21/10/2009

Continued to clean up the mirrors. I experimented with the mirrors by arranging them in various positions; I was trying to create a visual confusion. Space was limited, so I have moved the mirrors into the workshop area, where I continued to experiment. In some sense, I partially achieved my goal, that is to say, I looked at a mirror at one stage, and felt a sense of disorientation. I will get more mirrors and continue with these experiments. One of my colleagues is ordering the carnival mirror for me tonight; I hope to have it within the next week to ten days. Went to multimedia room to edit my video; as usual, half the brand new computers are not working right (students can't log into them, and even if they could, they can only use the exact computer that their video work was originally edited on, it's like we have gone back to the 90's);it is the same fiasco as last term.

I am going to take off the white paint on the archglass, it is not appropriate for the painting I want to do on it. I scratched "All painters are sneaky" (we came to this conclusion in yesterday's seminar) I will scrape it off tomorrow. Repaired my diachronic installation; one bit broke. Added a bit more  colour to the shaped canvi.

20/10/2009 Contd.

  

20/10/2009

Went down to George's quay to get the mirrors, fair play to Jim the caretaker for coming down and getting them for me. They need a bit of cleaning up, nothing a little elbow grease won't shift. Maurice was using the mirror piece when I returned; I asked him if I could take a few photos, he didn't mind. It was an ideal scenario really, insofar as I have an actual record of someone interacting with the piece.  I took one photo from behind the mirror, through the 'hole,' it was quite a good shot, I am sure that these will be a good reference for paintings, at a later stage.
Had a quick chat with Mark; me being his tutee (his words). It is true what he says; in my attempt to bring  painting into my practice, I have drifted away from my original ideas and focus, nevertheless, he seems quite interested in the distorted mirror idea, and the eventual socio-interaction with it, will be a good reference source for studio work. I aim to approach a company regarding the use of cctv/security cameras, to use as a recording of these interactions. Mark as ever, is a wealth of information, in terms of artists, writers, and philosophers to research; he has mentioned Michaelangelo Pistolletto, Cerith Wyn Evans, and Jaques Lacan.Added a little more white acrylic paint to the archglass (a new word) !

19/10/2009

Spent most of the day in the library getting the first chapter of thesis finished. Went to see the careers lady to get some advice about applying for a masters degree. I have to admit, there's a lot more to it than I had originally thought, still, I am quite determined to see this through.
I painted some acrylic on to the glass that I got, I will use it as a base for an oil painting. Tried to order my mirror today, but there was a problem with paypal.

16/10/2009

OMG, it finally happened, Scan has been captured on camera doing the 'painting thing'. What next I hear you ask........ an actual painting on canvas ???.......... surely not !!!

16/10/2009

I got an arch shaped bit of glass off Richard. I will use this to paint on, and see what kind of effects occur. I took a few photos of the reflection, it was in some respects quite interesting.
I have stuck another piece of mirror to the original one, just to add to the visual confusion. Jim the caretaker said I can have two big pieces of mirror that are down in George's quay, fair play to him. Went to see Matt about hidden camera, but he was not there on the occasions I called. Even though there does not seem to be a lot going on in my studio space, I am working diligently, and am happy with my progress so far.
I have begun painting on one of my small canvi (a new word I invented for more than one canvas ! (like fungi)) for Tuesday; a thin layer of green; scraping marks into it, removing them, and so forth. Again, just raising questions in terms of 'post square' (a term Mark came up with).

15/10/2009

Spent the day researching mirrors. It seems like I have to send to America for the mirror I want. It is not too dear. The amount of artists doing work in this particular field, are limited, but the kind of  distortion that I am aiming for, is not too unlike the work of Francis Bacon. Other artists that I am looking into include: Wilhelm Sasnal, Gerhard Richter, Marlene Dumas. While this kind of work is based mainly in the realm of painting, it is derived from the sphere of relational aesthetics (I realise this is in itself a paradox, nevertheless, it is a fact !) (Due to the socio-psychological interactivity with the mirrors, from which I will gain research for the paintings) Yeaaah!!!
Got two books from the inter-library loan today: The language of new media, by Lev Manovich, and Postproduction, by Nicolas Bourriaud. I know that Manovich is a leading authority of new media, but I feel the book is a little dated now.(Pre- Social media).