Today we had an artist talk with Miranda Whall who lectures fine art at Aberystwyth. She discussed her current project called “Passage” and showed us a 22 minute film of the work. I was interested in her comments about collaboration in its may forms from the sound technician to the various people she had been in contact with as part of the project.
The film itself as it stands is a 4 screen affair that overall is calming, looking at a sense of place and reflective. French is spoken and I did struggle to translate it apart from the odd word. The language and sound used seems to have equal privilege to the images shown. The uplifting piece ends in darkness and a distressing dance vocal. She described later that this element of the work was a 95 year old Tai lady who practiced KHAW, that is to sing poetry.
She then talked about her folder sheet as a way of presenting the work and how all the images and ideas came together. The workings at such a direct level which are mini works in their own behalf, are always far more interesting than the finished piece as it is the journey itself that gives the greatest journey.
I had a tutorial afterwards with her. Her comments about the work I still need to digest further but in simple terms, it was the strap lines that she was interested in and not the painting.
I have also been looking more at Judith Butler as I need to back up some of my reasoning in my longer artist statement at 750 works with critical value. I have found a marvelous quote from her that I will use as an introduction. I felt that I have only just started on my understanding of Butler and I know I will be revising the library again for her. The book by Moya Lloyd which explains the reasoning behind her words is really helpful in simplifying what is a high brow text.
