University of Derby

and relax.

bank holiday weekend, sun is out, i have time to catch up with myself and my blog.

i started a degree in response to asking myself how good i was. this has become how aware i am, through considering work made by those that went before me and those walking alongside me.

my practice is to find my language.

i’ve rejected the design led practice that was my career before study, retaining that knowledge to feed into my practice of now. the practice is experimental.

the most recent research find has been vito acconci. i remember him being mentioned on another blog before christmas. his early photographic work has interested me, it’s playful inquisitiveness and wonder at the environment around him drawing me into his world. his project in munich in the 90’s is the latest find.

other recent thoughts included thoughts about images made before christmas, how do they relate to the developing practice, as of course on a degree programme development of ideas and images is the driving force. i guess a strong image made before christmas is still a strong image after christmas.

and another recent thought is to do with this blog structure. the attraction of it to start with was a feeling of a level playing field. being able to add entries with no one being over watchful, as was happening within the degree programme. all the contributions felt on a level plain. since the unedited blogs now have an editor, the dynamics of this site site have altered for me. i have to feedback my feelings on this, as otherwise they will sit deep within me and cause an unnecessary thing what i don’t need.

and so to the main course.

i’m working hard to catch up my research into journals, no good having completed research visits and them not appearing anywhere in my journals.

i’m waiting to get confirmation of another location to work in for another development of the little film idea that has come out of the monument work.

i’ve added a maquette of the sculptural new media work called monument(2009) that will be my degree show piece.

i see from the 2009 degrees pamphlet that the derby show is called spotlight. i’ve had no say or chance to have input into this, so the feeling of disconnection is large. i think it shows the power of design right now. there might be a sub-title for the fine art show, i’ll let you know if there is.

with the professional practice module still to complete and the work to place in the space, as well as journal finishing, i’m hoping for a busy and productive time as i come to the completion of the investigation i began nearly three years ago.

my dyslexia is affecting quite badly at the moment. i’m binging off wanting to do other things, rather than actually physically finish the current work off, as in my mind it’s finished.

i have looked at a lot recently. experienced a lot.

i realise i live in a system that i don’t agree with, yet have to endure it as it’s the system i live in, it’s mad i know, i will attempt to find positive fun things to engage with to make my living happier.

i’ve begun a new little film; working title is ‘ dormant terrorist ‘

i’ve been told what space i have for the degree show. i’m happy with it. i do have a sense of unhappiness about the work, i can’t put my finger on it, other than to say i went to see ‘ the age of stupid ‘ last night. i cried. we are doomed. none of the ‘ protestors ‘ i spoke to after seemed to know what they were doing. there’s something missing for me. I don’t understand why it’s affecting my work. oh hang on, it’s because of all the negative energy that is produced.

if only I could find my aesthetic bubble and live there blissful and happy.

i’m reconsidering my opinion of last summer. my particular opinion being about work being made about a subject and being removed so far from the subject, that the subject is lost. i now recognise that that is the only way to engage with the initial subject after all.

as some artist said of some writer of a quote of his : if you can’t change it: laugh at it. (not very fine art though is it).

like i say, my dyslexia is affecting me quite badly at the moment.

maybe I’m just not clever enough to find what it is I’m looking for creatively.

maybe it’s time to go into a field and throw some rocks around again.

maybe I need another early night.

I definitely need a cup of tea now.

still affected by tiredness.

trying not to let it affect me. it's tuff, and so is resisting chocolate.

been fun lately, i was involved with the fundraiser evening that chris and jo from our course put together last weekend.

handed in the proposal for the exhibition on monday, will find out next monday what space allocation has been made.

i've got some filming left to do for the final resolution of my piece. i've got some pulling together of research to do to make it understandable to an assor in 10 minutes.

i've got a personal promotion portfolio to do. there's not much left to do so my wandering thoughts have been of what after the degree lately. i'm thinking i'll explore those personal issues that i chose not to look at and express within the context of the degree.

i've applied for a place on the fourth plinth.

and onto washing up and cleaning.

back to school.

up early, tea and eventually toast, that toaster is so tempermental.

hand in the home work, chat with teach, he’s shaved, he’s quite dishy you know, much younger looking, it suits him.

rush around: return this, photocopy that.

lunch, some news, ace!

and the week has got off to a speedy start, can I match the pace all week? of course, big load of veg, gormley over to chat, all looking ok, all very relaxing.

and so to drink.

consider:

a man choosing to stand on one leg.

as a statement of him being happy in that place.

how long:

will that man be happy for?