Got stuck in today, and produced some drawings I am really excited about. I am starting to get narratives going between the inanimate objects I am using, traffic cones, lampposts, stick, string. I am also finding it easier to start drawing, something that I always struggle with due to “blank page fear”, when there is nothing to distract me it is much quicker to get over.
Not long to go until we hang, just a week. We had a discussion about curation today and got a glimpse at everyones work for the show, there is a wide variety but everything is exciting, in fact my only worry is getting such strong pieces to all sit together happily!
Luckly, that is Matt’s job and he knows what he is doing
So, I now have a three year plan!
I had a crit with Matt yesterday about what to put in the exhibition but also about career stuff. It was really helpful partly because preparing for it got me writing down a plan for what I want to achieve over the next few years. It is amazing how writing stuff down clarifies exactly what you don’t want to do but feel like you should.
The rough outline goes something like, this year review old contacts and new and solidify networks. Sort out all publicity/statement/cv and produce a small publication
Next year, get together with people to put on group exhibitions plus apply for 4-6 solid and appropriate exhibition opportunities such as salons.
The year after continue this exhibition practice and aim to go on another residency, starting to think about building a relationship with the art scene in another country.
All this alongside mantaining and building on my gallery education work.
Having a clear direction makes me feel very positive about things.
Plus, it’s sunny!
Sunday I was invited to go to ELCAF the East London Comics and Arts festival. I’m interested in the world of small publishing and zines, partly because a few people have commented that my work might lend itself to publication but also because making trips around the galleries it has become clear that there is a trend towards producing small products to sell in the gallery shops. Small products also means that more people can own and enjoy your art work and they are more affordable and accessible.
So, I networked like crazy, asked lots of stupid questions because I know nothing about the word of comic books and picked up everyone’s card. I also took note of the kind of small products people were offering. People were SO friendly and eager to share their passion, it was truly inspiring.
My favourite exhibitor (and the standard was sky high, so I could list dozen of extremely talented people) was Stathis Tsemberlidis of Decadence Comics. I pick his work out particularly because of the abstract and surreal nature of his narratives which use no words and his beautifully delicate drawing style. The space he leaves for interpretation and the visceral content made my experience of his work more akin to engaging with a artwork rather than a graphic novel/comic
I bought Upheaval and Neptune’s Fungi
http://www.decadencecomics.com/about
Saturday we went visiting around South London galleries. I enjoyed the work that we saw more than East London, and there were some really interesting spaces.
I particularly enjoyed “Necrospective” at Danialle Arnaud Gallery curated by Thomas Johnson. The works all address our relationship to technology as it has become inseparable from everyday existence, in different way to pieces highlighted the uncanny in the anthropomorphization of technologies.
http://daniellearnaud.com/exhibitions/exhibition-necrospective.html
I found this weeks walk more encouraging, felt like I could see my work fitting into several of these galleries
The last two days I have had time to get some more drawings started in the studio, although maybe not as much time as I would have liked due to being really tired.
It is amazing how taking in all this new information, meeting new people and getting work done can use up so much energy. I am recharging my batteries tonight with some comedy (Russell Howard), woop!:)
I am finding the dedicated time to be in the studio, without the usual everyday worries of work, usiness admin and domesticity has brought my ideas on leaps and bounds very quickly and I have drawn more in the last two weeks than I would in two months at home.
I am drawing imaginary curbside shrines and their unseen energies. There are no figures but the overwhelming presence of human influence. The constructions are nothing but the rearrangement of natural materials but start to hint at a deeper significance. I am enjoying putting together the starkly functional with the purely indulgent, illogical creations of occultism.
And thank you to JG Boson for that insight into what I am doing.
www.geniusloki.wordpress.com
