I have been so busy recently. I completed and sent back my student ambassador profile questionnaire last week and finished writing my review on Graham Sutherland: An Unfinished World at Modern Art Oxford which can be found here: http://www.rovesandroams.com/2012/02/graham-sutherland-an-unfinished-world-at-modern-art-oxford/
My artistic practice is going through a transitional period at the moment. The work has changed drastically and the realization of how static it was opened my eyes to what could be. I was over analyzing and over thinking everything, struggling with my inability to separate artist and academic, until now.
Exploring the intuitive, uninhibited, naturalistic nature of the work created in the space. Discovering personal freedom as an artist, understanding that the artwork itself comes after the making, after the creation, after several of what could be considered artworks in their own right but are not, are created. I’m going to be working with limitations, recording processes, investigating the importance of voyeurism, audience, participant and the fundamental aspects of art.
The degree show meeting went well last week; there is another meeting tomorrow, where we’ll be finalising and updating a number of things such as a guest speaker, hospitality details, design quotes, publicity ideas and sponsorships etc.
I thought about everyone’s individual practice and in doing so I recalled their past and present works. I noticed a subconscious development of similar thought processes amongst members of the group, through social interaction, presentation and visual stimuli, an inexplicable occurrence where by everyone’s work appears to relate to the group as a whole.
The title of our show is ‘forty two degrees’. This was based on the original number of artists in the group. Now, unfortunately we are but forty one. I believe the forty second artist still exists. They are made up of forty one students, forty one statements, forty one pieces of work and forty one minds with the ability to overcome challenges, resolve issues and move forward.
The forty second artist represents not only the group as a whole but also as an individual, it represents a synergy that would not exist without each and every member.
I am often criticized for being too honest, there were fears that publicly voicing my experiences would reflect negatively on the group and on our degree show. My opinions of the higher education system don’t reflect those within it. My work doesn’t reflect the group as a whole. I am merely an artist with an opinion, amongst forty other artists with their own opinions.
Isn’t it better to tell the truth than to write whilst wearing rose tinted glasses?
I have a tutorial tomorrow and for the first time in a long time I feel as though I know what I’m doing. I don’t feel burdened by grades, criteria, modules, marks, assessments or evaluations.
Today yielded some good things, I enjoyed the presentation, the lecture, the discussion, the coffee. I have tutorials booked; I removed my name from the studio floor plan and rewrote it next to the words ‘working elsewhere’. I also signed up for a potential degree show space, I’ve asked for two large walls, potentially in the arena, a space usually given to those working on a larger scale.
I received a poem yesterday relating to my degrees unedited blog posts, written by one of my favourite poets, Andrew Taylor. I wanted to share it with you:
Notes for Tiffany
She has yet to unfold
like a crisp white bed sheet
her practice is folded at the bottom
of a drawer
doing absolutely nothing
but keeping the bottom
of the drawer
company
waiting for supplies
canvasses paints books and groceries
she is still without soil and seeds
work from her room
without concern for whether or not
she has showered or brushed her teeth
roll out of bed start work
start making
start creating
Give the half of the studio back
wander home
In the jug February’s daffodils
open
she has run out of stamps
Last night I attended Coloureds, Public Service Broadcasting and Robots with Souls at Modern Art Oxford. It was really great; I’ve never experienced such an explosive atmosphere in a space I considered quite formal. Prior to Basement Sessions last night I managed to get some work done. Two New Paintings: ttp://t.co/nXtEY2mo Painting Detail: http://t.co/m1TGYGN6
I am becoming increasingly interested in formalism, in particular the work of Kenneth Noland and Jules Olitski whilst still clinging to my fascination with abstract works and artists such as Wassily Kandinsky, an artist whose work has influenced me for several years now. I remember the first time I saw one of his original paintings, after only ever seeing postcards and framed prints; it was one of the most exhilarating moments of my life. It came close to the first time I saw the work of Mark Rothko, I began to cry as I walked through the gallery space. There is no greater feeling in this world than a potent connection between artist and viewer.
The work I have been undertaking involves printing with paint. It’s about method, composition, texture, colour and shape, although influenced by a number of things there is a disregard for context.
The work relies more on its aesthetic factors than any form of over conceptualized ideology. A video relating to this post: http://player.vimeo.com/video/36981925
Listen to these three tracks on repeat:
Samishige – Mononoke Soundtrack
Howl’s Moving Castle Theme live – Joe Hisaishi
Legend of Ashitaka (Mononoke Hime) – Joe Hisaishi
Begin to make work.
