A long post I know but I am definitely having to catch up!
Conceptually I have been looking at the history and ideology behind gardens and in particularly the landscape gardens of the 18th century. The two models I am exploring are the French and the English landscape garden. The former concerns the display of beauty using nature as a material. French gardens were grand and carefully orchestrated, relying on pattern and symmetry. They were also the property of the rich aristocracy. The English model was much more interesting, with the concerns surrounding the sublime and the emergence of the enlightenment came a new respect for the beauty and power found organically in nature. The gardens of England looked to show this natural beauty and opened up the land for leisure yet also considered functionality. Open spaces could breed livestock to raise money and offer employment. Rather than the private gardens of the upper classes, these spaces were often public, providing egalitarian environments were the populace could mingle.
I find these ideas really interesting for a 21st century context. Providing public spaces that are egalitarian reminds me of the WochenKlauser boat trips I discussed in my dissertation. I have a desire to connect all the areas of my practice that are currently floating around all over the place. A work which connects the social, political but has an underlying environmental context would be a perfect piece to propose for the degree show.
The last group crit of the year threw up some interesting new considerations. Generally the grass work went down well with the tutors. It appears that the entirety of my practice is moving into a final direction that satisfies all my aesthetic and conceptual considerations. I think that when I head back to Somerset for the Easter weekend I will spend some time in Longleat and Stourhead, perhaps maybe able to get hold of some plans for the landscape gardens which should benefit my research.
The use of a canvas as a frame for my grass work also brought up some interesting discussions. I had initially looked at using the canvas as a base for the connotations towards a creative base and the starting point for the work. However when viewed by the group, the use of a canvas immediately brought forth the ideas of landscape painting and the juxtaposition of art materials. Landscape painters sought to bring the natural landscape into the built environment and celebrated the beauty of nature. This gathers many of my interests and gives me many future reference points from art history. Additionally the use and subversion of art materials showed a relationship between the hung painting and the idea of sculpture, sculpture as a mass, of a floor based form.
Since the crit I have built two new canvas frames. One 6’x5′ and one 4′ square. The larger canvas definitely lends itself to the traditional large scale of landscape painting but I think that the square has potential. Better get growing!
