After a very nice comment on my previous blog I have been thinking. I was focusing too much on the logistics of a, frankly undeveloped idea. What I was asked was “Why do you want to make this?” “Why the specific rectangle?” “Where would you like the installation to be situated geographically?” and “What is it you would like your audience to experience?”… These are very good considerations to think about which I had lost since graduating. They would have been the first thing talked about with tutors, so maybe I have just lost my way a bit in the big wide world. I have been reminded they are important things any artist needs to think about.
So, here goes… The horizon… It offers so much to all of us. It is a thing to longingly view, to wonder at and try to reach. What is beyond it? What is beneath it? For me it offers a sense of mystery and an idyllic atmosphere. Maybe because of all of the romantic poems, songs, paintings and from the British seafaring time that I love so much, but also because of my Great Grandfathers memory who was lost somewhere out there. This is what I want the audience of my installation to feel, the quiet stillness of looking out to the oceans horizon. In todays world hardly anyone stops to actually look. I live in a small seaside town and despite the crowds of daytripper’s the seafront is lacking in people just looking. There is only one of those charming old binoculars that the seaside boom brought to our shores. There are ice cream stalls, putting greens, cafe’s, beach huts and piers to entertain the masses, however, in my opinion we seem to have forgotten what we originally travelled to the coast for in the first place… the sea!
It is important therefore, that i find somewhere near the coast to show my installation. I had never really thought about why i automatically chose a rectangular room to experiment with, mainly because when you look ahead at the horizon or take a photo of it your eye sees a line in front of you – i automatically thought of a rectangle room but it would work equally well in a oval curved room. Whilst writing this blog I have become also aware that it is very important I use a still film piece over the top of the installation to show the sunrise and sunset – the most beautiful times in the day. I hope it will add a romantic atmosphere to the piece which will make people just stop and be almost hypnotized as I am at the beach.
Anyway, speaking of sunsets, the sun is beginning to go down now. I think I’ll go and take some photos and have a look at the horizon with a sketchbook poised. But before I go thanks to Andrew who (with his great comment) has got me on track again! Lets hope the ball gets rolling again.
