Continuing with horizon paintings focus on colour technique and the layering of washes to create translucent, delicate impressions based on sky sea and the distant horizon. see images
Development of Ideas for Sculpture Installation.HANDS.
Seven is a magic number!
Originaly I had envisoned a ten hand sculpture depicting (alginate moulded hands) holding natural objects…elements found along the shoreline …my visual response to nature. Over the last few days having reflected/ questioned ‘Why’ I was doing 10 hands?, what were my reasons? what is tens significance?…what was I attempting to convey? the reason seemed to be its size would to draw attention to the content …so was this all I was conveying?. I started considering the number 7 and started to reflect on the rythmn of nature the sun ,moon, their effects on our world,day, night sunrise, sunset, seasons how its effect on human culture and societies I continued researching …how over time, a pattern emerged concerning cycles days, weeks, months, which evolved due to the impact of natures rythmn…we now have a seven day week evolving from the Middle East and Western societies.Through research I started to discover how symbolic Number seven is in many Cultures it has great significance for example…
Seven Continents,
Africa
Antarctica
Asia
Australia (Oceania)
Europe
North America
Sourth America
Seven Seas,(Modern)
Arctic
Antarctic
North and South Atlantic
North and the South Pacific
and the Indian Ocean
Seven seas, (Ancient)
Mediterranean Sea
Red Sea
Black Sea
Adriatic Sea
Caspian Sea
and the
Persian Gulf
and the Indian Ocean.
Seven wonders of the world.
Seven colours in the Rainbow.
Seven has religious/spiritual connotations,seven deadly sins … I particularly like the notion within Buddism that Number seven represents the seven factors of enlightenment…calm, equanimity,(even tempered) mindfulness, energy, joy, tranquility, concentration.This aspect fits well with the message of my personal reponse to nature, also the positioning and the individual delicate gestures of the hands holding a precious object within the sculpture,( this reminds me of the influence on me of Philosopher Alain de Bottons observations, in his book art as therapy based on art revealing fragility nature and a response by us concerning qualities of, calm, mindfulness, tranquility.This is an aspect I am attempting to convey in the work visually… aiming the work will inspire and encourage us to reconnect with nature. A chance to Stand and Stare as the words in William Henry Davis poem go.
De Botton says..
The glass workshops of Venice became famous in the medieval period for producing the most elaborate, delicate, transparent glassware mankind had ever known. Most of the time, we have to be strong. We must not show our fragility. We’ve known this since the playground. There is always a fragile bit of us, but we keep it very hidden. Yet Venetian glass doesn’t apologise for its weakness. It admits its delicacy; it makes the world understand it could easily be damaged.
The glass is not fragile because of a deficiency, or by mistake. It’s not as if its maker was trying to make it tough and hardy and then – stupidly – ended up with something a child could snap. It is fragile and easily harmed as the consequence of its search for refinement and its desire to welcome sunlight and candlelight into its depths. Glass can achieve wonderful effects, but the price is fragility. It is the duty of civilisation to allow the more delicate forms of human activity to thrive; to create environments where it is OK to be fragile. It’s obvious the glass could be smashed, so it makes you use your fingers tenderly. It is a moral tale about gentleness, told by means of a drinking vessel. This is training for the more important moments in life when moderation will make a real difference to other people. Being mature means being aware of the effect of one’s strength on others. CEOs please take note.
http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2014/jan/02/alain-de-botton-guide-art-therapy
Researching positive effects of nature and implications of its importance on individuals and therefore society
In the busyness of modern life, we do ourselves a favour to reconnect with that , that will do us good.
In an article Jain Malkin states,” the effects of nature on humans has been thoroughly studied…humans hasve a physiological and emotional response to nature .”
Roger Ulrich,Ph.D, enviromental phsychologist, states, in gaining wellbeing after illness, aide, restoration,reduce stress, “viewing nature can produce significant recovery from stress,”.
In an article by Psycologist Susan Krauss, she states seven seems to have the greatest attraction
A visit to tate Modern Yesterday revealed a surprise as I was able to see Leon Golubs Vietnam II I had done my dissertation based on Golub and Martha Roslers art works that emerged from the horror of events that came out of Vietnam particularly the evidence of Civilain casuaties.It was a humbling experience to see the work close up particularly Golubs technique with paint and the sobering portryal of the expressions on both the soldiers and civilians.
I was also at the Tate to see Mark Rothkos Seagram works it was interesting to read on the information that Rothko was said to have declined to have the works exhibited at the Famous resteraunt because he felt they wouldnt fit into the space as I had researched and found out that Rothko had refused the Resteraunt on ethical/moral grounds which cost him fianancialy yet he had stuck to his moral conscience. which i quite admire.
As for the works…as one enters the space there is a sense of heaveyness a somber/ mourning atmosphere is created this i feel was due to the colour it reminded me…
I was able to take photos of Golub and Rothkos works see images..
