You would think after writing a 7000 word dissertation I would be glad of the opportunity to get back to some physical artwork. I find myself, however, at a bit of a loose end.
It’s so frustrating that I have so many ideas just no way of knowing how to bring them to fruition.
Whilst writing my dissertation I realised that many of my ideas from practical work do not necessarily come from looking but instead from reading. There are a few specific books I read for my dissertation that really stood out for me, allowing me to consider how best I could represent my chosen themes and subjects. I guess when I said I was going to write this blog alongside my dissertation I should’ve really stuck to it! Now my great ideas elude me!
I hope to remedy this issue by getting my hands back on those books that were so thought provoking. In the meantime I have paid a visit to the library and took out some other books which relate to my themes and processes.
From just flicking through a book illustrating the works of Annette Messager, I can already tell her work will resonate with my ideas and push me to the limits.
I must not just work within my comfort zone. I think getting started is the hardest part, knowing WHERE to start! On one of the pages of this specific book is Messager’s piece How My Friends Would Do My Portrait (1972). What I find interesting about this piece is how much more other people can say about you than perhaps you can say about yourself. This particular point makes me consider the angle at which I should approach my work from. Whilst I probably will not be asking people to draw a portrait of me, what I am beginning to consider is making work from the position of someone else in my life, maybe drawing my portrait and accompanying it with a statement which explains their relationship with me.
As I think about this idea more and more I am beginning to consider the confessional aspect which something like this may bring to my work. Looking at the work of Tracey Emin will be beneficial for me regarding this idea.
I doubt I shall have the confidence or courage to be quite as open as Emin but I like to think there are definitely some things I’d like to get off my chest…maybe confessing them in my artwork is the best way to do it.
