Casting Workshop (31/01/2014)

The casting workshop was enjoyable and very interesting because I had no idea about the process beforehand - I really enjoyed the feeling of learning something completely new and having to follow instructions. I surprised myself at how much I took to making the initial clay mould. I haven't used clay since I was little, but I was very pleased with how my figure turned out.

 

I really liked being able to mould the clay with my hands - it reaffirmed to me that I prefer processes where I can directly manipulate the material (as opposed to using wood or metal). I found the cool, solidity of the clay quite relaxing to work with, which was unexpected. I would be interested in filming my hands as they work with the material, having watched a short video by the artist Michel François...

Michel Francois - Déjà vu (hallu) - 2002

One of the casting examples we were shown caught my imagination over the others and I have started to think how it might relate to my own practice. It was a clay cast of a polystyrene ball which had had shells glued all over the surface, and it looked like a strange rock form or fossil. I found it really interesting how casting can be used to mask the identity of the object in this way (had I not been told what the original object was, I couldn't have guessed). Previously I had thought that there was a truthfulness to casting because it produces an exact replica of the form, but in this case the cast was deceptive, eliminating visual clues like an object that has been painted one colour. I'd love to explore this idea further, I think there is quite a lot of potential work there to be made.

I was happy with the wax cast I produced... I find wax a fascinating material because of how quickly it changes from liquid to solid, and has quite a unique texture. I tried to document the process fully so that it will help me remember it in future.

 

 

Metal Workshop (21/01/2014)

I think the metal workshop was invaluable for me, because it is so important that I feel able to go into the workshop and to approach the technicians for help. I was very nervous in doing the welding, but was extremely pleased and relieved once I realised that I could do it (without injuring/burning myself/anyone else). I think it was quite a big step for me in overcoming my fear of using the machinery, and I would definitely be able to do it again.

The object we made (an enlarged squashed bottle) wasn't particularly inspiring but it was quite nice to be able to learn and experiment without the pressure of having to make something impressive.



The bottle in progress

In terms of my own practice, the thing which I discovered through the workshop, which I might want to look at again was the offcuts of the square steel pipes. I collected some of these as I liked the modular forms, which reminded me of Vincent Mauger's pipe works.

Assessment One

Preparing for the assessment mostly involved organising and arranging my work. I struggled a little as I was indecisive over how to present my work, in particular the drawings and supporting works which I didn't want to draw too much attention to. In the end I was happy with the work I submitted, arranging key pieces of work on the walls of my space in chronological order and putting the rest in a book.

My main concern was that my area looked very formal in comparison to other people's - I'd arranged it very cleanly and systematically. However, I thought (and think) it is important for the work to be coherent and presented with clarity so that my process can be understood by someone who isn't familiar with it.

I spent some time thinking about how I might display the installation I made in the sculpture week, which I the work I am probably most proud to have produced in the last term. Documenting it with photographs had been fairly difficult because of the space it was in and the use of yarn, which did not show up on many of the photographs. I decided to submit several photographs which showed the work from different aspects and the cardboard sculpture itself. I also made an additional 'mini installation' with the yarn in the corner of my space to showcase what it had looked like. I think the use of the yarn is something I may want to investigate in my next project as I am interested in the linear formations which can be made when it is pulled taught.

Tutorial

I had my first tutorial, which went really well and gave me a lot to think about. It is very interesting how one conversation can change my outlook on my work... The main thing that I took from the discussion was how I use and look at subjects which have something quite phobic about them e.g. the wasps nest, the macro photograph of the eye, mould... I think I have realised this to some extent before, mostly through other people's reactions to these things (I enjoy seeing the horrified/surprised/squirming response people have), but I've never given any great consideration to it or why I choose these subjects. It was quite a revelation to hear this and begin to recognise this in my work, and it seems the more I look, the more I find which relates to phobias and provokes phobic responses; I have thought about it a lot since and think it could be a basis for the next project. I really want to pick apart what it is that makes something 'scary' and the notions of attraction and repulsion which, with phobias, often overlap.

I was pleased to hear that my work looks to be on track for the assessment. I felt like I needed some reassurance at this stage because it is the first time being assessed in this way. As I have attended as much of the course as possible and produced work consistently throughout the term I don't feel anxious to make work to be assessed.