Lenses Ideas

I was really interested in the close up photo I took of my old contact lens, which looked a bit like a planet, and am looking to develop this idea. I don't know if this idea is a bit clichéd, but I love how it looks like a world because at one time it was mine - it allowed me to see and experience my surroundings. In 'Schism' I wasn't sure if presenting my contact lenses might have been inaccessible to those who have no experience of poor vision. How could they truly understand the weight of these tiny shrivelled objects and fully appreciate my dependence on them. I feel that the accompanying information/text/title is very important in works using my lenses. Either it can clarify, like the lenses do, or add confusion through omission, removing. Playing around with removing and providing information is something I'd like to do this term, thinking about what is lost without vision/without knowledge.

I am reluctant to involve myself and my personal experiences too much in my work. I think making work too personal, particularly if it is to do with my specific sight problems, will make it less relatable and alienate viewers too much. I feel content making work for personal reasons, but keeping these to myself. I plan on bringing this up in Death Café to get an idea of how other people approach it.

I'm planning on re-photographing the lens properly, projecting it onto a wall with an overhead projector and experimenting with different ways of presenting it with light and photography, maybe even making some prints. Reading Simon Ings' book 'A Natural History of Seeing: The Art and Science of Vision' is giving me more ideas on the topic, as I am understanding how the eye works and more about the issues that I have had with my own vision. It is really refreshing to be able to read a book that is not specifically about art and use it as research. I think I often need this to refresh my mind and keep up the momentum in my work as my interests are so broad. In  my last tutorial we also discussed using my old contact lenses to make a pinhole camera and reactivating it as a lens. I am excited to make a genuine investigation of camera technology and what I could make with its magnifying properties. I have initiated some research into this by creating a Pinterest board and collecting ideas and guides on home made cameras.