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| Recent study |
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| 3rd year degree work |
Sunday, 25 September 2011
Small studies
Unknowingly, my recent studies have a striking resemblance to my 3rd year degree work. It seems my work has gone full circle, wrestling with the same thoughts and conflicts as I did in my final year. The focus on my environment, the landscape and the effect we have on it, is a constant route of investigation for me.
Monday, 29 August 2011
It has been a strange couple of weeks. Whilst feeling void of art in many ways and desperate to be working on something, my mind has been working overdrive but without me knowing it!!! I have been dreaming about my work...waking up, with vivid ideas entangled in my mind.
My work is strongly fuelled by how we exist and live amongst our environment and how architecture is changing and remoulding our surroundings and experiences. The trees that keep reoccurring in my work is something I am going to focus on. For me, they reference back to my landscape work, highlighting nature in a simple yet evocative way. They have the delicacy surrounded by the unfinished architectural chaos. Is that how it is perceived? Is it clear to the viewer?
What will/do my drawings say that my paintings do not? My drawings have always been quite private, very rarely seen or displayed yet I now feel keen to be working with pencil and paper to play around with ideas.
Whilst reading and drifting in my studio I discovered the artist Henrik Saxgren. A series of photographs named 'Unintended Scultpures' is something he has been working on since 2001 and I was taken away by them. Reading the article, it seems that whilst working on other projects
Saxgren discovered that he was also moved by the aesthetic implications of man’s impact on his environment. The book, Unintended Sculptures, is the result of this revelation.
In this series, 'Saxgren has assumed a new role, not as story-teller, but as artist-curator. His trained eye seizes on the details of our landscapes, on the everyday absurdities or our abandoned things and our constructions. His is an everyday Surrealism that delights in the play of light on a man-made structure or an abandoned airplane. With every image Saxgren argues “Why is this remnant of a Icelandic whaling station with its brick smokestack and boiler set against a fjord in the amazing light of the high north not worthy of being as valuable an art work as any painting or sculpture?” That is a fair question, and with it, Saxgren makes us look at what we would otherwise take for granted or outright ignore.'
Reading through this essay I love the quote by New York Time’s chief art critic, Michael Kimmelman, on the nature of art: The Accidental Masterpiece, On the Art of Life and Vice Versa (2005), in which he persuasively argues that “creating, collecting, and even just appreciating art can make living a daily masterpiece.”
Looking at another article, I was taken by this small snippet...'Tree lined avenues are some of the most visually attractive roads, and abandonment can transform them into some of the most mysterious. Forgotten houses set back from the road, cracked pavements and tangled greenery demonstrate perfectly the battle between man and nature, and emphasise how quickly manmade structures crumble when nature is left to take its course.'
Links -
My work is strongly fuelled by how we exist and live amongst our environment and how architecture is changing and remoulding our surroundings and experiences. The trees that keep reoccurring in my work is something I am going to focus on. For me, they reference back to my landscape work, highlighting nature in a simple yet evocative way. They have the delicacy surrounded by the unfinished architectural chaos. Is that how it is perceived? Is it clear to the viewer?
Painting - Drawing - Photography
What will/do my drawings say that my paintings do not? My drawings have always been quite private, very rarely seen or displayed yet I now feel keen to be working with pencil and paper to play around with ideas.
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| 'Growing Towards The Light' by Victoria Ashworth |
Saxgren discovered that he was also moved by the aesthetic implications of man’s impact on his environment. The book, Unintended Sculptures, is the result of this revelation.
In this series, 'Saxgren has assumed a new role, not as story-teller, but as artist-curator. His trained eye seizes on the details of our landscapes, on the everyday absurdities or our abandoned things and our constructions. His is an everyday Surrealism that delights in the play of light on a man-made structure or an abandoned airplane. With every image Saxgren argues “Why is this remnant of a Icelandic whaling station with its brick smokestack and boiler set against a fjord in the amazing light of the high north not worthy of being as valuable an art work as any painting or sculpture?” That is a fair question, and with it, Saxgren makes us look at what we would otherwise take for granted or outright ignore.'
 |
| Henrik Saxgren |
Looking at another article, I was taken by this small snippet...'Tree lined avenues are some of the most visually attractive roads, and abandonment can transform them into some of the most mysterious. Forgotten houses set back from the road, cracked pavements and tangled greenery demonstrate perfectly the battle between man and nature, and emphasise how quickly manmade structures crumble when nature is left to take its course.'
Links -
Saturday, 30 July 2011
A recent discovery
Whilst surfing the internet, when I should have been working ;) I stumbled across a recent project by Chinese artist Jiang Pengyi...
'Urban Art: Unregistered Cities by Jiang Pengyi'
Though the artist mainly works in photography, this particular project focuses on cities, still objects and massive skyscrapers reduced to miniature sizes communicating his recurrent themes of excessive urbanization, redevelopment and demolition in the Beijing city. I was and am still mesmerized by these series of works. I not only love the concept behind his work but also the way in which he has portrayed his theme. Whilst obviously having a impeccable eye for photography I love that he has also brought in the crafted aspect for this particular series.
Wednesday, 22 June 2011
An Inspiring Bus Ride
Wow a recent a-n magazine literally blew me away. With an 8 month back log of a-n mags I decided to delve into the most recent release. Daniel Fawcett's view on art & film really got me thinking.
'Today's culture is a tired man - he trudges along overweight and sick, replete with things no longer good for him. He needs a new art. That art is film.'
Reading the magazine also opened my mind to the idea of studying for an MA, I feel like I may have reached the point where I am 'ready'. Reading the magazine, questions were ticking over in my mind, what makes these artists go for it? Is an MA the turning point for artists, where their work really takes a hold of them and their style really sets in? Am I pining for that deep submerging of mind and soul into the depths of study and questioning?
'Today's culture is a tired man - he trudges along overweight and sick, replete with things no longer good for him. He needs a new art. That art is film.'
Sunday, 19 June 2011
Returning Home
Returning home...what a weird feeling it was! For the first few days well the first week in fact, I just didn't feel myself at all - I felt like I wasn't really here! Everywhere I went, I felt dazed and distracted but an unexpected afternoon on a boat turned into a refreshing and inspiring cruise through the waterways of Manchester, a great welcome home :)
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