Antony Gormley

Antony Gormley’s ‘Blind Light’ was an exhibition I saw in 2007. This large scale installation addresses the fundamental questions of ‘body and space, appearance and disappearance, transformation and transcendence’. I love the idea of the unknown, bringing the audience outside of their comfort zone using the body’s senses.   

Louise Bourgeois

Louise Bourgeois has made a variety of sculptures made from plaster and latex which have inspired my performance piece. ‘The Destruction of my Father’ (1974), is a representation of a family dinner table, exploring the power of dominance of a father and his offspring. It is a flesh toned installation in a womb-like room and through her materiality and atmosphere creates a powerful and uncomfortable piece. I like the distorted shapes created and how her pieces enclose and engulf the body. I feel that claustrophobia is something that is a strong quality in her work.

I have been experimenting with different materials to use for my performance piece. (Above) I used silicon, mixed with a catalyst and a non drip bond. However, this process was not so successful, it had left a lumpy distorted mould and wasn't air tight, which is what I needed my mould to be (it also smelt of vomit which wasn't the nicest smell to have lingering in my room)

I made several experimental clay heads, ranging in sizes and then coated them in latex. This outcome was more successful, and I had already tried and tested 0.5mm sheet latex which I will be using for my latex suit, so there was more of a consistency of materials.

Big dreams, Gangster

Beneath Dignity - Stuart Brisley

'Beneath Dignity, Bregenz' was a photographic exhibition I saw today at the Tate Britain. I take for granted this gallery as its neighbouring my university, however in my lunch break from the workshop today I went and had a look at the contemporary collection on display. The work of Stuart Brisley is partof his 1970's collection and is a performance art piece based in Bregenz, (Which is what I have just found out to be the capital of Vorarlberg - the second smallest state of Austria).

He made 5 wooden frames which were roughly the size of his body, and uses a combination of chalk, flour, water and paint as materials. His inspirations were based on hearing miners discussing the 'constrictions imposed on the body in mining the narrow seems of coal'. However he states his work is not about mining and the title clues the subject of his work.

I really like the mapping of this performance, not only does his body perform as art, but it also creates. It is photographed beautifully, the black and white contrasts put an emphasis on the movement his body creates, rather than himself.

11.11.11

Making the intangible tangible

Our current project brief for platform 4 is 'making the intangible tangible'. In the last few weeks I have focused on Claustrophobia (Which is how my chosen space made me feel).

I have been struggling with a conversational device piece but this week have found my way! Looking at a variety of aspects concerning claustrophobia. The senses that affect this tangible quality; sight, sound, taste and smell. But something that I have found really interesting is the subject of breathing. The fear of not being able to escape and the lack of oxygen. I drawn and planned out my device, but am currently in the workshop putting it all together. I have made a small head model which I have conducted a few tests on. Looking at different materials I could use and how it can work. This short video is REALLY experimental. Its mostly just research documentation but I thought I would put it up anyway!

(also thank you Kirby for taking off her makeup, taking all her piercings out and almost passing out from breathing so much)

Drawings

Some first hand sketches.

Dungeness

Her day was mine

Hiroshi Sugimoto: Theatres

So this artist was shown in one of our introduction lessons. Hurishi Sugimoto photographs theatres and cinema screens. As soon as the movie starts he fixes the shutter at a wide-open aperture, and two hours later when the movie is finished he closes the shutter. The idea that there is a story in the white of the film. The whole movie captured in one photo. I really like this concept.

Emma Waltraud Howes: Models as Restrictive Guides

Referenced by our tutor, I really like this piece. An abstract performance questioning ‘Is there freedom within form?’ How individuals are obstructed through design, Clarity vs. Chaos

Snow White and the Huntsman

Last week I started a new job at Pinewood Studios working on the new 2012 movie Snow White and the Huntsman. I didn't know what to expect at first. All I new that it was intense 7.30am till 7.30pm days 6 days a week and a lot of work. And having been set our first project at Uni today i am starting to feel that strain. Despite leaving for work when its dark and leaving from work when its dark (never seeing the light of day) I honestly don't care. I absolutely love it. I don't really know what my job roll is, I would say a Prop grafter. I'm part of a team helping make the props and set dressing for the different scenes within the film. Despite is being fairly monotonous work at times, its so amazing seeing things come together (and I've only been there a week!)

I've taken a few photos which I'm dying to upload but due to confidentiality and all that, I have to be patient and wait for the right time. The team are really nice, and making, cutting, spraying, painting all day is something I love doing. I have also bizarrely enjoyed waking up every morning when its still pitch black, silent and cold and watching the sun come up through my car mirrors. I also can't deny the fact that seeing Kristen Stewart and Chris Hemsworth on set about 5 feet away from me was SO INCREDIBLY INCREDIBLE. We shall wait and see how the next month or so pans out!

In my country...

We were separated at birth.

Blue Peter

This is my Grandad. He's cutie. He has no teeth....well he does but he keeps them in a jar, and he didn't realise he had them until i got them out, so I'm pretty sure they have been festering in there for several years. yum.

I have a fear of using pens. Fear is a bit of an overstatement BUT I hate the idea that I can't make mistakes. Then I realised, mistakes are good sometimes. So I drew this in 20 minutes and drew it with the intention that it wouldn't be perfect.

"Better to do something imperfectly than to do nothing flawlessly"

Dry the River

I have neglected my blog this summer. Not that anyone would even notice (bar Miss Hocking)

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THESE GUYS.

for garth, he's my babe, my soul and we will do our wedding dance to this.

Cheese.

Helen. Great face to draw. I am aware that I have made her look a tad old. I'm loosing my touch.

I dont know why but I really enjoy drawing people. Especially with extreme emotions.

splitscreen

Splitscreen: A Love Story from JW Griffiths on Vimeo.

I found this video which is nice. Shot amazingly with just a Nokia N8.

Prop Studios Internship

These are a few photos taken at the Installation at the Royal Academy. The Table layout was incredible. Everything went smoothly apart from one egg that me and a friend were positioning fell, bounced off my head and smashed the glass on the table. Other than that it was perfect. I learnt a lot in my few weeks at Props and have gained a better understanding of the fields I would like to go into in the future.

Prop Studios Internship

In June I undertook 3 weeks work experience at Prop Studios based in Burgess Hill. I wasn't too sure what I would be doing, I thought I might be making teas and doing administration tasks, but when I arrived on the Thursday I jumped straight in. I started on helping out with the Debenhams project for the new seasonal installation making little toy boats for the children's section, as well as the props for Ted Baker.

The next week was a new task, the start of a project for the summer ball black tie event at the Royal Academy of Arts. It was sponsored by Faberge and was a huge project. Our task was to make 70 eggs and 70 Cakes and involved a lot of trial and error to start off with. Here is the process we went through:

Step1: Paper mache polystyrene models of the cakes

Step2: Plaster the cakes with colours blue, green and pink

Step3: After drying, we sanded down the plaster to make the shape smooth and consistent

Step4: We then went over the plaster with a coat of paint

Step5: Decoration of the eggs and cakes with diamonds and beads giving them the faberge look.