I am making a start on the aspects of society that I try and escape from. Some idea’s I will be looking at are gender discrimination, CCTV, our existence: to work and be part of the corporate world.
Work, Buy, Consume, Die.
On this first piece I am creating prints of the female genitalia, using lino cut from recycled lino tiles. The prints from these tiles have turned out fine, with my drawings being visible. I printed onto a recycled bed sheet from work, using the same lino cut. The prints I’m really happy with because they’re quite subtle, the viewer needs to look closely to realise what they are prints of. I am then using the prints to cover an arm chair (also recycled from freecycle). The message I am portraying with this piece is the idea of the female gender being an object, merely used as a tool, and disregarded when no needed. This is a feeling I constantly battle with, feeling like some of my being is irrelevant because I am female, only good enough for one thing. My escaping to deserted landscapes, I escape this feeling and prejudice.
I have been accepted to submit this piece into the upcoming “Youre’s, Comes, Comitis” exhibition at Firstsite gallery in Colchester.
Here are some experimental pieces I have been working on using photo’s of landscapes I have taken myself and cut outs from magazines/newspapers of buildings and people. I wanted to convey the idea of the busy urbanised world which is rapidly growing in size, increasingly taking over the natural world. The beautiful landscapes which are being lost to society for more roads and housing. The landscapes I photographs are areas in Wales and Ipswich I escape to away from the hustle and bustle of the town life. However the town’s are increasing in size and spreading into these tranquil areas. I want the viewer’s to think about this and what will happen when we lose these spaces.
The last few images are some pieces by the artist Rimantas Plunge, who is currently showing some work in the Waterfront Gallery at UCS. The work focuses on the themes of time, space and identity. It particularly interests me how elements of the human body are combined with images of landscapes and doodling. I feel my work is similar to this, it adds a personal narrative to the work. For this reason I really like his work. I feel inspired by his images to try playing with the colour’s of the images I take, try using negative effects etc.
http://www.boredpanda.com/forest-land-art-nature-spencer-byles/?source=fb&subsource=20150130Generalfb01&utm_source=gpeace&utm_medium=fb&utm_campaign=20150130Generalfb01
Here is a link for an artist residency I think is relevant to my work. The artist, Spencer Byles spent a year in a French forest (near his hometown) creating sculptures using natural and found materials. He used elements of the surroundings to create temporary pieces of work that would blend with the environment and could be reclaimed by nature.
The work is secretive and can only be found by visiting the woods in person and discovering the work.
I find this idea of only using organic materials that won’t harm the natural environment an interesting idea, nature is a powerful force, and should be able to reclaim what it originally owned.
This work reminds me of my own forest installation pieces, perhaps next time I will use natural materials that can be left in the forest. I am interested in the idea of doing my own mini residency in the local forest.
Here is a piece I have spent a few weeks working on. It is a technique I discovered when I was experimenting with newspaper and PVA glue. It is quite a time consuming technique and takes a lot of control and patience, however it is process I really enjoy. I liked to work on this piece undisturbed, concentrating on the patterns I was creating, consumed in my own world. I found this process was a relaxation process for me, I could put my mind at rest from the everyday anxieties I suffer, instead concentrate on this.
The last few pieces are some sample pieces I have created for the upcoming Fine Art Auction @ UCS in March 2015. It is an auction my class is organising to raise money for our Fine Art Degree show. These will be my contributions, they are originals.
I have been spending a bit more time in the studio, reflecting. During this time I have been creating these sculptures, using recycled wire and newspaper. I think through creating these forms and patterns I am gaining some kind of control. I am in control of the shapes and patterns I’m creating. I can’t control how society is taking over, I can’t control the slowly diminishing natural world, therefore by creating this small world of mine in my studio I become lost in my own landscape. During this process I achieve a sense of relief.
