Structure in move

Alongside photography and video I work with weave.

My sculptural work ‘X-Ray’ series (2009-ongoing), which tests how far I can push weave against its own conventions, exposes its vertical warp, which is usually hidden. I have developed my own weave technique to reveal and manipulate the warp structure, and the result is a unique translucent material.

Having developed my weavings from their original state into sculptures, I install them to interact with light. In my installations I investigate materiality and time, for example the way a weaving is visually transformed and mistaken for glass or ice. This happens through a performance with sunlight: as light enters space at a specific time of the day it gradually illuminates and transforms the woven medium, brings on a momentarily spectacle, before abandoning it until the following day.

To capture these visual aspects of my sculptural work I document it in photography, and now film. Before the a-n Bursary, I always had to explain how this gradual change happens using photos and words. Now, having used the funding to undertake a course in editing I can refine my footage and play a film in the future, showing the visual effects of the work without words. This new skill also enables me to make films for other projects and concepts; as you’ve perhaps already seen it those of structures found on train journeys or objects.

The stills here are of a video in progress, showing the illumination and change brought on by the fading in and out sunlight; it can be viewed on my Instagram @rita_parniczky Please view and follow for more.

The project also included mentoring with an arts professional whom I had in-depth discussions about my practice, projects, perspective, representation and goals. We refined the language I use to express my concepts and narrative; together we worked on my artist statement and viewed my on-line presence too. Aspects I found most helpful, if one has to pick one is receiving a so-called reading list with works by philosophers and thinkers, artists and scientists focusing on related subject matters. It’s been a tremendous help for me to work with an experienced mentor giving me confidence and reassurance about aspects I had less knowledge in. This experience has already showed its further advantages when making new work in the studio, writing or talking about my work, approaching my industry or other artists (including the how and when) responding to and creating my own opportunities too.

A few works in photography from the continuation of the body of work ‘Mundane’ started in 2017. These images are the result of further investigation of the structure of single-use objects. To view videos and further work in photography please find me on Instagram @rita_parniczky