This week I have focused on two things. There have been some interesting comments on my work and I have been enjoying making some development drawings inspired by dog toys.
During a recent group discussion one person revealed that they found my work disturbing. I think this is caused by something similar to an invasion of personal space. People are used to being surrounded by familiar objects which they take for granted. Mine are reformed to suggest other associations and I think this is what causes the discomfort.
Other comments from a different source were more difficult to deal with. It was suggested that by altering objects in the way that I do that I was somehow “spoiling” them. It was also suggested that art, itself, was a selfish pursuit.
To counteract all this I went to a pet shop to look at dog toys with a view to making some aluminium castings. I just want to squeeze an extra bit of fun out of the metal workshop before I have to seriously think about the degree show. There was an Aladdin’s cave of pet toys and chews, all symmetrical and perfect for the sand-casting process.
The best part of this week is that I have at last been able to combine material processes that I have developed with the drawing of an observed object. Now the drawings need to be further considered and I feel more confident that I may be able to include a couple in my degree show.
