In the last few weeks my focus has predominantly been on exploring initial ideas through drawing and monoprinting. My issue is that I have so many ideas that I feel are hampering my ability to just get on and make work.
What I think would be beneficial is to look back over my notes for my project proposal to understand what my very first ideas were compared with the position I am currently in. I feel that once I have done this I will be able to decipher which ideas I am most excited and passionate about.
The monoprints illustrated within this post, despite being visually similar, represent quite different ideas. The text used in the first print poses the question ‘This made it into the family album?’ and references my own feelings regarding the types of photos which are included in my personal family albums. This particular image is of the back garden at my old house when the new patio was being laid down. It was only on close inspection that I realised this, however, and at first I had no idea why the photograph had been taken given the display of bras and knickers on the washing line! At this point I was, therefore, considering the significance of these types of benign events which have been documented and in turn thinking about what photographs I am drawn to and why.
The second print demonstrates my interest in including important family belongings such as baby books, scans and other documentation of my existence within my work. In this particular piece I have translated the contents of a page from my own baby book. I would’ve liked to further this particular idea, however, my baby book is far from complete (as the younger child things just weren’t as exciting the second time round!). I find this print more visually pleasing than the others I have produced as it is not merely the recreation of a previous image but of tangible evidence of my life such as the hospital bracelet and newspaper clipping. It has, I feel, more depth to it. I really hope these are things I can utilise further as my project develops.
The last print shown here is foreign to me as communicated by the text used ‘I never knew this happiness.’ This piece represents a retrospective view of family photographs before I was born and at a time when my parents were together and happy. I have no memory of them ever being together so it was strange for me to really contemplate these images. It was when viewing these that I began to consider another way my work could go, referencing my physical absence and also absence of memory. To further develop this idea I could return to a previous method of painting over photographs to symbolise this concept or potentially physically cutting into the photograph.
One initial idea which I have been working on is the 22 etchings series, one for each year of my life. For this I have selected 22 images from family photos albums which show me at every age. At this point I have etched the first 9 and am now working on the other 13, finishing with the most recent photograph at the age I am now, 22. I am hoping to print the etchings I have already completed tomorrow.
