London Visit

Yesterday I went to London with a few friends from the Art Foundation course to visit some exhibitions of interest.

On the train on the way into London we went past the 2012 London Olympics construction site.

I find the visual of cranes domineering the skyline particularly interesting.

We visited Tate Britain, which I didn't have high expectations to find anything of relevance to my work, but my friend wanted to see the Susan Hiller exhibition.

But I found loads of exciting works relevant to Construction. This piece 'Rang Baranga' made from wood and paint by Rasheed Araeen particularly fascinated me as I had originally discovered the work in a Degree Show article in a magazine. To see the work in reality was awesome. I wasn't expecting the work to be of human size.

Naum Gabo - Model for 'Constructed Torso' 1917, cardboard.

I could really experiment with creating structures by using simple materials such as cardboard on a small scale and then begin to experiment on a larger scale with wood and perhaps metal.

Naum Gabo - 'Linear Construction No.1' 1942-43, acrylic and nylon. 

I find this Linear Construction series really interesting due to the intricate detail involved in creating these sculptural works. The final visual outcome is pretty spectacular too! They have the potential to be completely blown up in scale, which would be really fascinating and generate ideas for modern architecture designs.

Eduardo Paolozzi - 'Fountain' 1951-52, steel copper alloy and paint.

I love the spontaneous element to this work.

Reg Butler - Final Maquette for 'The Unkown Political Prisoner' 1951-52, painted stone and bronze.

I find the idea of including little model people within the sculpture very interesting as it really creates a sense of scale for the potential of the strcuture. I also like the idea of creating a drawing through the shadow of the structure.

Creating a sense of Destruction

Statement of Intent

I have decided on the title of my FMP to be 'Piece by Piece'. I feel this title reflects the process of my work in a phrase. The title isn't too specific therefore allowing me to accept new ideas or accidents if they arise through experimentation.

Statement of Intent

‘Piece by Piece’

Section One

In my recent work I have been exploring constructed landscapes through sculpture and drawings. In the Final Major Project I aim to develop this further through a series of sculptural works exploring processes of construction and destruction. I am inspired by looking at structures and buildings that are being built or destroyed. I find the idea of buildings being constructed piece by piece particularly interesting, but inevitably at some point these buildings will be destroyed. I will work with found materials collected from my Dad’s spare plumbing materials, from skips and also construction/destruction sites in the local area. I intend to use the materials to find my own methods of construction in a spontaneous way, combining paint and materials to create a sense of space. From this I can explore form and scale, potentially creating an environment which evokes a sense of the apocalyptic within structure.

 Section Two

I am excited by artists who explore structures and respond to architecture through sculpture. This extends on from my previous work of spontaneity with materials in creating an environment. My interest of using found materials with a combination of paint is reflected in the work of Phyllida Barlow, who experiments with unexpected combinations of mass produced materials to create a new environment. Another reference point is Heather and Ivan Morison’s’ ‘Luna Park’, which became more interesting to me once the work had been destroyed. I will research destruction through apocalyptic media imagery and also visit local demolition sites. Recently I have been fascinated in capturing a structure in a state of destruction. In this respect Los Carpinteros’ ‘Show Room’ is of relevance as it suggests explosion through the placement of materials. Although this is a more controlled approach of evoking a sense of apocalypse, the visual outcome is particularly exciting to me. Gerry Judah works in a similar way by creating model environments, which give the impression they have been destroyed. I plan to visit the ‘Constructed Landscapes’ exhibition held at the Royal Academy of Arts, which is particularly relevant to my project.

Section Three

I will predominantly be working with remnants of building construction site materials that I collect, such as woods, metals, plastics and cardboard. Although a material that is often associated with construction sites is steel, it may be increasingly difficult to use in quantity. Therefore I will explore techniques for representing certain materials to give the impression of an environment. I will work spontaneously with found materials to create structures, considering evoking a sense of apocalypse in the process, through the application of paint and techniques of physical destruction. Working in three dimensions will require time spent in the workshop with the use of certain tools and machines. From the sculptural works I produce, I will explore scale and form within my sketchbook in the studio space, as I have done throughout the Pathway Stage.

Section Four

I will critically reflect and contextualise my work’s development in the form of an online blog. Reporting to my blog regularly will allow me to assess the progress of my project and generate inspiration for ideas throughout. Individual tutorials and group critiques will help me to evaluate the success of my FMP.

Psycho Buildings

'Psycho Buildings' exhibition took place at the Hayward Gallery in 2008. It consisited of architectural environments designed by artists. One work that particualrly interests me is 'Showroom' by Los Carpinteros.

 



Los Carpinteros consists of two Cuban design artists. I particularly like this work due to representation of destruction within the work. It creates a real sense of movement, perhaps suggesting an exlposion. I love the idea of intimidating the viewer within the space by the work being 3D and surrounding them, given the opportunity to enter the work. However, this work has been designed and planned to ensure each material/object is in the correct place. The visual outcome is very exciting, but the process of creation is lacking authenticity. I could perhaps consider ways of actually destroying materials to give an authentic sense of destruction.

I also find this piece by Mike Nelson very interesting. 'To the Memory of H.P. Lovecraft' shows an exhibition space that has been destroyed in areas. This works seems to be more authentic as the walls have genuinely been destroyed. The rubel from this has also been left, which is very effective is reflecting an apocalyptic sense and may be something I consider with my work.

SOI and Project Ideas

Over the past week I have been working on my Statement of Intent for the Final Major Project, which includes compiling a Bibliography and a Time Plan for the course of the project. I found it very difficult to actually put into words what I intend to explore in my work as I have been deciding what approach to scultpure I want to take. Whether this be a spontaneous approach of creating structures, through combination of found materials, or a more design-based approach to sculpture, where the final outcome becomes the essential part of the art.

However after lots of talks with tutors and researching apocalypse within structure, I have decided that I am going to work in a more spontaneous way. This elaborates on from my previous work from the Pathway Stage where I was deconstructing materials and reconstructing them to create a new environment. The design apsect to my sculptural works will still be present as I have the option to work with the application of paint upon the materials creating my own constructed landscape. I will then be able to develop the 3D work in 2D through collage and drawings, exploring scale and form and also the apocalyptic nature of the structures.

Devastation to the World

I have been really considering the idea of creating a sculpture to represent the idea of an apocalypse. I would do this by destroying the structure in different ways. My interest of including this in my artwork has come about from the recent devastation caused in Japan due to an earthquake and following tsunami. I would like to explore the destruction of infastructures that natural disasters can cause, but possibly also the power of manmade self-destruction.

Devastation caused in Japan.

General apocalyptic research to structures

Building Environments

Phyllida Barlow's work incorporates a range of mass produced materials including cardboard, fabric, paper, glue, paint, plastic, wood, rubber, hardboard, and adhesive tape. Barlow's work questions the nature and role of the sculptural object in contemporary art. She creates new relationships, experimenting with unexpected combinations of materials creating new objects and environments.

'Machine'

Simis Gatenio is a Greek artist that often works with ink and acrylic. I find his machine series particularly fascinating. The minimalist approach to the series is very effective, working with close connection to line and space. When I initially came across this series I saw a direct link to Construction and possible structural drawings for ideas.



Constructed Building from Found Materials

I had already gathered together these objects from a skip with the intention to use them to create a scultpure at the end of my intervention project. However, I never really found any inspiration for my ideas at the time. I have decided now that I wanted to construct a structure that gives the impression of a small scale building. 

I saw the potential with these objects to create some sort of building through some of the plastic pieces giving an impression of a modern architecture roof.

I initial deconstructed some objects that I found, such as a kids toy oven set. I saw the potential to use the corners of the hob part as roofing for the structure.

There is a possibility that I may develop on this structure, but it has definately given me some ideas of what I can begin to produce. It was an opportunity to get out the studio space and really try to experiment with ideas that I have begin to generate first hand. It will be interesting to see whether people actually remove parts of the structure and essentially causing 'destruction' to the piece.

Constructed Landscapes

http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibitions/thearchitecturespace/

I intend to visit this exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts within the next couple of weeks. The title gives me the impression of real relevance to my project. i may find some key inspirations for my work here.

Initial Ideas

Constructing a Landscape?

The pathway stage has definately taught me that I love to construct fine art pieces, whether that be through drawing, painting, montaging ideas or through sculpture. I intend to continue building up a piece in one form or another. Perhaps I could construct my own landscape? I have also been particularly interested in the destruction of buildings and infastructures. Researching possible artists' that may share these interests with me, I discovered Gerry Judah. I can potentially invisage Judah's work becoming an inspirational part of my FMP.

Gerry Judah creates, what he desribes as, paintings, which literally come off the wall.

The paintings are a direct response to conflict across the globe, whether this be through war or through natural disaster. The apocalyptic aspect to the work can clearly be seen by the systematic destruction that Judah has done to these model buildings he has built. Painting the structures completely white gives the impression the constructed environemt has been bombed as it gives the effect of debris. I am interested in the concept behind these paintings, the process and model materials used and also the fact that they are completely 3D paintings.

Within my own work I could perhaps begin to develop ideas of constructing my own landscape to be destroyed, but also think about combining the 3D apsect to a 2D drawing/painting?

Let the fun begin...

FMP.

At the beginning of the week we were introduced to the Final Major Project brief. I was initial quite overwhelmed by the idea of beginning a new project on the bounce of handing in all work for the intervention brief. However, the idea that the project could be based completely on your own interests gave me a great deal of excitement and eagerness to begin developing ideas.

Following on from the direction I was heading in the intervention project, I instantly knew I wanted to base my FMP on 'Construction' in some way. I now needed to consider what aspect of construction i was going to be exploring, what processes and necessary materials I would need to investigate successful combinations and how I would contextualise my developing work. Tutorials at the end of my intervention project also showed me that I need to make choices regarding the significance of certain materials and processes that I use within my practice. I need to consider whether I am going to work with a 'truth to materials' mindset and really consider how the materials do themselves justice, in regards to texture, appearance and properties, or whether I am going to work with materials and processes to try and create an illusion of space, where the work is more about representing environments through the materials. This way I would be able to work with applying paint on to sculptures I create like I have done in previous work.

Over the first few weeks of the project I will complete a Statement Of Intent to identify my project objectives and clarify the scope of my work and my intentions. I will use my knowledge I have gained both practically and contextually from the pathway stage of the course and continue to work with interests I have developed for my fine art practice. Alongside the SOI, I will also be working on a preparatory sketchbook to record initials ideas and intentions for my FMP, but also begin to experiment with materials and processes.

Intervention Evaluation

In terms of my work in general, I feel the intervention project has really enhanced my understanding of art in a public space. A work that really stands out in my mind is 'Green River' by olafur Eliasson. I think this probably due to the epic scale of the intervention caused upon five rivers across the world. Transforming the colour of a river that people walk past everyday and perhaps barely even notice the water flowing by constantly, is really interesting. It is almost a message from Eliasson that is reminding the public of the rivers existence and perhaps even the power of water.

The idea of colour invading spaces has really become a key theme within my work over the past few months. I am intrigued in the power of colour and the transformation it can cause to an image, sculpture or within the public environment. Jessica Stockholder has become a recurrent artist within this project for me. I am fascianted by the way in which she almost creates a 2D painting in the form of sculpture. From creating an installation, she will apply colour to ensure that certain areas of the installation match colours and therefore creating an interesting image from a particular perspective. However, in order to really get an understanding of her work, it seems you would have to explore it from all angles to really get the full effect of the 3D piece.

More recently I have come full circle with my work, from the beginning of the Foundation Course, where I was looking at the monumental construcivist proposals from Vladmir Tatlin and Tatlin's Tower. His proposals were much very utopia's of the Moscow skyline. I am fascianted in the idea of utopia designs and then the possibility of destruction to these utopias. It is almost like the crushing of a dream. An example of this would be the pre-fab housing in South London which I researched. The council were planning to completely demolish the estate, meaning the residents would have to move out. For some residents the memories within the houses and also the estate were just too precious to them. Destroying the estate would destroy those people's lives. The idea of destruction to buildings then made me consider the idea of natural disasters and how I could possibly bring my interest in colour invading spaces into this.

From then to now I have really tried to push myself in terms of creating 3D. The sculpture which I recently built really gave me some elation, not just with the end result, but with the process of constructing something. I am strongly beginning to see myself as having a construcivist mindset and become excited by architecture and construction. I recently bought an 'Icon' magazine, which I found really fascinating as it was a new form of research and general interest to spark ideas within my own practice. I think I am also becoming aware of the possibilites of working various spaces, not just within a studo space. With my confidence growing in the ability to build I am starting to gather materials and objects that I see potential in. I think this will become beneficial to my future practice as I have a strong interest in the transformation between 3D and 2D works. I intend to continue working the way I have been and keep building and generating ideas for my Final Major Project.


 

Liz Brizzi

I discovered this French artist's work in Juxtapoz magazine. Her work is based in Los Angeles and is generally about finding beauty in desolate places.

Her work isn't perhaps closely related to my current work, but I find it very interesting. Her mixed media technique begins with the manipulation of her original photography collaged onto an acrylic painted canvas and then blended within layers of colorful acrylic washes.

For my current sculpture ideas I have been thinking about urban environments and I could possibly reflect various areas within a sculptural piece through the materials used, but also forms created. To generate ideas of a sculptural piece to build I could possibly begin to work in mixed-medias of photographs from areas/structures/buildings of interest and also initial drawings of development ideas.