Category Archives: Studio 1

Planning Films

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During our art lecture we saw several different types of video art including ones using green screen and others using 16mm film on a hand held camera. These were all intended to inspire us, however I soon found that it cemented the fact that I liked our ideas about the video that we were aiming to create. The group as a whole also found that the longer videos that we saw were more boring and complex, something that we did not want to incorporate into our video art.

We began to quickly throw ideas up in the air and suddenly began to understand that we needed to choose some, and soon, to make up our final story board in order to know what exactly we were filming.

Georgia, Romaisa and Hadis draw out several images that were the majority of our ideas, specifically the ones that worked well with our themes of feet following and the day in the life of a university student. These included everything from the beginning credits to stepping on a slug to skateboarding down the road.

As many of us had not worked together before, many of us had not worked in a group so large, and pretty much all of us had not created a film before, there were some consequences. Admittedly, there was some tension when deciding the final, or partially final, story board, as of course, when working in a group, different people have different opinions about certain aspects. For example, some of us were determined to have the skateboarding as part of the film, but others could not see where it would fit in. There was a long, and heated, discussion about this, where ideas were repeated time and time again. Misunderstanding was part of the reason, but also imagination and a little too much of it could also be to blame for the ‘over-heatedness’. We did however, then come together as a group, and compromised about the situation and the scene, in order for the skateboard to fit in. There was another discussion about where we should film the bedroom and bathroom scenes – this was between Halls of Residence in the university or a flat that which on of the group members is renting out. This was a difficult decision as we wanted the ‘homely’ look to the video, which leads us to the lovely apartment, but convenience screamed at us to go to the Halls as we do not have much filming time. We decided at that time to go with the apartment, however I had a feeling that this might change.

Our initial order began as:

  1. Opening credits
  2. Feet coming down off of bed (moving title out of the way)
  3. Stretch, wiggle toes in the rug
  4. Shower
  5. Dry off, put slippers on
  6. Get dressed and knock something off the side e.g. bag and dropping things on the floor
  7. Walking down the stairs and saying hello to flatmates/neighbours
  8. Walk out and greet a cat which twirls around legs OR steps on a slug
  9. Runs in a puddle because she is late (to a date)
  10. Steps in chewing gum
  11. Coffee date

This order, as I began to very usefully write it down, very non-usefully, changed, because as a group we did not like the order that it was in. The story board changed several times more, and the use of the individual pieces of paper for each scene allowed us to change it with ease. This was until we found our final story board (which, as you will find out, changed again).

  1. Opening credits – shoes that we are wearing or our favourite pair of shoes – names displayed above and below each pair of shoes
  2. Get out of bed, follow the feet – title get swiped out of the way from the feet
  3. Stretch out – hands stretch down to stretch the body? – Stretch the toes and wiggle them (in a fluffy rug)
  4. Shower – shave?
  5. Dry off feet/legs and put feet into slippers
  6. Get dressed
  7. Drop bag/object off of a sideboard/bed in the room and things fall out of the bag onto the floor – shocking objects such as bullets or drugs
  8. Rush outside where greeted by a cat who brushes around the legs, then put the skateboard down and scares the cat off, and head off OR rush outside and step on a slug or a snail, shake the foot to get it off, give up, put the skateboard down and head off
  9. Society
  10. Go outside to leave and run back because forgotten about the skateboard. Doors are locked (see door shaking) and so have to walk to the date.
  11. Steps/runs in puddle (gets quite wet).
  12. Steps in gum (Layal found video to make some?)
  13. Coffee date – tippie toe for a kiss/hug (do not see what is happening knees above so anything could be happening – suspense and suspicion) – guy comes in on the bike?
  14. Tries continuously to get the gum off of the bottom of the shoe. Successful – footsies with guy and nervous tapping from both sets of feet or legs
  15. Goes to leave and through the door and trips in doorway and so spills the drink all over herself
  16. Goes back through the door – transition (use green screen) to the bedroom
  17. Gets changed ready for a night out (and also because she spilt coffee all over herself)
  18. Walking down the stairs, saying hello to flatmates/neighbours, stopping, dodging etc (busy because everyone was heading out) – only one with shoes on walking down the stairs? Or not wearing her shoes because she puts them on at the bottom of the stairs?
  19. Clubbing!
  20. Falls over (beginning of hallucinations and ‘trippy’ sensation) and takes her shoes off
  21. Trippy: spiders climbing up leg/around legs
  22. Trippy: Shooting someone who has the same shoes as the guy on the date. Dropping of a bullet after shooting. Kick the body?
  23. Transition, trippy (less): step over the body and camera follows through into the body – sweeps into darkness and into another room (bedroom or bathroom)
  24. Shower – blood dripping down – hers or from the murder scene?
  25. Get back into bed and follow the feet up into bed
  26. Pan up to a moon/light reflection and end credits – include music, sound, feet credits – ‘The End’ written on the balls of the feet?

During the decision process of the story board, we also came up with several things that we needed to take into consideration when filming and editing the video clips. This included (see spider diagram at the bottom of the post for an alternative view):

  • Blooper Reel – Extra video? All the little bits that we mess up/testers
  • Colour or black and white? – Colour for normal and black and white for the hallucination part of the film? – slowly add in colour? – distorting or colourful
  • Music – ‘everyday’ noise – none – weird and whacky – a song – just the footsteps
  • Hallucinations? Or just a really clumsy person?
  • Which camera to use? Go-Pro, Phone or Digital?
  • Speed – double speed for normal everyday – get slower/psychedelic when hallucinating/drunk
  • Opening credits – shoes with names above and below – use favourite shoes/shoes we are wearing on the day of filming? Or shoes that we use in the video?
  • SHOES! Trainers, heels, dancing shoes, boots, slippers – clothes and outfits; tights, jeans, odd socks, shorts/skirts

I highlighted a couple of key elements including that of hallucinations and which camera to use. These were very crucial elements of our video. For the camera dilemma, we had the choice between a GoPro, our phones, of which most are iPhone, or a digital camcorder. First to be illuminated was the phones as we all wanted a higher quality image that which the GoPro and the digital camcorder could provide. We found videos online showing that the GoPro produces a fish-eye look to the video captured, as it round off the edges and makes everything a little wider (see video below). This was not the particular style of image that we were looking for, and so decided to scrap the idea of using the GoPro, and decided on the digital camcorder. Our second problem within this camera dilemma was how we were going to record the whole thing at floor, or ankle level. This was quickly solved by our technician who had the idea of using a floor-level trolley. We found one in the art department but soon found that it has the mind of its own and only ran smoothly on smooth floor surfaces. We opted for a broom and a clamp in order to get the video at a constant height and for it to be easily transported inside, outside and also down the stairs, which is what one of our scenes required.

Source: YouTube

Our second problem was the hallucinations. We all preferred the idea of the use of drugs, as these are somewhat common in university and women can often be subject to drugs such as roofies. We then talked to those who we know who have taken drugs and there were some mixed reactions to the way in which we wanted the hallucinations, as no one had ones such as these. One of the lecturers spoke to us about this and asked whether it was convenience or coincidence that we used women’s feet. Honestly, it was initially convenience as we are a group of six girls, however, he also pointed out that the events that we have described often happen to women, and how we are somewhat pointing out the vulnerability of the gender, and of the feet themselves. It is for these reasons that we decided for her to still take drugs, but something more recreational, and instead of shooting someone, the night goes horribly wrong, and a guy follows her out of the club and tries to do things that she does not agree to. We all found this to be a better idea as it was more truthful and more likely to happen, and also, a murder was a bit jumpy to have at the end of the more-or-less normal day.

The next step, is to film.

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Initial drawings by Romaisa and Georgia.

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One of the first story boards, featuring drawings from Romaisa, Georgia and Hadis

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More alterations to the story board, featuring drawings from Romaisa, Georgia and Hadis

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(What we thought was) The final story board, featuring drawings from Romaisa, Georgia and Hadis (the story board changed since this photo was taken).

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Rough notes Georgia made during the selection process of the story board, including things we needed to think about during filming and editing.

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A mind map of the things we needed to consider during filming and editing, and the initial order of the story board

img_6154

Our almost final order of the story board for our video art

 

 

Lights. Camera. ACTION!

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Back to Uni and we were thrown straight back into art with video art. Video art isn’t just a movie, it’s using a moving image to put across an idea such as you would in a painting. See Pipilotti Rist (and also Hold Up – Beyoncé) for a visual representation of this.

In our groups, we needed to discuss and develop an idea for a film – everything from style to content and aesthetic. There are 6 of us in total in our group in order to create a maximum four minute video; Georgia, Romaisa, Hadis, Layal, Iqra and myself. We were told that we would need someone to:

  • Be in charge of writing a script (Georgia)
  • Be in charge of creating a storyboard (Romaisa, Hadis)
  • Be in charge of sourcing/making costumes and props (Layal, Iqra, Georgia)
  • Be in charge of filming and camera operating (All)
  • Be in charge of editing in the editing suite (Georgia)
  • Be in charge of making/recording and editing a soundtrack (Romaisa, Charlotte)

We decided on parts that we would play, for example script writer, filmer etc, but then we realised that in reality, we will all be on hand to help with each individual part of film making.

To start thinking about our ideas, we began thinking about our own favourite movies, or TV shows, and we had everything from Sherlock to Beauty and The Beast to The Diving Bell and The Butterfly.

  • Sherlock
  • The Maker
  • Me, Earl and the dying girl
  • Beauty and the Beast
  • Keeping up with the Joneses (II)
  • Rush Hour
  • Diving Bell and The Butterfly
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The Beauty and the Beast idea – Georgia

img_6121

From this, we threw some initial ideas down about different aspects of our favourite films into a mindmap so we could take some of those aspects into our own video.

  • Emotions – maybe using music to trigger this
  • Filmed at floor level
  • Repetition of scenes
  • Slowing down the film
  • Twists, plots – comedic
  • (Clockwork Orange) Sockwork Orange – Purposefully bad films based on other films
  • Objects in different places – from different films?
  • Dance scene – different sets of shoes
  • Victoria (international film)
  • Flashback
  • Reinterpret the past
  • Simulation view
  • Visually artistic
  • Animation and film blended – blue umbrella – animated crockery and household objects
  • Time symbolism – slow motion – speed
  • Trailer?
  • Cartoony-idealistic town
  • Setting remains the same
  • Surrealism thoughts e.g. Inception
  • Husband and wife being spies v.s. normality – facade
  • Blinking
  • Hand coming up to face
  • Changing of scene
  • Shaking of the head
  • Hair falling over eyes
  • Feet moving across the camera (like it is on the floor and people dance/walk past)
  • Someone falling – all the different images with flashes of falling – interview switching the movement

img_6117img_6142

BRAINWAVE!

All of a sudden, we came up with an idea. Feet. You ask, why? We ask, why not? The idea is to follow a pair of feet through a journey, instead of following someone traditionally.

We came up with a large list of things that we wanted to include which are inspired by the films that we mentioned earlier. The changes that we made during the listing of these aspects were also inspired by the genres of the films mentioned and also by what happens in them.

  • Black and white surrounding – red shoes/toe nails
  • Following feet
  • Getting out of bed
  • Shower
  • Cat circling feet
  • Dancing – tap dancing, ballroom dancing
  • Slippers
  • Tiptoes
  • Interation
  • Dropping of a bad – bullets/gun/mysterious object rolling out
  • Getting back in bed
  • Mushing of food/tomato
  • Stepping on a slug
  • Dropping of an egg on the floor – kitchen
  • In different environments
  • Toes wiggling in carpet
  • Stretching
  • Splashes
  • Reflections
  • Hallucinations
  • Marbles/tripping over
  • Stepping in something nasty
  • Pole dancing?
  • Credits: Panorama of the bedroom, 6 pairs of shoes in a line against the wall. Each name above/below a pair of shoes
  • Dropping of a gun cartridge

We then began to write the story board and rough ideas of what we wanted to do throughout the film and what our underlying theme was. Not only was the underlying theme feet, but we also began to realise that we were describing the average day that which we all have – walking around the University, running through puddles, dropping things, tapping feet – and coincidentally, these are the aspects that we wanted to add to the film.

Through the use of a group chat, we also came up with the ideas of;

  • Anything with splashes (drops, puddles)
  • Bike rides on wet roads
  • Hallucinating
  • Falling over or falling over drunk, and the camera falls with it

Matthew Collings

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Matthew Collings is an art critic and artist. “He has a regular monthly column in the art magazine ArtReview (“Great Critics and Their Ideas”), in which he ‘interviews’ historical figures whose influence on art has been decisive’ […]

He began his career working at Artscribe beginning in the production department in 1979 and later took over as editor, filling that role from 1983-7, bringing international relevance to the magazine. Collings later moved into television working as a producer and presenter on the BBC The Late Show from 1989-95 […]

After leaving the BBC, Collings wrote ‘Blimey! From Bohemia to Britpop: The London Artworld from Francis Bacon to Damien Hirst,’ which humorously chronicled the rise of the Young British Art (YBA) movement. Published in 1997 by 21, a new company founded by David Bowie, among a group of others, ‘Blimey!’was described by Artforum magazine as “…one of the best-selling contemporary-art books ever.” (Kate Bush on the YBA Sensation, Artforum, 2004). The article went on to say that Collings “invented the perfect voice to complement YBA: He makes an impact without (crucially) ever appearing to try too hard. ”
[Quoted from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Collings]

He collaborates with the artist Emma Biggs to produce paintings.

“Biggs and Collings are interested in something they have noticed by looking at art from the past. Art, as it used to be understood, has come to an end. But what strikes them is that old ideas and habits of mind are hard to shake off. Former ways of thinking constantly influence behaviour today. You could say that an example of this phenomenon is the way the aestheticisation of the art object has been replaced by the aestheticisation of the art experience. The thorny issue of how the past is present in what we, as a society, see and do, and the way in which it may differ from what we believe we say and do, is at the heart of Biggs’ and Collings’ work”.

Quoted from: http://emmabiggsandmatthewcollings.net/statement/

Biggs and Collings website:

http://emmabiggsandmatthewcollings.net/

An AN INTERVIEW WITH MATTHEW COLLINGS, in 3AM Magazine, 2002

http://www.3ammagazine.com/litarchives/2002_mar/interview_matthew_collings.html

Matthew Collings, The Rules Of Abstraction, 2014, BBC4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bg3oQ_OqQ_o

Matthew Collings :: This Is Modern Art. Episode 1 of six-part TV series written and presented by the English art critic Matthew Collings, in 1999 on Channel 4.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoSjRRv6ZrE

Several images were shown to us throughout the presentation from Matthew Collings, of oil painting chequer board arrangements. As these were shown, Matthew pointed out that the painting has nothing but itself. It does not require to be talked about. This, I have found, is true for the majority of paintings and artworks in general. Nothing is required to be talked about, and yet we want to talk about it. Through this, you cannot dispose the implications of the question. Matthew also pointed out that it is not about the beauty but rather about the outside concept.

Within the paintings, there is the ongoing onset of light and dark, much like a ticking clock, but then after that there is nothing regal. There are also, as Matthew said, lots of different configurations of all the colours. None of the triangles are the exact same colour, which create divisions. These divisions can mean different things, for example with the diamond in the square, but it does not have a meaning. The painting cannot force you to draw conclusions but invites you to realise that the peer is a disposition in the elements. This had been said as there were two artists working on this series of paintings.

In some ways, Matthew found, they are more like designers rather than artists, just without function, which makes it artwork and makes them artists.

There is also a certain perception via the colour relationships within the painting. There has to be this particular type of colour here because there is a particular type of colour there. The colours were not put down just because they are pretty. The technique that was used was little brushes and thick paint, creating a piece that looks like it was woven, or that it is a blanket or chalk on a dark ground or surface. All the activity that goes on throughout the painting are like objects revealed by the world.

Matthew showed us the progression of one of the paintings that they worked on previously and it showed that there is no particular order to the work. The work is often filled up before it is finished as then it is adjusted, balanced and refined. The artist that he works with makes the colour and suggests where is should go, and then Matthew paints it on. They are not romantic or subjective artists and the point of painting are neither of these. Neither artist is interested in the narrative of these.

Everything that you are doing is some kind of division or subdivision.

Both artists are interested in mosaics and in particular, historical mosaics. They have worked in mosques, churches and cathedrals to help build and restore mosaics but also to learn mosaics. All their paintings have a title from the book of Genesis, the Bible. This is not a religious connotation but they are interested in the background of it as it informs and helps their artwork, as the Bible is part of the history of art.

Matthew also commented that it is not just about the visual aspect of experience. The elements should be disposed about the place that is realistic. A unity enquiry. A balance enquiry.

When exhibiting, the use of photos explains what they are doing but not quite inspiration to them. These photos come from everywhere; Florence to England, a painting to a reflection in the water. They also look at the very basic units of perception i.e. light and dark.

In some works, sometimes the units has the triangles and the diamonds, but sometimes they are empty. Emptiness is then encountered by business. The paintings are also very roughly executed, but looking from a distance, they seem streamline. Throughout the pieces, there is a sense of perusing patterns.

Do a type of art that is a metaphor for things but also of nothing at all because it is so abstract.

https://taboofart.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/637wk_img11.jpg

Source: taboofart

http://1.design-milk.com/images/2012/01/Biggs-Collings-1.jpg

Source: design-milk

https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2015/01/Great-Substance_50-x-50-in.jpg

Source: news.artnet

https://taboofart.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/644wk_img1.jpg

Source: taboofart

https://taboofart.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/573wk_img1.jpg

Source: taboofart

Painting Inspirations

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These are the artists that I  used though out the painting project to inform and inspire my decisions on what I should do throughout the painting process.

There were several artists that I initially wanted to use. Unfortunately there is not enough literature on them to be able to quote that I used them, especially in my artist statement. These included an anonymous artist named Caia, where upon I could only find one of her paintings that was relevant to the piece that I was designing.

http://www.britishwomenartists.com/users/000870/art-001753-00.jpg

Source: Journey On

http://www.britishwomenartists.com/users/000870/art-001754-00.jpg

Source: Forest Fire

http://www.britishwomenartists.com/users/000870/art-001755-00.jpg

Source: Rapture

I was inspired by the strong use of the colours in sometimes partly undefined shapes to create a painting. I was also attracted by the painting ‘Forest Fire’ as personally, I was confused by where each tree trunk began and end as they merge into one. And yet, the trunks are all still defined and are individual in one forest. I wish to bring that aspect into my own painting.

I also looked at the Instagram photographer Mike Kus who often takes photos in clear reflections. I was inspired in the way in which the reflection that he was able to capture was as clear as the object itself.

View this post on Instagram

#Chichester Reflected. #reflection #officecommute

A post shared by Mike Kus (@mikekus) on

Source: Mike Kus

Source: Mike Kus

View this post on Instagram

More of #Berlin reflected. #btconf #reflection

A post shared by Mike Kus (@mikekus) on

Source: Mike Kus

I also had a quick look at the work of Pete Gilbert. He is an artist that works and lives in the New Forest, and so I found it appropriate to look at his work. The work of his is also very free, much like Caia’s and yet also very natural. The works are colourful, and I hope to have as many colours within the painting to express the mood and the atmosphere in not only the painting, but the individual areas of the painting too.

http://www.petegilbert.me.uk/images/gallery/hale%20p2web.jpg

Source: Pete Gilbert .me.uk

http://www.petegilbert.me.uk/images/gallery/sowley%20web.jpg

Source: Pete Gilbert .me.uk

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/b5/8c/06/b58c06259454e7594475863258a28dac.jpg

Source: pinimg.com

There were then the artists that inspired these artists, and these are the artists that I intend to use to inform my practice and technique throughout this project. The inspirations are not only artists as I also looked at books and films to inform by decision about the way in which I was going to paint. All of these inspired me in different ways including that of composition, use of colour palette and the general technique of painting and mark making.

Paul Klee Trees

  • It is not the way in which Paul Klee paints trees, in a blocky, unrealistic way, but the passionate way in which he describes them, that caught my eye.

“Le noyer”
I Arbre qui, de sa place,
fièrement arrondit
tout autour cet espace
de l’été accompli,
arbre dont le volume
rond et abondant
prouve et résume
ce que l’on attend longtemps:
j’ai pourtant vu rougir
tes feuilles en devenant vertes:
de cette pudeur offerte
ta magnificence, certes,
les veut à présent punir.
II
Arbre, toujours au milieu
de tout ce qui l’entoure –,
arbre qui savoure
la voûte entière des cieux,
toi, comme aucun autre
tourné vers partout:
on dirait un apôtre
qui ne sait pas d’où
Dieu lui va apparaître . . .
Or, pour qu’il soit sûr,
il développe en rond son être
et lui tend des bras mûrs.
III
Arbre qui peut-être
pense au dedans:
antique Arbre-maître
parmi les arbres servant!
Arbre qui se domine,
se donnant lentement
la forme qui élimine
les hasards du vent:
plein de forces austères
ton ombre claire nous rend
une feuille qui désaltère
et des fruits persévants.

—R. M. Rilke

Allow me to use a simile, the simile of the tree. The artist has studied this manifold world and has, so we may suppose, somehow found his way in it, quietly. He is so well oriented that he can bring order to the flight of appearances and experiences. This orientation in the things of nature and of life, this multifarious ramified and branching order, I would liken to the root system of the tree. From here the juices flow to the artist, passing through him and through his eye. Thus he stands in the position of the trunk. Battered and moved by the power of the flow, he introduces what he is seeing into the work. Just as the crown of the tree visibly expands in every direction in time and space, so does the work.

Source: Reading University
“Walnut”
I Tree which, from its place,
proudly rounded
All around this space
Of the summer accomplished,
Tree whose volume
Round and abundant
Proves and summarizes
What we wait a long time:
I have seen blushing
Your leaves becoming green:
Of this modesty offered
Your magnificence, certainly,
Now wants to punish them.
II
Tree, always in the middle
Of all that surrounds it -,
Tree that savors
The whole vault of the heavens,
You, like no other
Turned towards everywhere:
He looks like an apostle
Who does not know where
God will appear to him…
However, for it to be safe,
It develops in round its being
And hands him ripe arms,
III
Tree that may be
Think within:
Antique Master Tree
Among the trees serving!
Tree that dominates,
Giving itself slowly
The form that emliminates
The wind hazards:
Full of austere forces
Your clear shadow makes us
A leaf that quenches
And persistent fruits.
– R. Mr. Rilke
Source: Google Translate

https://www.pubhist.com/works/18/large/18934.jpg

Source: Pubhist.com

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/cd/40/63/cd40633c03063de103985c60ec86f09e.jpg

Source: pinimg.com

Elizabeth Magill

  • The slightly colourful mist and eerie feeling that the paintings create by using a misty background and coming further into focus to the foreground where  upon there are trees and twigs. I would like to somewhat recreate this.
  • The ‘creepy’ twigs – I don’t necessarily want twigs in the painting as I am working with evergreen trees, however I want them to be ‘creepy’, such like these twigs.

Most landscape painting focuses on the land: its valleys, its horizons, its mountain peaks. But for Irish painter Elizabeth Magill, the sky is the main attraction. In her work, the earth is often nothing more than a hulking silhouette separated from the heavens by a carefully drawn horizon line, while vast patches of sky, marked out with birds, solidly occupy the majority of the canvas. Sometimes no land is visible at all; its existence is implied only by tree-tops or wires from an electric bus or tram. In almost every case, what’s above is more interesting than what lies below.

Source: proquest.com

http://images.exhibit-e.com/www_kerlin_ie/EM181051.jpg

Source: images.exhibit-e.com

http://www.artinliverpool.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/3837-Sighting-by-Elizabeth-Magill.jpg

Source: artinliverpool.com

http://www.lisesinnbeck.com/files/gimgs/6_vanishing-lake5x6-07-my-digi2.jpg

Source: lisesinnbeck.com

http://www.lisesinnbeck.com/files/gimgs/6_blue-constrictor-153×183-oil-on-can-06-07.jpg

Source: lisesinnbeck.com

Under the Skin (Film)

  • A dark and mysterious forest that which strange happenings occur to the central character. This is the same sensation that I wish for the viewer to have when viewing my painting.

http://stampsy-eu-1.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/07/04/2014/user/539/84c73042-174a-42f4-81b9-1fd756dfe02e.png

Source: stampsy.com

http://www.openlettersmonthly.com/hammerandthump/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/under-skin-2.jpg

Source: openlettersmonthly.com

Cabin Porn (Book)

  • This book presents wonderful cabins that which I would like to take a large amount of inspiration from in order to design a derelict house on the water of the painting.

http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/736/cpsprodpb/13107/production/_87478087_1024backcountryarchive_haukursigurdsson_eastgreenland_hr_06.jpg

Source: bbci.co.uk

http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/168E3/production/_87478329_59c48119-5fe5-498e-ac64-a5ce8fcdc45c.jpg

Source: bbci.co.uk

http://66.media.tumblr.com/e9767574b47b043cade1d513d952cff1/tumblr_o936p6OVOG1qzwmsso1_1280.jpg

Source: tumblr.com

Source: bbc.co.uk, cabinporn.com

Antony Gormley

  • This is a childhood artist whom I have loved ever since I first saw this piece. It is not the piece itself that interests and inspires me, but rather the view that you have when lying down on the floor and looking across. This is the stepping of the each individual sculpture to make the forest. This is what I want to recreate through the forest in my painting.

https://klausjoynson.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/anthony-gormley-field-1991-ls-m1.jpg

Anselm Kieter

  • The erratic nature of the way in which he paints to create scenes such as forests and fields. I would also like to use this erratic nature in the painting of the trees to continue the creepy feeling of the forest.

https://d1inegp6v2yuxm.cloudfront.net/royal-academy/image/upload/c_limit,f_auto,w_1200/kfaflhecq7gp32kzy49v.jpg

Source: cloudfront.net

https://d32dm0rphc51dk.cloudfront.net/Gesr8OfPD3sGN-nPYte64w/large.jpg

Source: cloudfront.net

http://www.gagosian.com/__data/f7dec6e38923265095494353f403c26a.jpg

Source: gagosian.com

Peter Doig – White Canoe

  • From the Friday 13th film still, a creepy sensation comes across from both the film still and the Peter Doig paintings. The colour palette and brash brush strokes helps create this.
  • The layering of the brash brush strokes and colours helps create the atmosphere and this is something that I wish to try and recreate when painting.

http://www.saatchigallery.com/imgs/artists/doig_peter/20091127030335_peterdoigwhitecanoe.jpg

Source: saatchigallery.com

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/03/dd/5b/03dd5b45da9f61837ab6a134f3500167.jpg

Source: pinimg.com

http://www.christies.com/media-library/images/features/articles/2015/04/24/doig-transformative-landscape/doig.jpg

Source: christies.com

Stills from Friday 13th (Film)

http://www.phaidon.com/resource/friday13th-canoeii.jpg

Source: phaidon.com

Peter Doig – Concrete Cabin

  • The same brash brush strokes used as in the White Canoe pieces.
  • The bark and the visual texture of the trees in particular in these pieces are what I would like to replicate if I need to paint the base of the trees.

http://www.saatchigallery.com/imgs/artists/doig_peter/20091127025732_peterdoigcabin.jpg

Source: saatchigallery.com

peter_doig_concrete_cabin_ii_1992

Source: tate.org.uk

peter_doig_concrete_cabin_1991

Source: tate.org.uk

Peter Doig – Reflections

  • Reflections in general – I am still unsure whether I want to do the exact replica either side of the middle of the painting or whether I wish to make it slightly blurry. Whichever way I decide to do the reflection, I hope to take some inspiration from these paintings in order to get the complete reflection.

http://66.media.tumblr.com/278d9bd3a944868ff2086ac9ec954bd4/tumblr_inline_nbagy0kc9k1smt0f8.jpg

Source: media.tumblr.com

http://www.tate.org.uk/art/images/work/P/P11/P11544_10.jpg

Source: tate.org.uk

http://monsoonartcollection.com/media/thumbs/peter-doig/reflection/Doig_Reflection_jpg_920x490_q95.jpg

Source: monsoonartcollection.com

Alex Hartley

  • Derelict settings for sometimes very modern looking sheds and huts. This derelict and un-visited look is something that I wish to recreate in the medium of painting, instead of photography.
  • Different forests have different sorts of huts and houses. The evergreen forest photographed has a very shed-looking sort of house, which is what I am aiming for in my painting.

https://res.cloudinary.com/artlogic/w_1400,h_1400,c_limit/artlogicstorage/victoriamiro/images/view/cd96f97bc7b99f0e5383db5bc7fd7d2fb3eb2511.jpg

Source: cloudinary.com

https://res.cloudinary.com/artlogic/w_1400,h_1400,c_limit/artlogicstorage/victoriamiro/images/view/ed62db534dd9e46b13e37cc74156ebd6c6e34da8.jpg

Source: cloudinary.com

https://res.cloudinary.com/artlogic/w_1400,h_1400,c_limit/artlogicstorage/victoriamiro/images/view/0e5e7e5914a2986c34220ce97673af98e1d8b9e3.jpg

Source: cloudinary.com

Zeng Fanzhi

  • The use of bright and slightly washed colours in the background is something that is an element that I wish to have in my own painting.
  • The layered colours in the background and the twigs in the foreground is also an element that I wish to have. The layers will also be shown within the forest as I wish for it to look deep and also very dark.

http://www.gagosian.com/__data/48bbc489e39b41d29d79dd76dc69e69a.jpg

Source: Gagosian.com

https://eightartgallery.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/tiger.jpg

Source: eightartgallery.files.wordpress.com

http://d2jv9003bew7ag.cloudfront.net/uploads/ZENG-FANZHI22.jpg

Source: cloudfront.net

http://www.artnet.com/WebServices/images/ll900445llgxRFCfDrCWvaHBOAD/zeng-fanzhi-this-land-so-rich-in-beauty.jpg

Source: artnet.com

http://www.hatjecantz.de/files/00002532.jpg

Source: hatjecantz.de

Neo Rauch

  • The use of juxtaposed colours within the painting creates strange scenes. I would like to use the same, or a similar colour palette within my painting as it would hopefully help create the contrasting moods and atmospheres that I wish to have in the painting.
  • The fairy tale image that the paintings have is also something I would like as the text from which my painting is derived from sounds like it is a scene from a story like this.
  • The juxtaposition of the oversized people versus the smaller houses is also strange. Everything is in proportion, however, not in size. This is like the description of the girl in the text, which is something I am considering to add to the painting in order to follow the writing piece that I was given.

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For more information on Neo Rauch’s latest work visit; Adventures in London(land).

Painting Process

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1 . Planning

See Conceptual Writing – Interpretation of Others. I decided to carry on with the initial ideas of derelict houses and forests where nature and man are becoming one (well, more nature than anything). From here, I had no idea what to do.

I wanted to continue with my question ‘What way is up?’, so I know I wanted to work with a long, thin canvas, in order to gain this effect. I would then split it in half and work like so. This led me to the conclusion that I needed to build a new canvas as I could not produce the painting that I wanted on the canvas I originally made.

I also made some initial paintings and colour swatches of what sorts of things that I wanted within the painting. I did the paintings with watercolour as I found these easy to manipulate in the situation to create a coloured wash of the sky and the layered forest. I chose to create the small swabs straight from acrylic paint tubes. I did it this way as it was quick and easy, and also I would be using many colours straight from the tube when painting on the canvas. These included everything from grass green to brilliant red.

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There were also several artists that I initially wanted to use. Unfortunately there is not enough literature on them to be able to quote that I used them, especially in my artist statement. These can be found in Painting Inspirations.

I also found initial photos that helped me make my first decisions about the first layout and the way in which I want to paint the canvas. These were all photos found on the internet. These included everything from basic forests in Canada and America, and sheds and huts that are found commonly in back gardens. This simple beginning stage of finding these photos also helped me to chose further artists and also helped with the general layout of the painting itself.

http://www.logspan.com/image/data/Classrooms/Kota%205.jpg

Source: Logspan.com

https://eilishscreativespace.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/patchwork-wooden-hut.jpg

Source: Eilishscreativespace.wordpress.com

http://www.hikewithyourdog.com/page115/page142/files/ben-hut-angled.jpg

Source: Hikewithyourdog.com

http://cdn.paper4pc.com/images/water-landscapes-trees-lakes-wallpaper-1.jpg

Source: cdn.paper4pc.com

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Source: Gettyimages.com

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Source: Gettyimages.com

https://www.thetreecenter.com/wp-content/uploads/evergreen-tre.jpg

Source: Thetreecenter.com

http://www.cttbusa.org/evergreen/7.jpg

Source: Cttbusa.org

http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large/row-of-evergreen-trees-are-laden-with-snow-gail-shotlander.jpg

Source: Fineartamerica.com

2. Making the canvas

This was a 60 x 190 cm canvas that I made. These dimensions were chosen as I felt like they were going to be easy to work with when creating the painting that I had envisioned. It did end up as a bent frame as it was difficult to build flat (the tables were not big enough and I could not find anything to support it properly). I do not mind this, even though when it hangs on the wall it will be slightly skewed on the bottom end.

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3. Seminar

Through the use of a seminar with some of my peers, I was able to help develop others ideas and sketches of their paintings, as well as developing my own through the information about new artists, films and books.

To view all inspirations including that of the artists, books and films, see; Painting Inspirations

Through the use of the new inspirations of artists, films and books, I did some research into whether I thought they would be valuable to my inspiration for this painting. Not only did I find them inspiring, but I also played a little game to find other contemporary artists that might further inform my work. This involved searching up the existing artist, for example, Peter Doig, on Google. Once I had found the gallery in which Peter Doig was based, I then looked at the other artists that the gallery also showed. These were sometimes very similar artists, and sometimes very different and unique artists. From here, I found several other artists, who can also be found in the Painting Inspirations post.

https://charlotteabrahamart.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/img_5242.jpg

https://charlotteabrahamart.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/img_5241.jpg

4. Artist Statement

To see the progression of the artist statement and the planning I used to produce it, go to; Artist Statement Planning. To see the final artist statement go to; Artist Statement.

I completed my artist statement as I was painting the last few parts onto the canvas. It helped that I was developing both my statement and painting in conjunction with each other as I feel like this has both helped them to strength and help explain each other.

5. Photography of progression

 

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6. The finished piece

I think that I was not completely happy with the overall finish of the piece as it is not what I envisioned, or intended it, to be. This put aside, I also do not wish to paint trees for a very, very long time! I often found it tedious, especially as I was working so close to the canvas. From a distant viewpoint I am certainly happier with the trees and the colours of which I have used for them. It does seem a little like an optical illusion, as to me, everything isn’t quite sitting right within the painting. for example, the trees seem like they are over hanging too much and there is not much shadow underneath them, and the hut also seems randomly placed there. But there is also a question that arises in this; is the floating fake to create the image of a rushed painting, or an illusion to create a creepy, mysterious setting and forest? Personally, I believe it is the first one, however the creepy setting is a very cool idea too.

I was not used to oil paints as I often work in acrylic and occasionally water colour. My preferred medium is graphite, which is entirely different to oil paints. This, therefore took a little getting used to, especially when using turpentine to thin the paints down and white spirit to clean the brushes, all instead of just water. It was a good experience though as the paint was thick, and easy to work with when thick – a texture that I wished to used to make the trees more three dimensional and realistic. It was also surprisingly easy to water it down using the turpentine to create the light background of the colourful haze.

If I am honest, I would want to start again. My canvas was wonky, the trees are all very repetitive and everything seems like it is floating. However, I am also very happy with the overall final piece, as this is a new experience for me, from making the frame and the canvas to painting with oil paints and turpentine. Lastly, I would suggest having a very aired room when using turpentine as for the sky, I was pretty much painting with it, and it can go to your head very quickly! I have to say that I cannot wait to try painting with oils again!

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Painting Experiments

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As I had never worked with oil paint before now, I decided that I needed to get some experience in using them, and did experimentations before each new part of the painting process.

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I have never worked with oil paints before and so this was just testing the waters. Here I have experimented with blue oil paint and turpentine to ‘water down’ the paint.

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This was a quick interpretation of another person’s conceptual text that they received. I used acrylic paints for this as not only were they more readily available, but I also find then easier to control, especially in situations such as these.

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Experimentation of the sky/background of the painting using oil paints, turpentine and paper. Is was very hard to control and water down and I was very worried that it would appear dark on the canvas. It ended up being easier to control on the canvas as it did not soak up the paint or the turpentine as quick as the paper.

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These are the general experiments that I did before starting to paint the trees on the canvas.

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The top experimentation was how I was used to doing trees – very rough and long brush strokes. I did have to YouTube how to paint evergreen trees in oil paint as this is an experience that I have not yet had. The smaller trees are the experimentations that I did during the video. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-PdLJ_dubM

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Large tree experimentation. I decided to do a larger tree in order to determine whether I could do the same style of tree painting on larger trees, for example, the size that I wish to do on the canvas.

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Palette during painting. I used various colours to create the depth and atmosphere in the forest.

Sidsel Meineche Hansen

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I’m not sure how to start this one off because this week, well this week it was just weird and slightly uncomfortable. Warning: this post contains descriptions of what I can only call pornography.

Sidsel Meineche Hansen is an artist based in London whose research-led practice manifests as exhibitions, interdisciplinary seminars and publications. Her work takes the form of woodcut prints, sculptures, CGI and VR animations that typically foreground the body’s industrial complex in the pharmaceutical, porn and tech-industries. The artist talk will focus on the female avatar ‘EVA v3.0’, a royalty-free product sold online by TurboSquid, a company that supplies stock 3D models for computer games and adult entertainment. The EVA v3.0 avatar is the  main protagonist in Sidsel Meineche Hansen’s recent work (The CGI and VR animations: Seroquel®, 2014; No right way 2 cum, 2015 and DICKGIRL 3D(X), 2016) – and an object in her research on post-human sex.

Other Links 

Website: Sidsel Meineche Hansen

http://www.labourpower.co.uk/

Exhibition at Gasworks, London.

Sidsel Meineche Hansen, SECOND SEX WAR, 2016.

http://www.gasworks.org.uk/exhibitions/sidsel-meineche-hansen-second-sex-war-2016-03-03/

Interview in Fader Magazine: SECOND SEX WAR Explores The Limits And Freedom Of Our Bodies In Virtual Reality http://www.thefader.com/2016/03/24/sidsel-meineche-hansen-second-sex-war-interview

Sidsel Meineche Hansen “INSIDER” at Cubitt Gallery, London, November 5, 2014

http://moussemagazine.it/sidselmeinechehansen_insider_cubittgallery_london2014/

Source: Information email received prior to the talk

I have to say that throughout this talk, I was talking notes, and every time I looked up, it was some sort of new CGI porn. Yes, you did read that right and I do not blame you if you had to re-read that a few times.  What made it even weirder was that Sidsel mentioned at the very beginning that she is not used to talking about her artwork because she is usually teaching.

Sidsel’s work looks  lot at the gender aspects of the working relation and looks a lot at the porn industry and how this can be recreated without humans, by using different programmes and creating CGI porn herself.

Pharmacopornographer

This is what Sidsel mentioned that she feels like a lot of her work is based on. This was seen in the video that she showed us (mentioned below). There were also quotes that references her work from Sadie Plant and VR, which has not only inspired her work, but also helped it grow. ‘How can institutional critique in art be redefined…?’ and ‘What is an artwork doing?’ are just some of the questions that were displayed.

The first piece that was shown to us however, was not porn. Seroquel, the video, looked at an anti psychotic drug and mentioned very mentally heavy topics such as life, suicide, and questions as to whether pharmaceuticals will help in these situations. She uses specifically CGI within this video, which is also the means to produce the 3D porn. This video had in the background very strange music that almost matched up with what was on the screen. There was also a somewhat robotic voice that lead us through the questions and the journey that they were going to take to kill themselves and through to the drugs. The visuals at several points did make it feel as though I was on these drugs.

Sidsel mentioned that she bought a programme called EVA V3 to build the characters, rooms, situations and pretty much everything else to produce the videos. Through this programme, she looked at how gender is commodified and often how things can be both object and subject at the same time, perhaps seen in pornography. Through this, Sidsel also looked at the simple reproduction of the gender binary e.g. as often in EVA V3 there were hands that looked like either men’s or women’s – there was no middle ground.

I did think at first that Sidel’s work was only bordering on pornography, however, I became very uncomfortable and aware that it was not bordering, but rather it was pornography, when she showed us ‘No Right Way 2 Cum’. This is a CGI video of a woman fingering herself and then cum spraying over the screen. Not what I was expecting.

Sidsel also pointed out that her aim is to bring feminist discourse and technique into the performance space, whether that be the video, etchings, woodcut prints or clay work that she produces. Linking into this, she often looks at the relationship between the avatar, space and sex. She often looks into the porn industry to see the changes that have been made in relation to the feminist discourse and technique. She also explores the genre of porn and body horror and the effect of these on the body, which she looks at through her work.

http://cubittartists.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Cubitt-Gallery_Sidsel-Meineche-Hansen_9.jpg

Source: Cubitt Artists

https://www.gasworks.org.uk/CACHE/images/2016/02/25/09._Sidsel_Meineche_Hansen_at_Gasworks_20KZlAj/4ababa35cb419bb01dc864e65533b1fe.jpg

Source: Gasworks.org.uk

http://3752ph102dgl405f3e3yvdrpili.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/gallery/rehearsals-in-instability-andreas-huber-exhibition-photos/Sidsel-Meineche-Hansen_14_Torture-me-so-I-can-Learn-Miss-Ovartaci.jpg

Source: Torture me so I can learn

https://www.artrabbit.com/events/sidsel-meineche-hansen-second-sex-war/images/yi4NQPNDgapJ/999×623/editedsidsel.jpg

Source: Second Sex War

http://3752ph102dgl405f3e3yvdrpili.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/gallery/rehearsals-in-instability-andreas-huber-exhibition-photos/Sidsel-Meineche-Hansen_14_Seroquel—_video-still_1.jpg

Source: Seroquel

http://www.kunstkritikk.no/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/SECOND-SEX-WAR_SIDSEL-MEINECHE-HANSEN_STILL3s.jpg

Source: Second Sex War

http://www.labourpower.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Sidsel-Meineche-Hansen-INSIDER-Cubitt_2014_Seroquel%C2%AE_Still-CGI-animation-pill.jpg

Source: Seroquel

Artist Statement

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The main concept behind my painting is the confusion of reality, and the interconnection between man and nature. With the increasing growth of the manmade structures, nature is often pushed to the side, and sometimes even forgotten about. In a world where everything is electronic, we can often forget what reality is. My painting is a part of this story, a question of reality encapsulated in the wilderness of nature.

My work presents a large, portrait canvas, depicting a water forest scene and a partially derelict house. I was initially inspired by the work of Peter Doig, and his Concrete Cabin  (Doig, 1994) and Reflection (Doig, 1997) pieces. These are melancholic and contrasting pieces depicting thin forests. From these, I began to experiment with oil paints to create the same sense of depth within the forest that I would paint. This led me to the contrasting and colourful backgrounds of Zeng Fanzhi, with his bright backgrounds and dark, mysterious twigs in the foreground (Fanzhi, 2015). Inspired by this, I wanted to create the same contrasting atmosphere using a similar palette and repetitive layering of the paint. Under The Skin, a 2013 film (Under The Skin, 2013), further informed me of a large forest with unknown events occurring all around and to the central character, and also the depth and detail of forests, which I wish to recreate.

In my own work, I wanted to have a contrast in mood between the forest and the misty, colourful sky. By referencing the earlier artists, I hope to confuse and question the viewer as to “which way is up”, a question inspired by James Elkins (Elkins, 2009, pp. 11-32). I also wish to evoke the memory of nature in the viewer as they live in the ever-growing electronic world.

In addition, I was inspired by Cabin Porn, a book that takes you around the world with different cabins, with everything from being built with boats to being built on a cliff edge (Porn, 2009). This book helped inform my design of the small derelict house within the painting. I wanted to include a house within the painting, especially within an environment such as the forest, as they were once the home to many an adventure in childhood.

My piece presents ideas about the confusion of reality and the interconnection between man and nature through a contrast of colour and mood. The painting depicts a grand, overwhelming forest rising out of a lake, next to a small, derelict house sitting on the water. The contrast between the deep greens and blues of the forest and the light washes of reds and yellows in the misty sky distinguishes the contrasting atmospheres and highlights the interconnection and the power that nature has over man.

 

References:

Doig, P., 1994. Concrete Cabin. [Art] (Saatchi Gallery).

Doig, P., 1997. Reflection (What Does Your Soul Look Like?). [Art] (Tate Gallery).

Elkins, J., 2009. What is Painting?. [Online].Available at: www.jameselkins.com. [Accessed November 2016].

Fanzhi, Z., 2015. Blue. [Art] (Gagosian).

Porn, C., 2009. Cabin Porn Archives. [Online]. Available at: http://cabinporn.com/archive. [Accessed 27 November 2016].

Under The Skin. 2013. [Film] Directed by Jonathan Glazer. UK, USA, Switzerland: British Film Institute.

 

Artist Statement Planning

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We got given several questions to help us with the planning of the artist statement to give ideas and clues as to what we should be writing;

What is my work?

What does it look like?

  • Large forest, lake, small partially derelict house (painting).
  • The painting is of a large forest coming out of a lake next to a partially derelict house.

How was it made?

  • Layers of oil paint to create the depth of the forest on a canvas (primed with gesso).
  • Layers of oil paint have been used to create the depth of the forest on a primed canvas (with pieces of found bark and moss to create the textures found in this environment).

What materials have you used?

  • Canvas, oil paint, turpentine (turps), (maybe bark and moss?).
  • The materials of canvas, oil paint, bark and moss have been used throughout the painting.

What processes were involved in the making?

  • Making of the canvas, 2. Primed with gesso, 3. Drawing, 4. Painting.
  • The processes that were involved in the making of the painting include that of building the canvas and priming it. The painting upon layers of painting creates the depth of a large and swallowing forest. (The extra pieces of bark and moss were added for texture and effect before the last few layers of paint were added.)

Why?

Can you summarise the main ideas behind your work?

  • (Coming from the text) What way is up?
  • Through the painting, I wish to confuse the viewer as to which way is up, and which version is real. This leads to much bigger questions such as the question as to determine what we see is real, or an illusion. Another main idea behind the painting is that of nature and the way in which humans are always, inevitably, connected to it.

What interests you about work of this type?

  • It is very free, but also leaves very unanswerable questions.
  • This type of work and the materials used are very freeing and are very much connected to nature. (I found the use of the twigs and moss further interconnected to and connected with the main ideas of nature

What themes, ideas and concerns does your work uniquely consider?

  • Derelict buildings, ‘hillbilly’, deep wilderness of America, linking back to nature.
  • I looked at the general themes and ideas of the deep wilderness of America and the traditional ‘hillbilly’ Americans. I considered these, and the ideas and also concerns of derelict buildings, as these are often at the forefront of how humans and nature interconnect and how man is destroying this connection, and nature is once again taking it.

Is there an ‘intention’ behind the work?

  • No, not an intentional intention.
  • (*No comment in the artist statement*?)

What do you want the work to achieve?

  • A moody, yet calm and serene atmosphere/mood.
  • I would like the work to achieve a moody, yet calm and serene atmosphere. I also aim to get the viewer to ask the same questions that I asked as I was creating the work about nature and humanity.

Is there a connection between your materials, process and your main idea?

  • (use of wood, twigs and moss? – literally re-using the forest/copying the top to the bottom with the trees, house and water/which way is up?)
  • One of the main ideas what the question as to which way is up, which is connected to the process of painting. To create the same process top and bottom, I had to turn the canvas over several times to repeat the mark making.

How have you researched it?

Which artists and art works have you looked at the have informed your work?

  • Elizabeth Magill
  • Mike Kus
  • Pete Gilbert
  • Caia
  • Peter Doig
  • Alex Hartley
  • Anseln Kieter
  • Anthony Gormley
  • Neo Rauch
  • Zeng Fanzhi
  • Looking at multiple artists, I grew a portfolio that enabled me to paint comfortably in different styles. I was influenced by artists such as Neo Rauch for his varying colour scheme from vibrant yellows to dull browns, and the way in which Peter Doig paints trees and the objects in and around them.

Which films have you watched that informed your work?

  • Under the Skin
  • Under the Skin, a 2014 film, inspired me with the dark forest, as much of the film is set in a large forest with unknown events happening all around the central character. I wished to create the same atmosphere in my work as the atmosphere that was created throughout the film.

What have you been reading or discussing that might inform your work?

  • Shed Porn
  • What painting is by James Elkins
  • Through reading different texts including What is Painting by James Elkins, I began the thought process of “Which way is up?”. A question that he, himself, asks within the text. Through the medium of painting, creating this was difficult, however it raises that exact question of “Which way is up?”. Shed Porn was also a book that I gained inspiration from to produce the design for the small shed within the painting. Within this book, you get taken around the world with different sheds, some being built with boats, and some on cliff edges. The photography from the book inspired the design of the shed.

Are there particular theories, artists or schools of thought relevant to your work?

  • .
  • (*No comment in the artist statement*?)

 

We also got given hints and tips about what how we should write;

  • Be clear. Use plain English as far as possible unless you are dealing with specific concepts, and explain them briefly. Don’t use complex or specialist language necessarily.
  • Accuracy. Don’t dress your work up to be something that it’s not. An accurate statement about good work that deals with a relatively simple idea is much between than trying to make something appear clever by dressing it in hyperbole.
  • Say what you see. It can be helpful to refer to any physical qualities of your work in reference to the conceptual ones. Explain the decisions that you made about how the work took shape and why you made them.
  • Stick to your subject. Your subject is your practice. The purpose of the artist statement is to talk in a focused way about your practice, not wider philosophical questions or concepts.
  • Objectivity. Use of superlatives and grand claims when describing your work will do you no favours. Try to be objective or at least use objective language when describing your own work. (What my concerns are? Do not add in what I feel about the painting/how I feel it went.)

Megan Nolan

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I am not going to be bias because of the gorgeous Irish accent that Megan has, I promis, because her work is raw and so full of emotion I was very much in shock, awe and almost tears.

“I don’t feel entirely at home in the world of pure literature. It has not always felt pliable enough for my purposes and my limitations. It feels at times smoother and more professional than I am capable of being. And so I sometimes say I am “a writer and artist” to try to mitigate that confusion. I wish I knew a better word, a single one. If you think of one, or dream one up, do let me know.)
Anyway – life is the raw material of the artist. That’s not to say I believe as B.S. Johnson and others did that one must have experienced an event to write about ittruthfully. I mean only that what we observe of and feel about life- our own lives particularly and also life as a phenomenon, life as a catastrophe- influences what kind of work we will make. For this reason, and for the reason that comparing yourself with more successful writers is the easiest way to make yourself ill, I feel fine about telling you that how I write is basically how I live: messily, extremely, intemperately- often irresponsibly.”
(From Megan Nolan, ‘On Not Writing’, 2016).
Megan Nolan was born in 1990 in Waterford, Ireland and is currently based in London. Her writing includes essays, fiction and reviews which have been published widely including in E.R.O.S. Journal and The Guardian. Readings and performances commissioned across the U.K. and Ireland have included the Irish Museum of Modern Art, Goldsmiths Lit Live, Kunstraum Gallery, Cubitt Gallery, Wysing Arts Centre and the South London Gallery. Internationally, her work has also appeared at Hyper Local Festival in Buenos Aires and the Sandberg Institute’s “Wandering School” in Milan.
She is currently working on her first book of creative non-fiction concerned with the subjection of female identity in romantic relationships and body dysphoria. From http://www.davidhigham.co.uk/authors-dh/megan-nolan/
Other Links
Megan Nolan/tumblr
http://megannolanwriting.tumblr.com/
Megan Nolan/Articles for the Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/profile/megan-nolan
An essay about a relationship with an older man.
View at Medium.com
An essay about looking at my boyfriend’s ex girlfriend’s Instagram.

View at Medium.com

A story about two actors having an affair.

View at Medium.com

A story about drinking too much

View at Medium.com

An essay about wanting to be clever but also wanting to be beautiful.

https://medium.com/human-parts/adventures-in-vanity-d3245c6e385c#.qn0wpudfn

Megan Nolan is a writer and started at the age of 16. This was her poetry writing phase which lasted only a few years before moving onto university and dropping out. Next stop was journalism, and this is what Megan has stuck with since. She kept writing like this and did more and more readings to the public in shows. This has often inspired her recent works, which will be explained a little more later. She has been writing for the goal of twelve years now.

Over here last year or so, Megan has worked in Lomdon, performing inthe Chelsea degree show and also in Cubit over the last month. At the moment, Megan mentioned that she is writing a nonfiction novel, which is very different to any of her previous works.

In the very first reading of her work in this talk, all you heard about was men. This has been a very prominent feature in her life and she mentions how it is all about, because of and to do with men. ‘I hurt myself to hurt them’.

She also often talks about abortion and very personal situations that she has been through. This, I found, made the work very raw and personal, especially as it is written in the first person. ‘I didn’t want to be the abortion woman. I wanted to be a writer.’

Admittedly, I thought that Megan looked too young to be talking about subjects such as these, however she did give off a very professional and responsible air about her.

Megan also made us question what her writing, what her artwork really is. Is it confessional art? She is not necessarily confessing anything. She also exclaimed that women can make confessional art but for men, it is labelled as a journal or other forms of artwork. This almost says that women are more desperate and attention seeking. This leads on to the fact that she mentioned that we need to make a distinction between the truth and our imagination because we areflawed and the truth cannot exist independently of the human mind.

The text that Megan read out tours was in the first person, which makes the narrative very shocking. Her story was written in the Daily Mail (Rape claim at trinity college), along with her name and address. It was about the rape. The people that questioned her thereafter often got confused between the rape and how she likes it rough in bed.

‘The more inconsistency, the better’

The last reading that we had of Megan’s work was the same piece she read at Cubeit, earlier this year. This piece was written with the help of online communities that wrote in with their strange medical occurrences. This not only made the piece personal to her, but also to the others that wrote to her. Megan wrote about how she wanted to give her body to him, presumably her boyfriend of the time, in any way possible – she did not care and he did not care about her (he wouldn’t look at her or really care about her during sex).

The medical explanations at the beginning of each part where very interesting and sometimes very gruesome. From this, it goes into the first person text. The medical johrnal part has the potential to be criticised but it is done with the full permission throughout. Megan also mentioned that she often changes the events of them so that they may not necessarily be recognised by the person who wrote in with it.

Megan mentioned that the way in which she writes is often in little bits, but spends a lot of time on these. At the moment, writing the book, she is finding it very exhausting as she has never written anything on this scale. However, after performances, she said that she feels as though she doesn’t have to worry about the act of writing any more and it becomes less daunting.

It comes as a flow toMegan. She would start writing and wouldn’t be able to stop. She mentioned that she is particularly bad for procrastination and often does things the day before a performance. All in one go.

To be read to oneself and to be read aloud is very different for Megan’s work. This is due to the emotional reactions that people have. Because she is a small woman, when people read it her work versus whe she reads it, some may skip over the emotional details of the work, and it therefore doesn’t produce the reaction that Megan wants from her work.