Final Installation Adjustments

When I arrived in college today, I instantly turned the projector on to ensure the projected drawing had remained the same as when I left yesterday. I made some minor alterations to some pieces on the projector, but other than that I am really pleased with the outcome.

Yesterday I left college with a dilemma in mind of viewers within the exhibition being able to see the sculpture before the projection or at the same time, but I purely want the projection to be seen first. Therefore I managed to get hold of some more of the translucent material I had been using. This time I used a longer roll to ensure the sheet would reach the floor. I also slightly bent the overhanging metal pole, increasing the height of the translucent sheet. Taking a step back I realised that not being able to see any of the installation behind the material worked really effectively. 

What viewers will see as they enter through the doorway.

I am really pleased with this final outcome, and seeing the installation like this gives me a great sense of achievement. I have created a installation/sculpture/projection/drawing with a strong link to a site of construction.

Theres always time for one last touch. To hold the extractor tube more firmly in place I added a spiralling wire to the side of it, attaching with wire. This also adds to essence of a working construction site in the projection as it adds an element of movement to the piece.

All that is left to do now in terms of the exhibited piece, is to double-check everything abides by health and safety regulations. I will attach the electrical wire to the corner of the wall behind using tape to ensure it does not become a hazard or it does not become a distraction to the work. I will also tape any sharp areas of the installation that may be a potential danger. Areas that come to mind are the scrap metal that holds the translucent sheet and the edges on the structure holding the projector.

Installation Continued.

Due to the structure being moved around the studio in attempt to find a successful place to install it, when I applied electrical current to the projector, the projected drawing had become slightly different to the original set up. Therefore I had to play around with the focus on the projector and adjust any parts of the sculpture built onto the projector that had come out of place.

Once I was happy with the projection, I decided to take a step back to view the installation in situ. Although I was really pleased with the set up and the way it looked, there wasn't quite something right still. I think perhaps the translucent sheet needs to be slightly higher so that viewers can't see the sculpture behind unless they walk around to the side. I also had planned for the structure to be installed in a corner, where people would see the projection first and then have to come round the side to see the actual sculpture.

I connected the sheet to the overhanging pole by using wire to give the impression of a crane end.

I added the torn/ripped plastic extractor pipe to the hanging pole as I feel it really adds a sense of destruction to the projection.

I also feel it really completes the piece as a sculptural installation.

The connecting metal pipes meeting at a right angle is intended to add to the sense of a construction site, in particular a crane possibly.

After further discussion with my tutor, we agreed that the piece would be overall more effective if it was placed in the corner of this area. I really want the viewers in the exhibition to question what is creating the projection before they are able to actually see. In order to move the installation into the corner, it meant another student working in this area would have to be moved, leaving just two of us. Although I was beginning to feel somewhat greedy with the space I was taking, I feel it would be better for both myself and the student that had been moved as my installation does have a domineering presence. I wouldn't want anyone elses work to be disrupted by my own work.

As soon as I moved the installation into the corner I instantly knew it was the right place. It works so much better for what I want to achieve with the piece.

The only problem that has risen now is that you are still able to see parts of the sculpture through the gap between the sheet and the wall, and also above the material for those taller viewers. Some adjustments need to be made tomorrow!

Exhibition Installation

This week is purely for Exhibition Installation and Final Major Project Presention.

Yesterday the group were split up depending on where the tutors felt our work would fit best in the space and in relation to our peers work. Initially I was quite bemused as to why I was paired with Ben, James and Kieran, as all of their work differs significantly to mine. In the group we went round giving each others work feedback, both the work itself and the presentation of the work at the current time. Whilst we were going round I began to pick up on some strong links as to why we may have been placed together. All of us seem to have strong influences and ideas for our work, which I feel is instantly evident. Ben is very interested in comic-like illustration and explores colour within his work. James's work is very minimalistic, he appears to have a strong interest in space, layers and texture. Kieran is working with rust and seems to like experimenting with the possibility of materials. My work is heavily influenced by the process of construction and I clearly have an interest in sculpture and projection. Although all of our interests are extremely different, one word that kept seeming to be mentioned whilst we were giving feedback and explaining our work was 'spontaniety'. We all have ideas and influences before we create the work, but when it comes to the actual process of making, we all work very spontaneously, allowing for the process to perhaps takeover and allowing accidents to occur. 

The feedback I got for my structural installation was that it comes across as a somewhat menacing structure. I haven't really considered this aspect to my work, but yes I guess when I do view the work it does give off a sinister sense. I think the materials used and perhaps the size of the work can be particularly intimidating and invading of space. One part of the work which I do feel is very sinister is the actual projection. Whilst I was creating it I noticed that the drawing developing did seem to be desolate, which relates well to a construction site as they can be very large, isolated areas.

Another point that was raised, which I really liked, was the idea of the piece giving a message 'Get stuffed Health and Safety regulations'. This idea is interesting as the projector doesn't quite look safe placed on the structure, which appears unbalanced due to the angles of the materials. The projector has warning signs placed on it, I feel it is quite ironic how it is being invaded by this menacing, what appears unsafe structure. I am almost creating my own Health and Safety regulations, within my own process of construction.

I found it extremely difficult trying to fit the scuplture into the space without disrupting the work on the walls that surround the piece. At first I began with the installation in the centre facing the open space, but this really didn't work with work being intended to be behind it. Therefore I tried to place it in the corner so that you could view everybodys work. However, the others were still not happy with its placement and to be honest neither was I.

After a lot of thought at consultation we decided it would be best if one person, whose work was intended to be placed on one of the walls, moved to another area within the studios.

With some more space to try my installation in, I decided to explore ways of hanging the translucent sheet from the overhanging metal pole. I found a scrap piece of metal that was the perfect size to hold the sheet, I just needed to find a way of hanging this securely.

After discussion with my tutors about the most effective way to hang the translucent sheet, I decided the best way would be to give the impression it was a material hanging from the end of a crane, which is really relevant to my subject matter of a construction site. To achieve this effect I used wire, wrapping it tightly to the metal pole above and then to the scrap metal to hold the material horizontally. I feel this really works well and helps to give the overall essence of a construction site within the installation.

Tutorial Reflection

This morning I had a tutorial with one of my tutors specifically about my online blog. The talk made me really think about what my work means to me and how I work as I haven't really yet sat down and thought about myself in relation to my ideas and what I create. An essential question which arose was, 'Why do I work spontaneously?'. I think the reason I probably haven't thought about this question is because I have been unconsciously avoiding it.

Being spontaneous in the way I work allows me to be as expressive as possible and be playful with the materials I use. I think the reason I love to work in this way is because I am using my own process/es of construction. I have a large interest in the development of buildings, but this is more about what is achieved as oppose to how it is being done. Constructing something in a 3D way with no design plans, just ideas and influences, allows me to really interact with the materials I'm using and feel as if I am a part of the work. The materials I have used such as wood, metal and plastics are materials you would expect to find in a construction site, just perhaps not in such an extemporaneous way.

Michael Beutler

Earlier today one of my peers introduced me to an installation artist that I may be interested in. I looked at one image of their work and was instantly intrigued! Their work seemed really relevant to my current installation ideas.

Micheal Beutler lives and works in Berlin. According to www.friezefoundation.org 'Michael Beutler’s expansive sculptures are usually created on-site in relation to given architectural arrangements. In an idiosyncratic experimental process Beutler employs conventional building materials to question standardization, using DIY strategies and creating machines that facilitate the construction of the piece.' The websites description of Beutler's work really reminds me of my own way of working and my interests. 

Above: 'Mit Christoph und Lucie / With Christoph and Lucie' 2003

I find this piece interesting due to the similarities to the current installation I am working on for my final exhibition. I am using materials similar to Beutler has used here such as plastic, wood and metal in areas. The installation appears to have been built in a somewhat spontaneous way as there doesn't seem to be any geometric organisation evident. I can also relate my work to this due to the tower-like presence, but ephemeral quality the piece constructed has. The plastic cups stacked on top of each other really remind me of the insulation plastic pipe I am using to hang in my sculpture and project past.

Above: 'Lolita' 2003

This installation created in the same year as the one above also instantly caught my eye. The main thing that really fascinated me here was the drawing created from the sculpture when you view it from different angles. Even though I know these are poles that are part of the installation it gave me the impression of projection of a structure being directed around a room. Also the wooden structure to the right of this photograph seems to have been constructed spontaneously with an intention to give the impression it has potential to fall over. This directly relates to the structure I have built to place the projector on to in my installation which appears to be very unbalanced. 

ONE WEEK TIL DEADLINE

The project deadline is fast approaching! The last couple of days we have been cleaning and re-decorating the studios, which has been physical more tiring than I expected. Although it has been a chance to step back a little from project work and rest my mind for a few days. 

I'm shattered after a pretty long day, but when I arrived home from visiting my potential house in Norwich I sat down to watch a programme 'Andrew Marr's Megacity'. The programme involved Andrew Marr travelling to a number of large developing cities across the world and documenting his discoveries of society and the environment. The parts of the programme that fascinated me specifically were the areas of exploration of construction skyscrapers. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2kT-jTPBQY

The link shows an extract from the show where Andrew Marr is exploring the construction process of the new Shard building that is currently being built in London. The part of this clip that particularly excites me is the first 25 seconds as it shows hundreds of images in a stop-start motion format showing the development of the building so far. The stop-start clip reminded me of some previous animation work I have done involving colour invading a boot of my car. However, the construction process element to this link really relate to what I am currently interested in.