Video as a Research Paradgim – A Digital Sketchbook Existing in Time
A few days ago I met with Helen who’s husband races his pigeons across the east of Scotland. She was kind enough to let me observe the ‘Doos”, meet and chat with her family and sip coffee with her and her mum.
She then left me to it as I looked, recorded and fell a wee bit in love with the pigeons, their sounds, movements, interactions and plumage (like they’ve been dipped into an oil).
I collected audio that day that will hopefully make the final edit for the audio content of the installation.
For the video content – this was always a maybe as to whether it would make the final work as digital content – it seems that for this project the video is becoming like a sketchbook, a source I can make that exists as an exercise and precursor to the final sound installation.
I’m not really sure how I feel about that yet, having always edited and re-edited video to reach a final moving image work.
I suppose it was really an exercise in contemplation if nothing else.
Does this have another function I can’t see yet?
How to Construct a Home for Pigeons That Can Fit in a Transit Van
I found myself working backwards – not from the usual still image / end-goal in my sights – but from a deep rooted fear.
Oh God – what if I can’t move the thing?!
Concern #1 – If it’s big, how can I transport it?
Concern #2 – How big?
Concern #3 – How big do they make vans?
Concern #4 – Are you even able to hire a big van?
A sudden flurry of drawings, discussions, crossed out drawings. The decision was made. The sculpture will be in two parts.
First the base is a rectangle 200cm h x 100cm w x 150cm L. This will be construed in two L shapes that will fold flat or transportation. Each part will be hinged to allow it to be un-folded for installation.
There is a top section that is detachable with a lid. 50cm h x 100cm w x 150cm L. The back face is 20cm h x 100 w so the lid slopes. Again, the top section will fold flat to transport via hinges.
Upon assembly, where the sides meet, there will be straight barrel door bolts to lock in place.
In my mind I can imagine the seamless movement of stage props and backgrounds but I think that is perhaps a tad to ambitious and almost orchestral in scope.
As well as Mike Tyson for inspiration another obvious analogy would suggest Ikea and Srewfix Direct…
On the Waterfront (1954). Director: Elia Kazan. Edie visits Terry and protege Tommy on the rooftops where they raise pigeons.
Notes
“Every morning I’m up and in the gym early then out to see the pigeons.”
(Mike Tyson in Pigeon Keeping with the FT: Mike Tyson, Financial Times, 2012)
My second weekend is approaching at SSW. I’ve taken the time between my last visit so think, draw and measure sketches for the sculpture as I’ll be focusing this weekend on cutting my wood in preparation for beginning to assemble the piece.
Other research has included listening to a Radio Scotland documentary The Men of Birdiehouse, a half-hour program featuring the pigeon fanciers who live on Birdiehouse Road in Edinburgh (unfortunately no longer available on BBC i-Player).
I’ve also leaned that the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world Mike Tyson loves pigeons, pigeon fancying and pigeon racing.
Working titles: Gentler Passion | Undisputed Heavyweight Gentler Passion
SSW Winter Residency
Days 1 and 2
My first few days at the Scottish Sculpture Workshop are at an end and it was a great few days.
There are four artists (including myself) in residence or a variety of time periods and we signal the tentative end to the cold Northeast Scottish winter as we begin to contemplate, discuss and realise our works.
The amazing visiting technician Gavin Smith offered inductions to the woodshop and alongwith Benjamin Burtenshaw SSW’s technical placement, discussed a way to begin to realise my project.
Materials are now on order with more drawing, sawing, hammering, painting, head-scratching and questioning to come.
More to follow…
Me – http://www.kimwalkerart.co.uk
You can see a recent project by Gavin here – http://deergouf.blogspot.co.uk/
Ben Burtenshaw – http://www.benjaminburtenshaw.co.uk/
SSW – http://www.ssw.org.uk/
