SCAFFOLDING

Ideally in my exhibited piece I would have liked to have included some life size scaffolding, however I feel I have built in a more spontaneous way. I don't see this as a negative as such as I intended to construct in a unorderly way, it is just if I had more time to explore my ideas I feel it would make the sculptural installation more authentic and more identifiable in terms of construction.

A part of me is also pleased that I haven't managed to explore the process of scaffolding as it has given me a chance to reflect destruction and reconstruction of structures within one installation. The form of the 'plinth' holding the projector in place appears to be very spontaneous and gives the impression the structure is vulnerable to falling. This part of the installation, along with the torn insulation plastic pipe and the broken spaghetti and cocktail sticks I have built from, could represent destruction, whereas the projection portrays a reconstruction site for a building that has perhaps been destroyed.

Julie Mayo

I recently came across this digital image by searching construction sites on the web. I really like the mysterious aspect to this particular work.

Dorte Bundesen

I am getting very close to the end of the project now, but I was just trying to think of ways I would improve the piece I am creating if I had more time to spend working with the idea. One artist I came across, Dorte Bundesen, has some very interesting pieces.



I really like the idea of projecting through material with marks or of a specific colour, which will therefore effect the projection on the wall. It's just something for me to consider in the future.

Jonathan Borofsky

I wanted to reference this piece by Borofsky purely due to the fact that the projector actually becomes part of the work as opposed to just the projection being the entire piece. As I am now building up around the projector piece by piece the projector is defintely becoming a part of the installation and I would like the work to be viewed as a sculpture aswell as a projection piece.

Sarah Sze

Sarah Sze is an American artist who creates sculptural installations such as the piece below, 'Untitled (Portable Planetarium). This piece in particular addresses everyday life things and recycling. It includes materials we would except to see on a daily basis in a household environment such as fans, nails, rulers, feathers etc. The installation suggests a magical world integrating sounds, lighting and subtle movements. One thing that I do find really exciting about this piece and Sze's work is that once the sculpture has been dismantled after the exhibition, the materials used will be used to produce another work, generating new life. 

I can relate this way of working to my work as I created my sculputral installation using some scraps of wood that I used to create another sculpture I had previously built. Although this meant I had to destroy my own piece of work, the process of actually doing it was really exciting. When I was destroying the work I was consciously thinking about subject matter in regards to destruction and the apocalyptic nature of some of my work. It was even more fascinating to think that by re-using the materials I had previously used to built that I was reconstructing a sculpture. The idea of reconstructing has become a huge part to my work as the projected drawing represents a building that has been destroyed and is perhaps being reconstructed.

I feel that this piece would become really interesting if a source of light was forced upon it as the projection would be of such fine detail. 



I love the amount of intricate detail within this sculptural piece. The small ladder tracks made from sticks really remind me of the sculpture I have made on top of the projector. I also think this piece would be very interesting if light was forced upon it showing the projected shadow.



I absolutely love this installation, especially from this particular angle. Due to the photograph being from low down it gives the impression of a vast and overpowering constructed landscape. It is very authentic in regards to how it makes you feel. I know that when I witness large construction sites with lots happening I feel somewhat overwhelmed by the sheer height and powerful essence the environment gives. Sze uses lots of different coloured materials in this installation, which helps portray a magical atmosphere and a distinct mysterious feel.

Developing Sculptural Installation

After re-assessing the installation in the process of being created, I decided to carry on in the spontaneous manner of building that I had began on Thursday. I was now constructing around the projector I had built a sculpture onto previously, which I intend to be included in the installation. The piece really began to come together now as the sculpture I was creating with wood and materials such as plastic pipe and scraps of metal were beginning to reflect the structures I have built earlier this week using materials such as uncooked spaghetti, cocktail sticks and straws.

I am very pleased with the development of the installation so far as I feel it captures the essence of a construction site that I am trying to achieve. I particularly love that when you take a step back from the piece, the structure gives the impression that is falling over or atleast that it is vulnerable to falling. I feel that this is successful due to the angles I have joint some of the materials. Although I have tried to be as spontaeous as possible, once I had noticed that the structure was giving the impression it was unbalanced it was hard not to explore this visual idea further.

Now that I have constructed the structure to a sufficient amount to be successful, I can begin to explore the possibilities of attaching translucent material to the piece so the artwork becomes a whole sculptural installation.

Goshka Macuga

I was looking through one of my peers books that they had taken from the library today and came across this piece of work that I thought looked really fascinating. It was created by Polish artist Goshka Macuga, who according to http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/turnerprize/turnerprize2008/artists/macuga_work.shtm

'creates carefully staged, mixed-media installation'.

With the idea that I have had currently, I feel Macuga's work sounds really relevant in terms of exhibition installation.

In regards to the work I came across in particular, 'Architectural visions of early fancy in the gay morning of youth, and Dreams in the evening of life by JM Gandy, 1820', I feel it really creates a landscape environment sense. This is mainly due to the pylons connecting across constructed table platforms. Even though the scaffolding poles in the background of the exhibition may not be a part of the work I find these particularly interesting as they help to give a real sense of a constructed environment. I love how this, what appears to be a random assortment of structures and materials, almost creates a design model.



Building Exhibition Installation

I began building my final exhibition installation today in the studio. It's suprising how much fun drilling bits of wood together can be. Not sure I'm cut out for the whole DIY scene, but constructing spontaneously is very exciting. I measured the installation I had set up earlier this week in the mezzanine area to know the exact height and width I wanted to the platform for the projector to be placed on.

I feel it is important that the materials are joint together by drilling with screws. I essentially want to give the viewer of the exhibition the impression that they are entering a construction site without being too obvious.

My plan is too have the structure I have built (plinth for the projector), attached to the translucent sheet which the projected drawing will be cast on to via an overhanging material. I wanted to do this as I feel that by having something overhanging it will help to give the impression of being in an actual building site where the height of the construction forces us to naturally look up and be wary of our surroundings. I went skip raiding and scraps raiding to see if I could find something sufficient to fit my needs. I considered having a plastic tube, but I came across an even better option; a copper pipe. Not only is this more authentic in terms of a construction site, but the metal will be a lot stronger than the plastic I had in mind. However, I did also find a plastic tube which I decided to attach to areas of the 'plinth' structure.

To ensure the 'plinth' structure was serving its purpose I placed a projector on to the platform. Taking a step back I really felt quite proud of what I had built. It doesn't look like much for the time it took and to be honest it doesn't really look like anything at the moment, but I feel it really gives the projector a new interesting context. Seeing the structure with the projector in place makes me really excited for how my exhibition final outcome will look. I will re-asses what I have built tomorrow and make sure I am happy with everything so far and then carry on constructing.

Exhibition Planning

I have had an idea after discussing my plan for the exhibition so far with my tutor. The installation I have set up is currently in a studio space with a ceiling for the material to hang from, a table for the material to rest and a chair for the projector to be placed on. To make the whole installation more exciting and authentic to my subject matter I have decided that I am going to build a sculputre to support the set up in the same way it is currently being held. I have measured the relevant distances in order to build around the installation and now aim to begin building with wood, attaching by using a drill and screws. First I shall draw up some designs for how I want this to look, but I don't intend to spend too long on the design aspect as spontaneity of the construction is essential.

Today I made a few adjustments to the installation I created yesterday in the studio. I added some more spaghetti sticks to add more detail to the projected drawing as I feel it improves it. I spent a lot of time today thinknig and planning how I would install this piece in the exhibition.

Exploring my New Idea.

After my talk with one of my tutors yesterday I felt inspired to explore a new idea. I decided to come into college today to get cracking!

It's really handy having a mum who works in a Secondary School with unwanted Overhead Projectors, it saves me constantly having to frantically search around for one to use. I now intended to make the projector become a part of the actual installation, exploring the space around the object to create a shadow drawing against and through a translucent sheet.

I began by experimenting with the sharpness of the projection from materials such as spaghetti, cocktail sticks and straws, varying the distances from the light source.

I also thought about the possibilities of hanging materials from the head of the projector to make the installation more exciting. It also creates an interesting faint effect on the projected drawing.

I decided to use an insullation tube that I found in my garage as I saw potential exciting elements to it. I tube consists of a spiral wire frame wrapped in plastic. I thought it would be interesting to see the projection if I tore away a lot of the plastic to reveal to the structural frame.

I feel the torn plastic gives a real sense of a building that has been destroyed. I now wanted to think about how I could try and suggest this drawing suggests a building in the process of reconstruction as it has been destroyed.

The outline of a crane instantly creates a sense of a construction/reconstruction site as it is machinery we associate with buildings in a process of development.

I am really pleased with my outcome so far for this idea and I think I have decided I am going to display this in the final exhibition for the project. I have based myself up the stairs from the normal allocated studio space into the mezzanine area. I find it really exciting to think that the work will be viewed as people reach the top of the stairs (providing the projector is turned on). I think it is essential that the projection is viewed before the sculpture becuase I want people to feel confused when they come round the side to reveal what is actually creating the projection. Another thing that I find particularly interesting about this idea is that when I was working today the windows in the room where open causing wind to blow the translucent sheet. I therefore intentionally decided to leave some slack on the material to allow the wind to catch it. I found this really interesting as it helps to evoke a sense of reality of being at a tall construction site, where the wind would cause materials at height to flutter and buildings to slightly sway. Tomorrow I am going to think of ways of how I can improve the installation and possibly add materials to the projection. Bring it on...

Research

Unfortunately, I am not able to access the images of structures Martin Fletcher, also known as 'Systems House', has created. I have put a link to his website where you can view a collection of images of sculptures he has made.

http://systemshouse.org/

'Garden City' 2010 and 'Triple Screen Wall Mounted Construction 1' 2007 are particular favourites of mine. I find the repetition of forms very interesting as it gives a great sense of construction and consistent building. When I see these pieces I can instantly visualise environments within them, which is probably what really draws me to his work.

Today I was discussing projection with my tutor and the importance of simplicity in creating projections. Ceal Floyer's projections appear to be very simple, but the concept behind them is extremely clever.

'Overhead Projection' 2006 is my favourite piece by Floyer. Although it is simply a light bulb placed onto a Overhead Projector, the idea of the object being a lightbulb and it being placed onto a source of light makes the piece become very interesting. I am really excited by the idea of drawing with light by placing objects/materials onto the projector bed.

'Let The Projection Create the Sculpture'

This morning I was experimenting with both structures which I have recently built, projecting them against a white wall in the studio space. I found the outcome projection very interesting due to the varying levels of focus. By areas of the structures being further away from the light, the quality of focus is lost. I feel this creates a very mysterious effect, which I really like. This projection in particular gives an essence of destruction when I look at it.

In the afternoon I had a tutorial to assess the performance of my progression within the FMP.

Recently I built a model-like structure, which I did find very interesting and exciting to build, but I have perhaps been going off track with the subject matter in my work. Although I am still projecting the structures I am creating, the projected drawings are becoming somewhat less interesting as they are literally shadows being cast that suggest the outline of the sculptures. However, the key thing that intrigued me with using projection within my work was the power of creating a drawing from shadows that the viewer would not necessarily expect to be achieved from what is infront of the light source. My interest with shadow installations has been largely inspired by Noble and Webster. Talking with my tutor today, I discussed how I was concerned about copying aspects of their work. However, after reminding myself the difference between their work and my ideas of construction I have reassured myself to keep going with the projecting shadows ideas.

I now intend experiment with the idea I had of placing materials upon the projector using the bed as my drawing board. Instead of simply creating a drawing though, I will invisage the piece as a sculpture that has the potential to develop into the surrounding space of the projector. Essentially the OHP will become part of the sculpture, which I feel instantly adds interest to the idea. By exploring the space above the light source I can let the drawing create the sculpture as oppose to the other way round, which I have been doing recently. The work is definately more fascinating when I work from the projected drawing I am creating.

I intend to experiment with mark-making using smaller materials such as spaghetti, cocktail sticks and perhaps wire/string. I don't want the image to create an exact image of a construction site, but I would like it to give an essence of construction in the process without being too abstract. I will now explore the success of materials and see how the idea works out.

Focusing on Creating a Landscape

I've been meaning to play with this idea for a while now. An artist that's work is extremely fascinating to me is Gerry Judah. I researched a lot of his paintings that come off the wall at an earlier stage within this project. I have decided I want to create a sculpture using his work as an inspiration. I have gathered together some materials either from skips or from packaging, including wood, cardboard and polystryrene. With these materials I had an intention to build up a landscape spontaneously with the idea of construction or possibly destruction in mind.

Once I began building up the structure I decided that by adding cocktail sticks, it would give a real sense of modelling and therefore an environment.

I used a glue gun to attach the materials together spontaneously. I intentionally left the glue to dry in areas to increase the intensity of detail of the sculpture.

I find this image particularly interesting. I feel it gives a great impression of the structure becoming a landscape, perhaps suggesting a construction site. My peers have pointed out to me that it reminds them of some sort of jail or even a fortress. This is probably due to the piece being created within a wooden crate. Others have suggested I should consider spray painting the sculputre or even painting it to see what new effect I can create. In this case, considering the colour which I make it would be essential. I could perhaps think about the idea of destruction that is recurrent in Gerry Judah's paintings and paint it white or black. I have also been told I should spray it gold or silver, which sounds quite exciting. However, I'm not sure that would necessarily give justice on the nature of the work.