THE TOUCH THIS PRESS
I suppose, in order to understand what I am working towards with my degree show, I should explain what I am doing. I am wondering whether it is a good idea to publish my intentions online though, which will become clearer when I describe it all.
I have created a printing press, called the Touch This Press. TTP is an entirely fictional press, that is collaborating with fictional artists. I have invented four artists. They are all emerging artists at the beginning of their careers, whom the TTP has approached in order to create a body of work that will appear in a book format. The books produced will then appear in an exhibition within the degree show space. There is to be a unique book produced that reflects the practice of each artist. I have chosen to represent four artists who work in different media in order to diversify the type of books shown. There will be two photographers who act as one unit, an installation artist, and a painter. I will make the work that appears in the catalogue/artists’ book, I will make the books, and I will also invent their histories and criticisms.
I am more interested in this work than anything else I have done for years. I think it was bought about by my interest in books and my intrigue as to their role in a gallery setting. It is a way for me to make work that I want to make, while not developing one path of thought or work. I find myself enjoying making up these people to the point where I am beginning to believe that they really exist. I have inserted them into exhibitions and institutions that exist, as well as making up fake solo shows at galleries that do exist. I sometimes wonder whether they might be offended by this.
I am not sure how realistic viewers will find the ‘exhibition’ and indeed, the artists. Is it an entirely self-indulgent act on my part, or do I genuinely want people to believe in the fiction of my work? It has been suggested that my work could be an act of extreme narcissism, which I think is quite funny as it is partly a desire to distance myself from my work that has bought me to this point!
