As my children’s half term was last week and I took the time out of college to be with them I compensated by going into college the week before in reading week! The place was very quiet but it was great to keep the flow going. I was helping out with students coming for interviews that week too so actually there was a fair bit of activity for a couple of days (I’m a student ambassador and this is one of my roles). Its really interesting meeting prospective students – most of them a little nervous (understandably so) but also wanting to gain as much information from their visit and interview as possible. They are about to make a really important decision as regards the next step of their education. And for many it will mean leaving home for the first time – an exciting but testing time.
So now back in the studio its great to actually get making again and take time to reflect on my progress so far. Before my break I made ‘re-visions’ to some ornaments that I picked up in my local furniture barn. I have altered my terminology from ‘appropriated’ to ‘revised’ after a conversation with my tutor. its all about what I am trying to communicate and the ‘revision’ of objects suggests that I am altering them in order to express ideas about my past, the meanings we impose on objects and their powerful ability to summon up memories most vividly.
I was talking to our external examiner today and she remarked on the familiar nature of the objects ( the sort of thing we all associate with ‘grandmas house’). I’m interested in how we shed some objects (destined for the charity shops)and keep others. What informs our decision making – are these decisions sometimes quite fickle? So I have wrapped, bound and painted the objects – now changed – what meanings do they hold? Where will I go next with them?
And I am continuing to draw whilst making as part of a parallel process. This part of my practice is really challenging as I judge my ability to draw and to use paint very critically. The result is moving on – I am getting more confident with my drawn line and use of paint. The paint this time is about areas of colour that work together to create movement through gesture and proximity. The drawn lines are gradually becoming fluid and relatively accurate to human form. I ‘m hoping that these two quite disparate elements are beginning to work together in an awkward and yet unmistakable dialogue.
I noticed on Twittter an exhibition called Vestige – Coates and Scarry – about our relationship to objects. In particular I’m fascinated by the paintings of Lisa Wright and figures by Penny Byrne. The work by both these artists ask questions about the meanings 0f both cultural and personal artifacts, playing on historical and kitsch references to painting and ornament. The work introduces contradictions which create dialogues about perceptions and the reality – or otherwise – of historical ‘fact’. I’m very interested in this whole idea of the ‘truth’ of past experiences, the ‘truth’ being in many cases highly subjective.
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