thinking about how this most recent work will lead into what I might do when the course is finished.
Following on from the casting process which has involved concrete, plaster and aluminium, I have been casting thin objects in paper using the pressure of a graphite pencil. These are presented as drawings. I like the concept of ‘casting in paper’. I learnt that casting a ready-made, such as a pair of scissors, is sometimes not enough. The object has to be what Duchamp termed ‘assisted’ or ‘rectified’ in order to draw the viewer in.
I finally used a plastic fish to make a cast. Using an object which is immediately recognisable and whose origins are organic is a new departure for me. I don’t know how I feel about this yet. Several questions arose from the process:
– Why not use the original plastic fish? What does casting it in aluminium do for the work?
– Does the piece seem like ornament and, if so, when do ornaments become art?
– Aluminium and leather are ‘rich’ materials. Are they too alluring?
My work after the course will have to develop without the use of the invaluable metal workshop. This will involve a whole new set of investigations with more readily available materials. Sometimes I don’t have to look too far for the simplest solutions as I found when making a cropped brush with two handles. It will be interesting to try more recognisable objects in different situations. Maybe this will push them too far and they will cease to be art.
A local gallery has asked me to consider work for London Art Fair. Another, in Suffolk, asked for my work to be in a show. This is exciting and gives me encouragement for the future.
