09/02/2009

Back after the Berlin trip. We had a great time over there, I am really inspired again. The tutors had everything organised very well, we took in many relevant galleries, and I feel it was an extremely important field trip in respect of contemporary art practice. Favourite artist/piece? not possible to name favourites, there were so many great artists/artworks.
Simon Starling had an exhibition which was due to open after we had returned, however, the kind lady at the museum generously gave us a look at the works, which were in the stages of being constructed/hung etc.

Previously, Mark mentioned that we were to 'find' things in Berlin to bring back to limerick, and have a kind of exhibition of them. Well, whilst looking at the Simon Starling stuff, I saw a part of a tree in the corner of the room which he was going to use as part of his exhibition, (It was a lime tree from a famous street in the unter den linten area of Berlin ) I broke a twig off the tree, it had a seed attached to it.( it occurred to me whilst looking at the tree that had been cut down for this exhibition, that this would make for a very interesting artistic concept, IE, Simon Starling taking the tree for his exhibition, and me taking a twig from the tree to use in my own art practice. It raises all kinds of questions as to ownership, artistic licence, copyright, creative rights etc, etc, etc. Anyway, I have decided to encase the twig in resin, for two reasons, firstly, my twig or artwork will outlast Simon Starlings work, so in some strange sense it could be argued that I am also saving his work for antiquity as well. Secondly, the resin will be egg shaped , referring to the age old question; which came first the chicken............. (asking the question whose artwork came first, mine, starling's, the guy who planted the tree, mother nature.................... !

The seed from the twig I hope to grow; whether this will grow or not I leave in the lap of the gods. Again all kinds of questions will be raised if this comes to fruition, ownership, including artistic ownership, legal ownership, etc.

So, today I began making a two part mould for my egg shape resin piece, the sculpture tutors Mike and Pat were extremely helpful. I first had to get an egg (the kind manager of the canteen graciously gave me three (I broke two !) ) then drew a line about half way up the egg and enclosed the egg in clay. After this, framed the piece with some wood and clamped it, to make a solid receptacle for the silicone. Filled the silicone up to the top, and left to set.

30/01/2009

Made a copy of the video I made in France, it was something that I had been meaning to do for a long time. As usual the procedure was beset with complications !!! First of all I had to get an administrators password to gain access to the DVD suite on the mac computer, this meant the usual wait for the elusive computer guy to show up, his famous last words seem to be "I'll be there in a couple of minutes". Proceeded to copy the DVD on to the mac which took time, then copied the folder on to a disc which took an eternity. When it was done, I was unable to open the folder. I asked Matt was there a problem in copying a DVD on the macs, he said there was, he told me mac do a programme called toast, which copies DVDs but (you guessed it) we don't have it ! But he told me of another programme which we do have on the PCs which copied DVDs, so went to a PC and got the job done. Now, it's strange that the programme copied the DVD but I was unable to play it on the PC! happy to say though , it did play on the mac!!! On the bright side though, it has been another good learning experience, and I will know what to do next time.
That took me up until half one, went down town to get some DVD-R's and some blank video tapes for the Berlin trip.

29/01/2009

Spent all day in the multimedia room editing my video. A lot of trial and error especially with audacity but I have learnt a lot about the process today, it's taking shape now. Nigel showed me how to burn a CD. it seems straight forward enough. Went to the drawing awards tonight in the church gallery, there were some great pieces on display and a huge turnout.

28/01/2009

I recorded the voices for my video work; " I miss my mother, brother, sister" etc. Had to find a quite place in college, which was not too easy! We did a few takes as the actors voices sounded too happy, even though they were not laughing. There was a problem with the recording device insofar as it would not display on the mac computer, however, I downloaded it on to a PC ok and copied the file onto a memory stick. Hopefully it will transfer to the mac now,I will try that tomorrow. I bought a 32GB memory stick from the library, I need one that size to hold the video work. Had CCS today, the lecturer was going through the options for the final year project, I know it is something we have to do as part of the course requirements but my god, it seems to be an awful amount of work to do for so little marks.
We also had a meeting about the trip to Berlin, it sounds like it is going to be a good trip, the tutors have been there before and have a good itinerary arranged.
Got feedback today about my essay from Dr. David, a couple of minor details need to be 'tweaked' other than that it was very positive, according to David I am ready to take a leap forward now (all very encouraging !)

27/01/2009 Scan sad at having to leave her space

27/01/2009

I Have decided to get rid of the blue background on my 'airbrushed beauty', it does not give the effect of which I am aiming to achieve. Instead, I have mixed a tiny amount of a cool blue (Prussian blue) with titanium white, for the background, this way, the facial shape emerges from the whiteness, as opposed to being on top of the blue. (If that makes sense!) I have added some shadow areas in pure Prussian blue, (Sasnal like). I am not yet sure if this shadow is appropriate for the painting, I will have to ponder on this aspect some more. I want to have the oil paint very thick (like some of Marlene Dumas' work) but at the moment I am uncertain as to how to achieve this. I will experiment with this. Went to M sign to get some white paint in big size tube; they do not have any, went to Silkes they didn't have any either, makes you wonder how these people last in business.

Got feedback from Aine today, very positive I have to say,it was very much appreciated.

26/01/2009

I did some more work to my 'airbrushed beauty' today. I am Taking the missing person theme a little further with this painting. I have decided that, not only am I going to use the jigsaw pieces to the side of the head as a metaphor for something not quite completed, IE. The facial shape but also as a kind of reference to a person (or being) that has in some regards, has no actual complete life picture/ plane of existence/reality (so to speak), this would be like the lost souls who are actually missing (neither dead or alive as it were) The silver tape represents a veil or separation from this reality. (the framed photograph is an actual missing person with the features unrecognisable) With the use of paint, I aim to further generate the feeling of incompleteness to the piece, IE. I want to make to make it appear that the artist is not able to 'complete the picture' . This I plan to achieve, by using thick oil paint, scumbled across the surface. The strokes are coarse and unrefined, paint has dropped on to other surfaces, the whole facial area is a quagmire of untethered painterly abandonment. Although still 'Sasnalesque' in composition, the textural paint on the facial features, is not too dissimilar to Lucien 'Freudian' strokes !