It’s the final countdown! The BIAD School of Art degree show will be up and being assessed in just 2 and a half weeks, 3 years of work are drawing to a close.
This week I have used a nail and hammer for the first time since secondary school – the plinths I made are a smidge wonky but they stand up! The studios are being painted white, floors are being scrubbed, everything is a go go go! I have managed to secure myself an exciting space within the building (which is a beautiful grade 2 listed Victorian school). The space is a corridor, a ‘non-space’ in one sense, which I hope will compliment the work. The plan is to have 4 plinths, two either side of the corridor, to create a vacuum of audio-visual mashing.
I have been slowly finalising my video ‘Culture Vulture’ for the final show. My main struggle has been with structuring the sequences so that the 4 different screens compliment and work together, to make a whole coherent installation.
I am becoming increasingly aware that the multi-layered nature of my work, references a technique within video art which uses short incomprehensbile clips to confuse and alienate the viewer. This wasn’t particularly purposeful, it happened somewhat organically due to using found footage, and now I am worried that it detracts from the work.
Whilst I am interested in creating a distance between the viewer and the the screen, I don’t want to make work which is so opaque that the viewer cannot gain access to its meaning – especially as the meaning for me is so integral!
And so I find myself patronising the audience by putting not-so-subtle signifiers into the work, such as choosing to focus on the ‘ethnic’ other, which is more recognisable.
If I make the work accessible, do I make it stupid?
Should I go back to the drawing board here and re-assess how I expect my audience to interact/experience the work?
Does it matter if my audience undrstands? I hope that the audience can understand without me patronising them, perhaps I am underestimating them!
On another note I have been busy trying to create a website for myself this week, I shall post a link here:
I perhaps should invest in an easier domain name eventually.
Thats all for now.
