Tuesday, December 16, 2008
15/12/2008
Spent most of the day in the photography lab taking and developing photographs. On a previous sojourn to the lab, I noticed the lights on the ceiling shone brightly 0n the plastic table, I pondered the possibility of blocking out one of the light panels in the shape of a jigsaw. Curiosity got the better of me, and I had to see if I could do it. I managed to get the plastic light panel out (with a bit of gentle persuasion) and proceeded to draw a jigsaw shape on the panel, when I had achieved this I blocked out the jigsaw shape out using duct tape, however, this let light through and I had to paint it black to prevent any further light leakages. Eventually I managed to accomplish my mission, and it was well worth the effort, I got some very interesting shots.
I photographed two of the masks I used in my video on top of jigsaw pieces etc, as well as the jigsaw "light shape". Went to shops to get some supplies and to print some photographs, alas the photo booths were not working.
12/12/2008
I started filming my video today,it has a duel purpose . I used three people putting together a jigsaw. The three actors wore masks, my reason for this was to , in a sense, emphasise societies lack of recognition of the countless amounts of people who go missing every year. It is like the people are faceless beings who do not exist in the real world. 'I miss my mother, I miss sister, I miss my brother ' was the soundtrack I wanted to use, it did not come out too well, so will have to redo a soundtrack. In the background I am thinking about playing an Roy Orbison song 'In dreams' for obvious reasons but apart from that I like the work of the artist/film producer David Lynch .He used the track' in dreams' to great effect in the film Blue velvet. This film is so surreal, and it is the kind of effect I have created.
The second purpose of the video (putting together the jigsaw) is merely a comment upon the totalitarian society with which we are part of(under the auspices of capitalism), where every good citizen has to play their part, in the world jigsaw of 6 billion pieces.
The end of the video includes shots of 'three shadow shapes' passing over the jigsaw on the floor, again, as an eerie reference to the lost or missing souls.
11/12/2008
Went to London on the college trip to the Tate gallery and the Tate modern.The Tate had an exhibition of works my Francis Bacon. (I didn't think the exhibition would go ahead because of the ban on Irish bacon in Britain ! ) It was absolutely brilliant ! to see the works in "real life" instead of books. Seeing the brush strokes he used, his use of space etc, it was fantastic! it re-ignites the passion for painting!!! Also there were the entrants to the turner prize, I was particularly interested in the work of Runa Islam, a video artist. She showed great skill and mastery over her work.
In the Tate modern there were many wonderful works by world renowned artists, Rothko, Warhol, Lichtenstein, Monet, Picasso, Matisse, the list is endless, suffice to say it was great to see them all!
I would have to say I was very impressed by Rothko's work, the display of the work under examination of u/v light was fascinating, it shows all the processes the artist was using in the work. Another brilliant contemporary artist that I could specifically relate to is the Brazilian Cildo Meireles , his Duchampian use of readymades was spectacular, also comparable to another of my favourite artists Robert Rauschenberg.
10/12/2008
I realise it is in a sense an depressing subject matter to deal with (missing people etc) nevertheless, this is where the processes of materials/experimentation/artist research has led me, and I do have a strong interest in the metaphorical relationship to the jigsaw. For example, a jigsaw is a puzzle, a mystery. The various clues eventually lead to (although not in all cases) a resolution of the puzzle. The absolute devastation felt by the loss of a loved one to the families of missing people, must be unfathomable. Trying to piece together their lives with so much uncertainty to the wherabouts of family members; are they dead etc, the sense of not knowing, no 'closure', the uncertainty; the "missing piece".
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