The Truman Brewery Show

For the Truman Brewery exhibition I was unsure of what the work would look like this time as I didn't know what space I would be allocated and I want to respond directly to what I was given. I found the Truman a good site because of all the cracks in the walls and curvy lines of the brick work which worked really well with the envelope edges. This boarded up cupboard became the main site for my envelopes and was exciting because it went all the way through to the other side of the wall, allowing me to exhibit in two rooms.



Artist's statement from the Middlesex Degree Show

Envelope Architecture

In envelope architecture envelopes are used as a tool for drawing within the room. The envelopes juxtaposed within the room constantly refer back to the space, for example the rectangular blocks of white and grey respond to the walls and floor of the exhibiting space. The envelopes also reveal the details of the room such as the white opened envelope placed which highlight the direction of the light switches. At the same time the architecture also inform us about the nature of envelopes, for example the security envelopes placed below the window that enables us to notice the windows of the envelopes themselves.

There is an obvious contrast between the ephemeral and soft feel of the envelopes and the solidness of the architecture. In this antagonism the torn edges of the envelopes have the effect of softening the harsh lines of the architecture and become a method for understanding the room in a more intimate and tangible way. This is understood especially in the placement of envelopes in the lockers as the ordered blocks of grey are interrupted by the original torn edges of the envelopes.  

The enlarged silhouette created by the over head projector enables us to focus on the originality of the envelope’s line and shape whilst not detaching the from the original. The projection shows how each opened envelope is a unique drawing. In this way the projector acts as a metaphor for what I am doing; I am drawing in the space.

The work of Daniel Buren has been particularly important in my response to the exhibition space as I have explored the relationship between the artwork and architecture trying to achieve a sense of “belonging” between the two. The works of Arte Povera artists such as Alighiero Boetti have also been important in my choice of materials inspiring me to explore the value and detail of the quotidian.  

Middlesex Degree Show 2012

Envelope Architecture

I have recently been thinking about envelopes in response to the studio around me, recogonising the similarites between the rectanguar white and grey and blue blocks of the envelopes within the space.

The blue of envelopes.

The photos were taken along the coast of Dungeness in Kent in April this year.

I was interested in how the snow makes it's own shaes within the dips of the pebbles, each shape of snow making a unique drawing.

Monster Supplies

http://www.monstersupplies.org/

I visited the shop Monster Supplies today set up the project based "Ministry of Stories", who use creative writing as a way of inspiring children and young people locally.

The shop is very unique, reminiscent of a pop up shop or a gallery, with poetic ready-made -like commodities available to buy, inspired by monsters of children's stories. For example their "Vile Valentines Preparation Pack".

I particularly enjoyed their series of paint like jars such as "A vague sense of unease", surely this is the kind of irony we need in everyday life.

Bookartbookshop

http://www.bookartbookshop.com/

I visited the bookartbookshop today in Old Street, very exciting! It was good to see a designated space for the work. The shop setting was nice in the way that you felt comfortable to browse through the books, the books also worked well as a whole collection of books.

I particularly enjoyed a very simple book called "Same Place, Same Time" where the artist had photographed Big Ben art 12:15 pm over pages of days. It captured the trees gradually covering the view of Big Ben throughout the book. Unfortunately I didn't note down the authors name, but I would encourage others interested book art to visit and also think about submitting work.

Centrefold Exhibition and Talk

I went to an exhibition and talk at the Zabludowicz Collection on 28/01/2012. The work was a collection of the copies of the 8th scrapbook "Centrefold" made by over 20 artists, one of the leading artists Reza Aramesh was also at the discussion.

The book is available online to view at http://www.centrefoldx.com/scrapbook/spread09.htm

Different pages were displayed out of all the copies, so that you could walk around and view the different pages without actually having to touch the book. The books were displayed easels and ladders in groups around the room. I found the display distracting and also quite confusing, as the easels made the pages appear as paintings. Reza defended the display explaining that because the book was a scrapbook,a form of collage, he was trying to follow the concept through in the display, using the objects in the room as a collage ( the room also being used a a life drawing room and therefore having an excess of easels).I was still not convinced as I felt it created a barrier between the usual intimate experience of the reader and book. However I think this is an interesting discussion; how can you display a book which is presented as a piece of art in it's own right?

How can books be exhibited in a way that they don't loose the intimacy ?

Where does book art belong, in the gallery, the bookshop, special collections, library?

Should they be handled with white gloves?

I would be interested to hear about other people's ideas about exhibiting book art and book art in general, especially as I plan to exhibit book art within my degree show this year. I will continue to address these questions in further posts.

Daniel Buren

http://www.lissongallery.com/#/exhibitions/2011-11-23_daniel-buren/

(image from http://abstractcritical.com/2012/01/lines-stripes-and-squares/unknown-2/)

Focus

This is an image I took before the starting my final year at Uni, it came by chance whilst I was experimenting with photographing different photos on my laptop screen.

In this shot by pure serendipity the camera captured my reflection and my hands, instead of focusing the lenses, appear to be holding the virtual clock on my screen.

I guess this image sums up my hopes for my final year, that through experimenting and some serendipitous moments I will be able to create work which is focused and comes together.

Dusk

I really enjoy the lines created by sunsets, I've presented this image on it's side as I think it reinforces the lines of the landscape and the conflicting window frame, cutting across it.